Joseph Webb House facts for kids
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Joseph Webb House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Joseph Webb House in 2009
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1752 |
| Architect | Joseph Webb, Sr. |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Part of | Old Wethersfield Historic District (ID70000719) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000885 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 20, 1961 |
| Designated CP | December 29, 1970 |
The Joseph Webb House is a very old and important house in Wethersfield, Connecticut. It was built in 1752 and is a great example of Georgian-style architecture. This house is famous because George Washington, who led the American army, met with French General Rochambeau here in 1781. They planned the Siege of Yorktown, which was a very important battle in the American Revolutionary War.
The Joseph Webb House is now part of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. You can visit it to see what homes looked like in the 1700s. The inside has been carefully restored to show how it looked back then. Outside, there's a beautiful garden and an old barn.
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A Historic Home: The Joseph Webb House
The Joseph Webb House was built in 1752 for a man named Joseph Webb. He was a successful merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. His ships traveled to places like the West Indies. Joseph Webb Sr. passed away when he was only 34. His son, Joseph Webb Jr., who was 12 at the time, inherited the house.
Joseph Webb Jr. and "Hospitality Hall"
Joseph Webb Jr. also became a successful merchant. In 1774, he married Abigail Chester. They lived in the house and were known for being very welcoming hosts. Because of their kindness, their home was nicknamed "Hospitality Hall."
The house became very famous when George Washington stayed there for five nights. During his visit, he met with French General Comte de Rochambeau. Together, they made important plans for the Siege of Yorktown. This battle was a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War. Some historians believe that special red wallpaper was hung in Washington's bedroom just for his arrival!
After the Webb family, the house was owned by different people. Around 1820, Judge Martin Welles bought it. His family owned the house until 1913.
Wallace Nutting's Vision
In 1916, a man named Wallace Nutting bought the Joseph Webb House. Nutting was an antiquarian, which means he collected and studied old things. He also took many famous photographs of colonial scenes. He wanted the Webb House to be part of his "Chain of Colonial Picture Houses." These were historic places in New England that he used to show off old American life.
Nutting even had special murals painted in the front rooms and hallway. He opened the house to the public, charging 25 cents to get in. However, when the United States entered World War I, it became harder for people to travel. This hurt Nutting's business.
In 1919, Nutting sold the house to The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Connecticut. This group is dedicated to preserving historic places.
Preserving History with the Colonial Dames
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America worked hard to restore the Joseph Webb House. They wanted it to look like it did when it was first built. This meant removing some of the changes Wallace Nutting had made. For example, some of his murals were covered up.
However, in 1996, the Dames decided to recognize Wallace Nutting's part in the house's history. They removed some of the wallpaper to show his murals again. Today, there's an exhibit in the house that explains Wallace Nutting's influence.
The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum offers tours of the house from April through November. If you want to visit between January and March, you need to make an appointment. The Joseph Webb House was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1961. This means it's a very important historical site in the United States. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
See also
