Jabez Smith House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jabez Smith House
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Jabez Smith House photographed in 2014
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 259 North Rd., Groton, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) |
| Built | c. 1783 |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000615 |
| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1981 |
The Jabez Smith House is a special old house in Groton, Connecticut. It was built around 1783, which makes it over 240 years old! This house is important because it's the only farmhouse from the 1700s still standing in the Poquonock Bridge area of Groton. This area used to be a big farming community.
Today, the town of Groton owns the house. It is open to visitors on weekends from April to November. Inside, you can see cool old furniture and items from the 1700s and 1800s. The Jabez Smith House was officially recognized as a historic place on May 15, 1981.
What Makes This House Special?
The Jabez Smith House is located in a mix of country and town areas in Groton. It sits on the east side of North Road. The house looks like a "Cape style" home. This means it has one and a half stories, a roof that slopes down on two sides, and a chimney in the middle.
The outside of the house is covered with wooden shingles and clapboards. It has five windows across the front. The main door is in the center, with a small window above it. Inside, the house has a simple layout with the chimney in the middle. You can still see the original plaster and wood details.
A Glimpse into the Past
The Jabez Smith House was built around 1783. It was likely built by Jabez Smith himself. He was the great-grandson of Reverend Nehemiah Smith, one of the first people to own land in Groton. The house actually stands on a foundation that Jabez's grandfather built way back in 1663!
This house is very unique because it's the only farmhouse from the 1700s left in the Poquonock Bridge area. This area was once Groton's main farming spot. You can still find old foundations on the property. These include the remains of a barn from the 1800s and an old outhouse. A new version of the outhouse has been built where the old one stood.
The Smith family owned this house for a very long time, until 1974. Then, they gave it to the town of Groton. Now, everyone can visit and learn about its history!
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