Plumb House (Middletown, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Plumb House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Middletown, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1738 |
| Architect | Plumb, James |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002848 |
| Added to NRHP | December 01, 1978 |
The Plumb House is a very old and special house in Middletown, Connecticut. It was built a long time ago, in 1804, by a farmer named James Plumb. This house is important because it has been kept in great condition for over 200 years. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, which means it's recognized as a significant historical building.
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About the Plumb House
The Plumb House is a historic home located at 872 Westfield Street in Middletown, Connecticut. It was built in 1804 by James Plumb. This house is very well preserved, meaning it still looks much like it did when it was first built. It was officially recognized as a historic place in 1978.
How the House Was Built
The house has outer walls made of clapboard siding, which are long, thin boards that overlap. Its foundation, the part that supports the house from below, is made of brownstone, a type of reddish-brown sandstone. The roof is covered with asphalt shingles.
The main structure of the house is made of wood. It uses a building method called post and beam construction. This means large vertical posts and horizontal beams form the main frame of the house. The roof is a hip roof, which slopes downward on all four sides.
Who Lived Here?
James Plumb, a successful farmer from Westfield, built this house in 1804. He built it on land he received from his father, Samuel Plumb. The house stayed in the Plumb and Barry families until 1888. After that, it has had several different owners, but it has always been used as a private home.
What Makes the Plumb House Special?
The Plumb House is a great example of the Federal style of architecture. This style was popular in the United States in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The house has a central hall plan, meaning a hallway runs through the middle of the house.
From the outside, the house looks balanced and even. It has five windows across the front and a hip roof with two chimneys. Fancy details like a denticulated main cornice (a decorative molding) and delicate window caps add to its beauty. The front entrance is especially noticeable with its columns and a curved ceiling above the porch.
Historians think that a smaller part of the house, the kitchen wing on the northeast side, might have been Samuel Plumb's original home, built around 1740. If so, it was later connected to James Plumb's larger "Mansion House."
The Plumb House is special because it is still in its original condition. Its unique look and how well it fits into its surroundings make it a rare and beautiful example of early Federal style architecture in Middletown.
Where is the Plumb House Located?
The Plumb House faces south and is located at the northeast corner of Westfield and East Streets. Tall trees help shield the house from the nearby roads. The buildings around it were mostly built after World War II, when this area changed from being mostly farmland to more developed.
