John Cook House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Cook House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 35 Elm St., New Haven, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) |
| Built | c. 1807 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003576 |
| Added to NRHP | November 3, 1983 |
The John Cook House is a really old and important house in New Haven, Connecticut. It was built around 1807. This house is special because it's one of the oldest stone buildings still standing in the city. Many important people who helped shape New Haven and even Connecticut lived here. It was added to a special list called the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
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The John Cook House: A Historic Home
What Does the John Cook House Look Like?
The John Cook House is located in downtown New Haven. It's just two blocks east of the famous New Haven Green. This building is two-and-a-half stories tall. It's made of red sandstone blocks. Most of the stone is covered with a smooth plaster called stucco. However, the corner blocks, called quoins, are left uncovered.
The roof of the house has a pointed shape, known as a gable roof. Three small dormer windows stick out from the roof. The windows are rectangular and placed evenly around the front door. They have stone sills and tops. The main entrance has windows on either side. A small porch with fancy columns sticks out over the door.
Who Lived in the John Cook House?
The house is named after John Cook. He was a local tailor and merchant. John Cook bought the land for the house in 1805 and 1806. He then built the house soon after. At that time, stone buildings were very rare in New Haven. In fact, someone named Timothy Dwight said there were no stone buildings in the city in 1800!
In 1814, John Cook sold the house to Captain James Goodrich. Captain Goodrich was a privateer during the War of 1812. A privateer was like a ship captain who was allowed by the government to attack enemy ships. Captain Goodrich added a third-floor ballroom to the house. This work was likely done by a well-known local builder named David Hoadley. Hoadley later became important in business. He even ran the railroad that replaced the Farmington Canal.
Later, in 1858, Charles Atwater bought the house. He was another important businessman and politician. He served in the state legislature. This means he helped make laws for Connecticut. He was also a candidate for Governor of Connecticut.
The next owner was Dr. Charles Lindsley. He was a leader in public health for New Haven and the state. He even started Connecticut's Department of Health. From 1919 to 1967, a group called the local Visiting Nurse Association owned the house. They helped people who were sick in their homes.
Current Use of the House
Today, the building at 35 Elm Street is used for professional offices. It is now called "The Atwater" building. This name honors Charles Atwater, who owned the property from 1859 to 1877. He was a state senator and a railroad businessman. In recent years, parts of the inside of the building have been updated.
