John Humphrey House (Simsbury, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Humphrey House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 115 E. East Weatogue St., Simsbury, Connecticut |
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| Area | 5.1 acres (2.1 ha) |
| Built | ca. 1760 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Post medieval English |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001755 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1990 |
The John Humphrey House is a really old and special house in Simsbury, Connecticut. It's located at 115 East Weatogue Street. This house was built around 1760. It's a great example of a Georgian colonial home, which was a popular style back then. Because it's so well-preserved, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
What the John Humphrey House Looks Like
The John Humphrey House is in a quiet, countryside part of Simsbury called East Weatogue. It sits on the west side of East Weatogue Road. This house has two stories and is made of wood. It's five "bays" wide, which means it has five sections across the front. There's a main entrance right in the middle. A big chimney stands in the center of the house.
The outside of the house is covered with wooden boards called clapboards. There are also parts added to the right side and back of the main house. Inside, the house has a common layout for old homes. There's a small entrance area with a winding staircase leading upstairs.
Inside the Historic Home
On each side of the central chimney, you'll find parlor rooms. These were like living rooms where people would relax or entertain guests. The original kitchen was in a long room behind the chimney.
The parlor rooms still have their beautiful original wooden panels from the Georgian period. The parlor on the left side has a very fancy fireplace. It has decorative columns called fluted pilasters. There's also a cool built-in corner cabinet.
A part of the house that sticks out to the right was added later, in the 1800s. This section still has features from when it was built. One of its fireplaces, however, has been closed up with bricks.
The History of the John Humphrey House
Experts believe the John Humphrey House was built around 1760. They figured this out by looking at old land records. Also, the way the bake oven is placed in the kitchen gives a clue. It's not in a spot typical for much older houses.
The land where the house stands was first given to Michael Humphrey in 1668. But there isn't clear proof that a house was built there until 1760. That's when an inventory of his grandson John's property was made, which likely included the house.
