Selden Brewer House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Selden Brewer House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Naubuc Ave. and Main St., East Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1827 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002631 |
| Added to NRHP | June 4, 1979 |
The Selden Brewer House is a special old house found in East Hartford, Connecticut. It was built around 1827. This house is a great example of two old building styles: Federal and Greek Revival. For many years, a well-known family who grew tobacco owned this house.
The house was not always in its current spot. It used to be on High Street. In the 1980s, it was carefully moved to where it stands today. Now, it is home to the offices of the local historical society. The Selden Brewer House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it is recognized as an important historical building.
What Does the Selden Brewer House Look Like?
The Selden Brewer House is a three-story building made of brick. It has a roof that is almost flat, called a hip roof. Around the roof, there is a wooden fence-like structure called a balustrade. The house looks a bit like a cube. Its front faces north toward Main Street.
The front of the house has three sections, or "bays," for windows and doors. These sections are placed close together in the middle. A porch with one story stretches across the entire front of the house. The top floor acts like a raised attic, with small windows tucked under the roof's edge. Inside, you can see different design styles from various time periods.
Who Built the Selden Brewer House?
The Selden Brewer House was built between 1827 and 1830. It was probably built by Samuel Brewer. However, the property was listed as belonging to his son, Selden, who was only sixteen years old at the time.
The Brewer family was very important in the local area. They had owned land there since the 1750s. They were known for growing tobacco. This part of the Connecticut River valley was perfect for growing tobacco plants. The Selden Brewer House is the oldest home still standing that is connected to the Brewer family.
Why Was the House Moved?
When the house was first built, it was on High Street. This street used to have many other beautiful, high-quality homes like it. By 1979, when the house was listed on the National Register, it was surrounded by new buildings. There were also access ramps for Connecticut Route 2 very close by.
To protect this historic building, it was moved to its current location in the 1980s. Moving such a large, old house is a big and careful job! Today, the house is used by the local historical society. They help people learn about the history of the area.
