Preston City, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Preston City Historic District
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Preston City Bible Church, in 1940
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Amos and Old Shetucket Rds., Northwest Corner Rd., and CT 164, Preston, Connecticut |
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| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Georgian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000452 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 1987 |
Preston City is a small village in Preston, Connecticut, USA. It was the very first center of the town. The heart of this village is known as the Preston City Historic District. This special area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a place with important history that the country wants to protect.
The historic district was added to the National Register in 1987. It has 24 important buildings and other historical items. You can see different old building styles here. These include Greek Revival, Georgian, and Federal designs.
Preston City was one of three main settlements in the town long ago. The others were Poquetanuck and Long Society. The first church in Preston City was started way back in 1698.
In its early days, Preston City was very successful. The town of Preston grew lots of farm products. These goods were sent to the port of Norwich. From Norwich, they traveled by ship to other cities along the East Coast. The village was most successful between the American Revolutionary War and about 1830. You can still see this success in the beautiful old homes. These houses were built by rich farmers and merchants from that time.
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Discovering Preston City's History
Preston City was founded in 1686. It was set up as the main center for the new town of Preston. The town of Preston was mostly a farming community. Its main job was to grow food for the port town of Norwich. Preston City was the key place for moving these farm goods to Norwich.
What Makes This District Special?
The Preston City Historic District has many interesting buildings. These are called "contributing properties." This means they help tell the story of the district's past. They include a church, a library, and even an old blacksmith shop. There's also a building that used to be a tavern and another that was a poorhouse. Many old houses and barns are part of the district too. All these buildings are made of wood.
Important Buildings and Places
- Preston City Baptist Church: This church was built in 1812. Its tall steeple and bell tower were added later, in 1832.
- James Treat House: This is the biggest house in the district. It stands out on Amos Road.
- Mott and Downer House: These two houses are also on Amos Road. They are colonial style and were built before the American Revolutionary War.
- Calvin Barstow House: This is a Georgian style house. It was built between 1786 and 1800. It has a nice picket fence around it. Part of this house was once a meeting room for a group called the St. James Masonic Temple.
- Aron B. Gates House: Built around 1830, this house on Northwest Corner Road is in the Greek Revival style. It also has a barn that was built around 1900.
- Thomas Meech House: This house was built in 1795 on Northwest Corner Road. It shows a mix of Federal and Colonial styles. It has a unique overhang on the front.
- Rev. Augustus Collins House: Built around 1830, this house on Shetucket Road is also in the Greek Revival style.
- Old Town Pound: On Amos Road, you can find a stone wall enclosure. This was a "pound." In old villages, a pound was a place where stray animals, like cows or sheep, were kept until their owners claimed them.
- Ephraim Jones House: This house was built in 1733. It used to be the "poorhouse" for Preston. A poorhouse was a place where people who couldn't support themselves could live.
Monuments and Memorials
The district also has some important monuments. The Civil War Monument and Mott Memorial were put up in 1898. There is also a Revolutionary War Monument from 1967. The Downer-Doane Memorial Park is also in the district. The Preston Historical Society helps take care of this park.
