Wilfred X. Johnson House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wilfred X. Johnson House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 206 Tower Ave., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000765 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 1994 |
The Wilfred X. Johnson House is a special old house located at 206 Tower Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. It was built in 1928. From 1966 until he passed away, this house was the home of Wilfred X. Johnson (1920-1972). He was a very important person because he was the first African-American to become a state representative in Connecticut. This house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, which means it's an important historical landmark.
What Does the Wilfred X. Johnson House Look Like?
The Wilfred X. Johnson House is in the northern part of Hartford. It sits on Tower Avenue, between Barbour and Hampton Streets. The back of the property is right next to Keney Park, a large city park.
The house has two and a half floors. It is built with bricks and has wooden decorations. The roof is shaped like a hip roof, which means it slopes down on all four sides. On the front of the house, there's a small window section called a dormer. There are also smaller sections, or wings, extending from each side of the main house.
The front of the house has three main sections. The front door is in the middle. It has a small porch with a gabled roof, which looks like a triangle. The porch is supported by columns that match the decorations around the door. On either side of the door, there are groups of three windows. The windows on the upper floor are arranged in a special pattern. The side wings also have groups of three windows. Some of the windows still have their original diamond-shaped glass panes. Inside, the house has a central hallway with rooms on both sides.
This house was built in 1928. It is a good example of the "Colonial Revival" style of architecture from that time. In 1966, Wilfred and Gertrude Johnson bought this house.
Who Was Wilfred X. Johnson?
Wilfred Johnson was born in Georgia. He moved to Hartford as a child with his family. He went to school right here in Hartford.
He started working as a messenger at the Hartford National Bank. He worked hard and made history in 1955. He became the first African-American bank teller in Connecticut. This was a big step forward for equality.
Wilfred Johnson was also very active in the local Democratic Party. He cared about his community and wanted to make a difference. In 1958, he was elected to the state legislature. This made him the first African-American to serve as a state representative in Connecticut. A state representative is someone elected by people to speak for them and make laws in the state government.
His wife, Gertrude Johnson, was also very involved in the Democratic Party. She worked hard to help make sure that schools in the city had a fair mix of students from all backgrounds.
