Willard Homestead (Newington, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Willard Homestead
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 372 Willard Ave., Newington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | c. 1730 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| MPS | Newington Junction MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003461 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 1986 |
The Willard Homestead is a very old and special house in Newington, Connecticut. It's located on Willard Avenue. Experts believe this house was built around 1730. That makes it almost 300 years old! It's important because it's a great example of an 18th-century home. It also belonged to the Willard family, who were among the first people to settle in Newington. Because of its history, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
What the Willard Homestead Looks Like
The Willard Homestead is found on the east side of Willard Avenue. It sits between Newington's town center and an area called Newington Junction. This house is made of wood and has two and a half stories.
It has five windows across the front. A large chimney is in the center of the house. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboards. The foundation, which is the base of the house, is made of brownstone rocks stacked without mortar.
Inside the Historic Home
A two-story section extends from the back of the house. Inside, many parts of the house are still original. This includes the wooden trim and plaster on the walls. Some of the old door handles and hinges are also still there.
The house has a common layout for homes of its time. When you enter, there's a small hallway with a winding staircase. Rooms are on both sides of this hallway. The original kitchen was at the back of the house. There were also small rooms in each of the back corners.
History of the Willard Family Home
The Willard Homestead was built around 1730. This date comes from looking closely at how the house was built. Experts also studied old property records. The land where the house stands was given to the Willard family way back in 1670. At that time, this area was part of Wethersfield.
The house stayed in the Willard family for a long time. They owned it until the mid-1800s. Josiah Willard grew up in this house. He became Newington's first parish clerk. He is also given credit for naming the town of Newington. Both Josiah and another person who lived in the house later on also worked as local school teachers.
