Stafford Hollow, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stafford Hollow Historic District
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Stafford Town House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly parts of Leonard, Murphy, Old Monson, Orcuttville, & Patten Rds., Stafford, Connecticut |
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| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 87002032 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1987 |
Stafford Hollow, also known as Stafford Village or Furnace Hollow, is a small community in Stafford, Connecticut. It is located in Tolland County, Connecticut, where two roads, Route 19 and Route 319, meet. For many years in the 1700s and 1800s, Stafford Hollow was the main center of the town. This was before another part of Stafford, called Stafford Springs, grew bigger.
What is Stafford Hollow Historic District?
A special part of Stafford Hollow, about 0.26 square miles (0.67 square kilometers) in size, is known as the Stafford Hollow Historic District. A historic district is an area that has been recognized for its important history and old buildings. This district includes buildings with different styles, like Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, and Late Victorian architecture. Newer houses built in the 1900s around the edges of the village are not part of this special district.
A Look Back: The Old Furnace
Long ago, in 1779, Stafford Hollow was home to a special factory called a blast furnace. This furnace, known as Phelps blast furnace, was used to melt and process bog iron ore. Bog iron ore is a type of iron found in swampy areas.
People say that this furnace made important items for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. It produced cannon and cannonballs, along with kettles and pots. The furnace kept working until 1840, when all the local iron ore had been used up.
Important Buildings in the District
The Stafford Hollow Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it is a place that is important to the history of the United States. The district includes five of the most important buildings in the Town of Stafford.
One of these buildings is the Pinney School. This school was built in 1895 and shows the Queen Anne style of architecture. Another interesting spot is the site of the Valley Cotton Mill. This mill was destroyed in 1900, and only its ruins remain today.
