Enoch Kelsey House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Enoch Kelsey House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1702 Main St. Newington, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1799 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004437 |
| Added to NRHP | June 28, 1982 |
The Enoch Kelsey House is a special old house in Newington, Connecticut. It was built around 1799. This house is a great example of homes from the Federal period in American history. It used to be in a different spot, closer to New Britain. In 1979, the house was moved to its current location to save it from being torn down. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Today, it is a historic house museum.
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About the House and Its History
The Enoch Kelsey House is located about half a mile south of Newington's town center. It faces south onto Copper Beech Lane, right where it meets Main Street. This house is two-and-a-half stories tall and made of wood. It has a pointed roof, a chimney in the middle, and an outside covered with clapboards.
The front of the house has five sections. The main door is in the center. It has decorative columns on each side and a window above it. There is also a fancy frame around the top of the door.
Who Built the House?
The house was built by Enoch Kelsey and his son, David Kelsey. They likely finished it around 1799. Enoch Kelsey was a farmer and also worked with tin. He was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, on August 12, 1717.
Enoch married Mary Bidwell, and they had twelve children together. David, who helped build the house, was their second child. He was born in 1760. The house was first located on the west side of Kelsey Street, across from Christian Lane.
Special Features of the House
The Enoch Kelsey House has some very unique features. Inside, you can find rare, hand-painted decorations on the walls. These paintings are found from the basement all the way up to the attic. The house also has special wood paneling. There is a beehive oven in the kitchen, which was used for baking. Many fireplaces are also found throughout the home.
Saving the House
In 1979, the Enoch Kelsey House was going to be torn down. However, the Newington Historical Society heard about it. They asked for permission to go inside and look at some artwork that people said was there.
When volunteers from the Historical Society went in, they found the amazing artwork. They quickly started raising money to save the house. Their goal was to fix it up and turn it into a museum. The house was then moved to its current spot at Main Street and Copper Beech Road.
Today, the Newington Historical Society runs the Enoch Kelsey House as a historic house museum. You can visit it from May to September. It is open on the first Sunday of every month.
Enoch Kelsey also had a brother named Ezekiel. Ezekiel Kelsey's home is also a historic house. It is located in Berlin, Connecticut.
See also
