Josiah Bronson House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Josiah Bronson House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Breakneck Hill Rd., Middlebury, Connecticut |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | c. 1738 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004356 |
| Added to NRHP | February 25, 1982 |
The Josiah Bronson House is a very old and special home in Middlebury, Connecticut. It was built around 1738, which makes it one of the oldest houses still standing in the town! This house shows us what homes looked like a long time ago. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because it's an important piece of history.
Discovering the Josiah Bronson House
What Does This Historic House Look Like?
The Josiah Bronson House is found on Breakneck Hill Road. It is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. The roof has a pointed shape, called a gable. There is a large chimney in the middle of the house. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboards.
The front of the house has five windows and a main door. Everything is arranged in a balanced way. The front door is quite wide. It has narrow windows on each side. Long ago, a porch might have covered this entrance.
The house was originally only one room deep. This suggests it might have had a "leanto" section at the back. A leanto is a smaller addition with a roof that slopes down. Later, in the 1800s, this leanto was likely removed. A two-story kitchen area was added in its place. Inside, many original wooden parts are still there. Some newer designs from around 1800 were also added. Behind the house, you can find two barns. These barns are also very old, possibly from the 1800s or even earlier.
Who Lived in This Historic Home?
The Josiah Bronson House was probably built around 1738. It was built by Josiah Bronson himself. His family was one of the first to settle in the Breakneck Hill area.
This area has an interesting connection to American history. During the American Revolutionary War, the French Army camped nearby. This happened in 1781 and 1782. The French soldiers were led by the Marquis de Lafayette. They camped there partly because the hill was known for being very steep!
