Moses Camp House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Moses Camp House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 682 Main Street, Winsted, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001060 |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 1984 |
The Moses Camp House is a historic building located at 682 Main Street in Winsted, Connecticut. It was likely built around 1840 for Moses Camp, who was a very important merchant in the area. This house is a fantastic example of Greek Revival architecture, a popular style from that time.
It was officially recognized and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Today, this beautiful old house is used for professional offices.
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What Does the Moses Camp House Look Like?
The Moses Camp House is found on the east side of Main Street (United States Route 44). It's a two-and-a-half story building made of wood. It has a hip roof, which means all sides slope downwards to the walls. The outside is covered with clapboard siding, and it sits on a strong granite foundation.
Key Features of the House
The front of the house faces west and has five sections, called bays. The main door is right in the middle. It has a flat-roofed porch supported by smooth, round Doric columns. The corners of the building have flat, decorative columns called pilasters. These go up to a wide band called an entablature. Above this, there's a row of small, rectangular windows on the attic level.
Inside, the house has many beautiful details from the Greek Revival style. The central hallway, for example, features very fine woodwork. Over time, some parts of the house have changed. Old photos show it once had a decorative railing around the roof. It also had a "widow's walk" in the center of the roof, which is a platform often used to look out at the sea.
Who Was Moses Camp?
The exact year the Moses Camp House was built is a bit of a mystery. A house was first built on this land in 1825 by Lucius Clarke. Moses Camp bought the land in 1840. It's not clear if the current house is a major update to Clarke's original house or if it was built completely new.
The House's Unique Style
The way the house looks fits well with an 1840 building style. However, it's also special in Winsted because it's a Greek Revival house with a five-bay front. This five-bay design was more common in older houses. The house was built using strong, hand-cut wooden beams.
Moses Camp's Importance
Moses Camp was a very powerful businessman in the region. He and his two brothers owned and ran one of the biggest merchant businesses in Litchfield County, Connecticut. The Camp family also built the Camp Block, which was Winsted's first commercial building made of brick. Sadly, that building burned down in 1889. Moses Camp also served as a bank president and was a member of the state legislature.
Later, in the 20th century, another important person lived in the house. C. Wensley Winslow served as the Winchester town clerk for over 40 years.
