Oliver Ellsworth Homestead facts for kids
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Oliver Ellsworth Homestead
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 778 Palisado Avenue, Windsor, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1781 |
| Architect | Samuel Denslow; Thomas Hayden |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000707 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 06, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | December 20, 1989 |
The Oliver Ellsworth Homestead, also called Elmwood, is a special historic house in Windsor, Connecticut. It was built in 1781 and was the home of Oliver Ellsworth until he died in 1807. Oliver Ellsworth was a very important American lawyer and politician. Because he lived there, the house is now a National Historic Landmark.
Ellsworth was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He helped write the United States Constitution. He also served as the third Chief Justice of the United States and was a United States senator for Connecticut. Today, the house is a museum. The Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution own and take care of it. You can visit it for tours if you ask.
Contents
What Does the Ellsworth House Look Like?
The Ellsworth House is in northern Windsor. It stands on the east side of Palisado Avenue. This road is very old and was once a main route along the Connecticut River.
The House's Design and Features
The house is a two-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has a roof that slopes down on two sides. The outside is covered with wooden boards. The front of the house has five windows or doors across. There is also a two-window section on the south side. This part is set back a bit but shares the same roof. The main part of the house has chimneys at each end.
The main door is in the middle of the front. A small porch with a pointed roof covers it. This porch was added in the 1800s. Inside, you can still see many things from the late 1800s. These include furniture and decorations that belonged to Oliver Ellsworth and his family.
The History of the Ellsworth Homestead
A house was first built on this spot in 1740. Oliver Ellsworth grew up in that first house. When he inherited the property, he decided to build a new house. In 1781, he hired people to build it. They might have used some parts of the old house, like the foundation.
When Oliver Ellsworth Lived There
Oliver Ellsworth and his family moved into the new house in 1782. It was his home until he passed away in 1807. The two-window section on the south side was added in 1788. However, the roofline and columns on that part were changed later in the 1800s.
Why It's Called Elmwood
The house got the name "Elmwood" because Oliver Ellsworth planted thirteen elm trees. He planted one tree for each of the Thirteen Colonies that formed the United States.
Famous Visitors to Elmwood
Two United States Presidents visited Elmwood while they were in office. George Washington visited on October 21, 1789. Later, John Adams visited on October 3, 1799.
Becoming a Museum Today
The Ellsworth family lived in the house until 1903. Then, they gave it to the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution. The homestead was fixed up in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, it is a museum that people can visit. The property also has a meeting hall built in the 1930s. The Daughters of the American Revolution use it for events.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It was then named a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
See also
