Henry B. Bissell House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Henry B. Bissell House
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Location | 202 Maple Street, Litchfield, Connecticut |
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Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
Built | 1850 |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 90001288 |
Added to NRHP | September 7, 1990 |
The Henry B. Bissell House is a special old house located at 202 Maple Street in Litchfield, Connecticut. It was built in 1850. This house is one of the best examples of Greek Revival style in the town. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples.
The house was built by Henry Bissell. His family was very well-known in the area. They owned a lot of land near Bantam. In 1990, the Henry B. Bissell House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical places across the country.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Henry Bissell House is in a quiet, country-like part of Litchfield. It sits on the east side of Maple Street. The house is two and a half stories tall. It has a pointed roof, called a gable roof.
The house is made from stone found right in the area. Lighter stones were used for the corners and around the windows. These lighter stones make the house look even more interesting. Darker stones were used in thin lines across the walls. This gives the house a unique pattern.
The main door is on the right side. It has tall, narrow windows on either side. There is also a window above the door. The inside of the house has many original wooden details. These details show the Greek Revival style.
The Story of the Bissell Family
Henry B. Bissell had this house built in 1850. His family, the Bissells, had owned a lot of land in this part of Litchfield since the 1720s. The stone used to build the house came from a quarry owned by the Bissell family.
The Bissells were mostly farmers. But they also owned a gristmill in Bantam village. A gristmill is a place where grain is ground into flour. They also owned the stone quarry. The house stayed in the Bissell family for a very long time. It was owned by the family until 1985.