Oliver Wolcott House facts for kids
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Oliver Wolcott House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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House in 2010
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Litchfield, CT |
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| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1753 |
| Architect | Oliver Wolcott |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Litchfield Historic District (ID68000050) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001011 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 11, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 24, 1968 |
The Oliver Wolcott House is a very old and important home. It is located in Litchfield, Connecticut. Oliver Wolcott Sr. built this house in 1753. He was a famous person who signed the Declaration of Independence. He also signed the Articles of Confederation. Oliver Wolcott Sr. was a leader in the American Revolutionary War.
This house is the oldest one in the Litchfield area. His son, Oliver Wolcott Jr., was born here. Many important people visited this house. These visitors included George Washington and Lafayette. Washington stayed here in 1780. The house became a National Historic Landmark in 1971. It is on South Street, across from Wolcott Avenue. The house is not open for public visits.
Contents
About the Wolcott House
The Wolcott House is a large wooden building. It has two and a half stories. The house has a roof that slopes down on two sides. A big chimney stands in the middle. A smaller section with a different roof style extends from the main house. Another two-story part is at the back.
The main front door has a special design. It has a triangular shape above it. This shape is held up by fancy columns. This style is called Federal period architecture.
Building History
Oliver Wolcott Sr. built this house in 1753. His father was Roger Wolcott. Roger Wolcott was the governor of Connecticut at that time. Oliver Wolcott Sr. lived in this house until he passed away in 1797. For most of the 1900s, the house was still owned by his family.
Oliver Wolcott Sr.'s Life
Oliver Wolcott Sr. was born in 1726. He was from Windsor, Connecticut. This area is now called South Windsor. He went to Yale College and finished in 1747. After college, he studied medicine.
In 1751, he moved to Litchfield. He quickly became a very important person there. He worked as a sheriff and a judge. He was also a member of the local government.
A Leader in the Revolution
Oliver Wolcott Sr. strongly supported American independence. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress. This was a group of leaders from 1775 to 1783. During this time, he signed the United States Declaration of Independence. This was a very brave act.
He was also active in the state army. He led a group of soldiers in October 1777. This was during the Second Battle of Saratoga. He also helped protect Connecticut later in the war.
Later Life and Governor
In 1784, he helped with an important agreement. This was the Treaty of Fort Stanwix. It was signed with the Iroquois Confederacy.
Oliver Wolcott Sr. later became the Governor of Connecticut. He took over in January 1796. This happened after the previous governor, Samuel Huntington, passed away. Oliver Wolcott Sr. served as governor until he passed away in December 1797.
Images for kids
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The Oliver Wolcott House from the side-front view.
