Stanton–Davis Homestead Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Robert Stanton House
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Stanton-Davis Homestead
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Green Haven Rd., Stonington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 227 acres (92 ha) |
| Built | 1670-1700 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002648 |
| Added to NRHP | June 04, 1979 |
The Stanton–Davis Homestead Museum is a very old house in Stonington, Connecticut. It was built around the year 1700. For over 350 years, the Davis family lived and worked on this farm. Today, a group called the Stanton-Davis Society is working to fix up the house. They want to turn it into a museum for everyone to visit and learn from.
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Discovering the Old Stanton-Davis Homestead
The Stanton-Davis Homestead is in the southeastern part of Stonington. You can find it where Green Haven Road meets Osbrook Point Road. The most important part of this homestead is the main house itself.
What the Historic House Looks Like
The main house is a two-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has a pointy roof with a chimney in the middle. The outside walls are covered with wooden shingles. A special feature is its overhanging side gables. This means the upper part of the house sticks out a bit on the sides. This design shows just how old the house is! The roof edges, called eaves, are also longer than those on most houses from that time.
Inside the Colonial Home
When you go inside, the house has a classic layout for its age. There's a narrow hallway with a staircase right in the middle. This staircase has beautifully carved wooden posts and railings. People think these fancy carvings might have come from England! You can also see finely carved wooden panels and a built-in cabinet from the 1700s. What's interesting is that this house never had modern heating systems. People kept warm only with its fireplaces.
A Journey Through Time: The Homestead's History
The story of the Stanton-Davis Homestead goes back a long way. It involves some of the first people to settle in Stonington.
The First Owners: The Stanton Family
Thomas Stanton was one of the very first settlers in Stonington. He set up a trading post in a place called Pawcatuck in 1649. He built this house around 1670. Later, his great-grandson, Robert Stanton, used the farm as a promise for money he borrowed in 1764.
New Hands: The Davis Family Takes Over
Robert Stanton couldn't pay back the money by 1765. So, two men named Thomas Fanning and Ezra L'Hommedieu became the owners of the farm. They rented the property to John Davis, who was from Long Island. John Davis liked the farm so much that he bought it completely in 1772. The Davis family then owned this property for many, many years, right up until the late 1900s.
Preserving History: A Museum for the Future
In the late 20th century, the Davis family decided to create a special foundation. This foundation's goal was to protect the homestead. They wanted to make sure this important piece of history would be saved. Now, the Stanton–Davis Homestead is being turned into a museum. It will help future generations learn about life in early Connecticut.
Images for kids
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The historic Stanton-Davis Homestead
