Josiah Cowles House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Capt. Josiah Cowles House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 184 Marion Ave., Southington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1.1 acres (0.45 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, New England Colonial |
| MPS | Colonial Houses of Southington TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003102 |
| Added to NRHP | January 19, 1989 |
The Josiah Cowles House is a very old and special home located at 184 Marion Avenue in Southington, Connecticut. It was built a long time ago, in the mid-1700s. This house is a great example of Georgian architecture, which was a popular style back then. Because it's so well-preserved, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Today, you can even stay there, as it's a bed and breakfast!
What Makes This House Special?
The Josiah Cowles House sits on the south side of Marion Avenue. It's located between Sunny Ridge Drive and Old Mill Road. This is just west of the Plantsville village center. It's also near Interstate 84.
The house is two-and-a-half stories tall. It's made of wood and has a classic look. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a side-gable roof. There's a big chimney right in the middle of the house. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboards. The front of the house has five sections, or "bays." The main door is wide and in the center. The windows have simple frames with small caps above them.
Who Was Captain Josiah Cowles?
People used to think the house was built in 1728. But experts now believe it was built closer to 1750. This was probably around the time Josiah Cowles got married for the second time.
Captain Josiah Cowles was a very important person in early Southington. He was born in Farmington, Connecticut, on November 20, 1713. He helped lead the town in many ways.
Josiah Cowles's Public Service
Josiah Cowles was a "justice of the peace." This meant he helped keep order and settle small disagreements. He was also a "captain" in the local militia. A militia was like a local army made of regular citizens.
He held many different jobs for the town. People saw him as a leader. At the very first town meeting in Southington, held on November 11, 1779, the town chose Cowles. He worked with Jonathan Root to help families of soldiers. These soldiers were away fighting in the American Revolution.
In 1774, Cowles was part of another important group. They were asked to send supplies to Boston. This was because the British had blocked Boston harbor. This action helped show support for American independence.
