Joshua Hempsted House facts for kids
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Joshua Hempsted House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 11 Hempstead St., New London, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | c. 1678 |
| Architect | Hempsted, Joshua |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Part of | Hempstead Historic District (ID86002112) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000701 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1970 |
| Designated CP | July 31, 1986 |
The Joshua Hempsted House is a very old and special house in New London, Connecticut. It was built around 1678, which makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in Connecticut! This house is like a time capsule, showing us how people built homes long ago.
Over the years, the house was changed a few times. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about life in the 17th and 18th centuries. The house was bought by an organization called Connecticut Landmarks in 1937.
Connecticut Landmarks also owns the Nathaniel Hempstead House next door, which was built in 1759. Together, these two homes are known as the Hempsted Houses. They have been carefully restored to look like they did hundreds of years ago. Both houses were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
What Does the Hempsted House Look Like?
The Hempsted House is located in New London, on Hempstead Street. It is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. The roof slopes down on two sides, and it has two gables (the triangular parts of a wall under a sloping roof) facing the front.
One special thing about the house is that the left gable sticks out a bit. This creates a small enclosed entryway on the first floor. This kind of entryway was not common for houses built during that time.
The windows are narrow and have small, diamond-shaped glass panes. Inside, you can see the wooden beams and supports that show how old the building truly is. It's like looking at the skeleton of a very old house!
A Glimpse into History
The oldest part of the house was originally three sections wide. It was a simple one-room home with a chimney at one end. Experts believe it was built around 1678 by Joshua Hempstead, who was the father of another famous Joshua Hempsted. The son was known for keeping a detailed diary about his life in New London.
This house is one of Connecticut's oldest buildings. It has been studied by many historians because it is so important for understanding early American architecture.
The Joshua Hempsted House was lucky to survive a big event in 1780 called the Battle of Groton Heights. During this battle, much of New London was destroyed by British forces. However, the Hempsted family had prepared a large meal for a family get-together. The British soldiers found the meal and took it, leaving the house unharmed!
Later, the house was also used as a safe place for people escaping slavery. This was part of a secret network called the Underground Railroad. The house stayed in the Hempstead family for a very long time, until Connecticut Landmarks bought it in 1937.
Images for kids
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The historic Joshua Hempsted House in New London, Connecticut.
