Welles-Shipman-Ward House facts for kids
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Welles-Shipman-Ward House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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HABS photo, 1937
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 972 Main St., South Glastonbury, Connecticut |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1755 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Part of | South Glastonbury Historic District (ID84000250) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001418 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 19, 1977 |
| Designated CP | November 23, 1984 |
The Welles-Shipman-Ward House is a special historic house museum in South Glastonbury, Connecticut. It was built a long time ago, in 1755. This house is a great example of Georgian architecture, which was popular back then. It even has the biggest old-style fireplace in Connecticut!
The house gets its name from three important families who lived there. These were the Welles, Shipman, and Ward families. Because it's so old and important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Today, the Historical Society of Glastonbury takes care of this amazing old home.
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What Does the Welles-Shipman-Ward House Look Like?
The Welles-Shipman-Ward House is in South Glastonbury. You can find it on the east side of Main Street. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides and a chimney in the middle. The outside is covered with wooden boards called clapboards.
The front of the house has five sections with windows. The main door is in the middle and is a bit bigger. It has decorative columns on each side. These columns go up to a fancy top part. The windows on the first floor have small decorative tops. There's also another entrance on the right side of the house. It's not as fancy as the main one.
Who Lived in the Welles-Shipman-Ward House?
This house has a long and interesting history! It was built in 1755 as a wedding gift. John Welles received it from his father, Thomas.
The Shipman Family's Time in the House
Later, John's son George sold the house. It was bought by Stephen Shipman, Jr. He was a shipbuilder, a merchant, and a store owner. Stephen Shipman made some updates to the house's style. His family lived there for over 125 years!
How the Ward Family Saved the House
In 1929, a woman named Berdena Hart Ward bought the house. She decorated it in a cozy English country style. In 1963, Mrs. Ward gave the house and its land to the Historical Society of Glastonbury. She also gave them money to help take care of it.
Experts helped restore the house to its original look. Groups like the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities and the Metropolitan Museum of Art helped. They made sure the restoration was very accurate.
Was the House a School?
During the restoration, some old records were found. They showed that there used to be a schoolhouse on the property. This made people wonder if the main house was used as a place for students to live.
As they worked, they found carved initials and children's drawings. These were hidden under layers of plaster and paint. These discoveries made people think even more that schoolchildren might have stayed there.
Visiting the Welles-Shipman-Ward House Today
Today, the Historical Society of Glastonbury owns and cares for the house. They offer tours so people can see what life was like long ago. They also host many historical events for the community. It's a great place to learn about the past!
