Old Riverton Inn facts for kids
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Old Riverton Inn
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 436 E. River Rd., Barkhamsted, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1811 |
| Built by | Ives, Jesse |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Riverton Historic District (ID07000419) |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000906 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1992 |
| Designated CP | May 15, 2007 |
The Old Riverton Inn is a really old hotel and tavern located in Riverton, a small village in Barkhamsted, Connecticut. It was built way back in 1811 and has been a place for travelers to stay almost ever since! This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, which means it's an important part of history.
What is the Old Riverton Inn?
The Old Riverton Inn sits in a special spot in Riverton village. It's right on East River Road, across from a bridge that crosses the East Branch Farmington River. This bridge was super important because it was the only one around for many miles!
The building itself is made of wood and has a sloped roof. It looks like it has three stories from the street side because of how the land slopes. The front of the inn used to have its main door in the middle.
Over time, the road was made wider, and the old front porch was removed. The main entrance was then moved to the side of the building. Even so, the original fancy doorway frame was saved and moved too!
A Look at Its Long History
The Old Riverton Inn was built around 1811, probably by a person named Jesse Ives. He likely wanted to open an inn because a lot of people traveled through this area. A bridge across the river was built in 1790, and it was the only way to cross for miles.
This area was a busy route for travelers going between New Hartford and Massachusetts. Another road led to Winsted. Riverton village also became important for business.
In 1818, a famous chair-making factory started there, owned by Lambert Hitchcock. Some of his old factory buildings are still across the river today! The inn kept going even when the village became less busy because it didn't get a railroad connection.
For most of its history, the Old Riverton Inn has welcomed travelers. There was only one time, for about twelve years in the early 1900s, when it housed migrant workers instead of guests.
