New Preston Hill Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Preston Hill Historic District
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A former tavern
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Preston Hill, Findley and Gunn Hill Rds., Washington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 210 acres (85 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Italianate, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001931 |
| Added to NRHP | August 26, 1985 |
The New Preston Hill Historic District is a special old village in Washington, Connecticut. It's in the New Preston area of Litchfield County, Connecticut. This district shows what a small farming village looked like in the 1800s. It's famous for its unique stone buildings. One of these is a rare stone church from the Federal period. This historic area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It's found where New Preston Road meets Gunn Hill and Findlay Roads.
Contents
Discovering New Preston Hill's Past
How the Village Began
People first settled in the New Preston area around the 1750s. The New Preston Hill crossroads was an important spot. The very first meeting house (a place for meetings and worship) was built here in 1754.
This area was important because New Preston Road was a stagecoach route. It connected Hartford, Connecticut to the Hudson River. The village helped the farms around it.
Why the Village Changed
In the mid-1800s, the village of New Preston Hill became less important. Another part of New Preston grew bigger. This was because water power there helped new factories and businesses.
Exploring the Historic District
What You Can See Today
The historic district covers about 210 acres (85 hectares). It is centered around the meeting point of New Preston Road, Gunn Hill Road, and Findlay Road. The main part of the district is a triangular green space.
The most important building here is the Old Stone Church, built in 1824. This church does not have heat or electricity. It is used during the summer months and for weddings. The church has another building, called the "Village Church," that is used the rest of the year. This other church is located outside the historic district.
Important Buildings in the District
The district includes 12 important buildings. Most of these are homes around the green. They also stretch west along New Preston Road. Here are some of the notable ones:
- Hill Congregational Church: This church is a very important building in the district. Its design has been studied and drawn by the Historic American Buildings Survey.
- A District School: This building was once a school for local children.
- A Parsonage: This was the home for the church's minister.
- Rev. Samuel Whittlesey House: Built in 1808, this was the home of a reverend.
- John Ferris House: This house dates back to 1800.
- Newton's Tavern: Built around 1900, this building shows both Federal and Greek Revival styles. It has special windows with 12 small glass panes in both the top and bottom parts.
- A Tollhouse: This building was once a tollhouse from the 1700s. It collected money from travelers using the road. It doesn't look like a tollhouse anymore.
- House on Parcel 25: This home also shows Federal and Greek Revival styles. It has decorative columns called pilasters. It sits behind a stone wall above the road. This property also has a barn.
- House on Parcel 26
- House on Parcel 33
- House on Parcel 35
- Horse Barn on Parcel 35
- Sheep Barn on Parcel 35
