Gurleyville Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gurleyville Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gurleyville and Chaffeeville Rds., Mansfield, Connecticut |
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| Area | 58 acres (23 ha) |
| Architect | Fitch, Edwin |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001933 |
| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1975 |
The Gurleyville Historic District is a special historical area in Mansfield, Connecticut. It was once a busy village with factories and mills. This district is found around Gurleyville and Chaffeeville Roads. It has many old homes from the 1800s. You can also see a stone gristmill built around 1749. Plus, there are old ruins from other factories that used to be there. This important area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
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Exploring Gurleyville's Historic Past
Gurleyville is now a quiet, rural area in north-central Mansfield, Connecticut. The historic district follows the Fenton River on its western side. This river was very important long ago. It provided power for all the mills in the village. The district also stretches along Chaffeeville Road. It then goes west along Gurleyville Road towards the river.
What You Can See in the District
The Gurleyville Historic District has many interesting features. You can find a stone grist mill and a dam on the river. Benjamin Davis started building these in 1749. The mill still has working equipment from the 1800s!
Old Mills and Factories
Other cool things to see are the ruins of old mills. There are foundations from a small textile mill called Royce Silk Mill. This mill was active in the 1800s. You can also find the foundation of a sawmill that dates back to 1724. These ruins show how important industry was here.
Historic Homes and Buildings
The district also has about a dozen historic homes. Some buildings that were once shops are now used as houses. These homes usually have a simple style. They show how people lived in the 1800s. The open fields around the village are also part of the district. This helps keep the area looking like it did when it was a farming community.
Famous Connections to Gurleyville
The ruins of the Gurley-Mason Mill are nearby. This sawmill was built by Zebulon Gurley around 1778. It is located about two miles north along the Fenton River.
A very famous person was born in Gurleyville. Wilbur Cross was a native of this village. He later became the Governor of Connecticut.
