Enfield Shakers Historic District (Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Enfield Shakers Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Shaker, Taylor and Cybulski Rds., Enfield, Connecticut |
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| Area | 110 acres (45 ha) |
| Built | 1827 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002663 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1979 |
| Community | Enfield Shaker Village (Connecticut) |
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| Dates | 1792-1917 |
| Bishopric | Hancock |
| Spiritual name | City of Union |
| Families | Church, North, South, East, West |
| Maximum population | 215 in 1850 |
The Enfield Shakers Historic District is a special place in Enfield, Connecticut. It protects some of the buildings left from a former Shaker community. The Shakers were a unique religious group. They started their community here in the 1780s. It was active until 1917.
Today, you can still see some of their old buildings. They are mostly around Taylor Road in Enfield. This area became a historic district in 1979. This means it's an important historical site. The district includes 15 buildings and one special site that are still standing.
A Look Back: The Shaker Community in Enfield
The Enfield Shaker community was the only Shaker settlement in Connecticut. Other Shaker groups lived in places like Massachusetts and New York. This community was well-known for its garden-seed business. They grew and sold seeds to many people.
The Enfield settlement began in the 1780s. It lasted for many years, until 1917. The Shakers organized their community into different groups. They called these groups "families." Some of their land was later used for a state facility.
Buildings and Their Stories
The historic district includes 15 buildings that are still standing. This is out of about 90 buildings that existed in 1917. Most of these buildings were built between 1830 and 1860. This was when the community was at its largest.
In 1978, the remaining buildings included many different types. There was a meetinghouse where they gathered. A large brick house served as a residence. Other buildings included an ice house, five barns, and a sawmill. There was also a slaughterhouse, a laundry, and several workshops. These buildings are grouped into three small village-like areas.
Most of these buildings are on the west side of Taylor Road. They are located between Moody Road and Sandhill Road. A few other buildings are on Cybulski Road. These buildings and some of the Shaker-developed land help us understand their way of life.
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Enfield community, c. 1910
