Nathan Lester House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Nathan Lester House Museum and Tool Museum
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Nathan Lester House photographed in 2014
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 153 Vinegar Hill Rd., Ledyard, Connecticut |
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| Area | 156 acres (63 ha) |
| Built | 1793 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001328 |
| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1972 |
The Nathan Lester House is a special old house in Ledyard, Connecticut. It's a historic house museum, which means it's a house kept like it was long ago. People can visit to learn about history. This house was built in 1793. It's a great example of a farmhouse from the late 1700s. Not many houses from that time are still standing in Ledyard.
The house sits on a large piece of land, about 156 acres. This land is now owned by the town. It's used as a park where you can explore trails and enjoy nature.
Contents
What is the Nathan Lester House Like?
The Nathan Lester House is in a quiet, natural area. It's on the east side of Vinegar Hill Road. The 156 acres around it are mostly covered with trees. A long driveway leads to the old farm buildings.
The Main House
The main house is made of wood and has two and a half stories. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a side-gable roof. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. A big chimney stands in the middle of the house.
Inside, the house has a classic design for its time. When you walk in, there's a small entrance area. A winding staircase goes up from here. On each side of the chimney, there are rooms that were likely used as living rooms. The kitchen takes up most of the back of the house. It has a large fireplace and a special oven for baking.
Other Rooms and Buildings
Small rooms in the back corners might have been pantries or bedrooms. Today, one of these rooms connects to additions at the back. These additions extend from the main part of the house.
History of the Nathan Lester House
The Nathan Lester House was built in 1793 by a man named Nathan Lester. The land it stands on was first bought by his grandfather, Peter Lester. This house is one of the few 18th-century homes left in Ledyard.
The Old Oak Tree
For a long time, a very old and huge oak tree stood on the property. Its trunk was more than 5 feet wide! Sadly, this ancient tree died in 1970.
Family Ownership and Public Park
The Lester family owned the property until 1908. Later, in 1970, the Graves family owned the land. They gave the area around the farmhouse to the town.
Visiting the Nathan Lester House
The Nathan Lester House, its smaller buildings, and the barn museum are cared for by the Ledyard Historic District Commission. The Ledyard Historical Society owns the old farm tools in the barns. They also own the furniture inside the house.
The park and fields around the house are open to everyone. You can visit from sunrise to sunset. The house and barn museum are open from Memorial Day through Halloween. They are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. It's a great place to learn about life long ago!
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