William A. Buckingham House facts for kids
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William A. Buckingham House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 307 Main Street, Norwich, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Part of | Downtown Norwich Historic District (ID85000707) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004379 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 29, 1982 |
| Designated CP | April 4, 1985 |
The William A. Buckingham House, also known as Buckingham Memorial Hall, is a special old building in Norwich, Connecticut. It was built in 1847 for William A. Buckingham. He later became the mayor of Norwich and even the Governor of Connecticut during the American Civil War. Since 1898, this house has been a meeting place for groups that help veterans and other community organizations. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 29, 1982.
About the Buckingham House
The Buckingham House is in downtown Norwich. It's a two-and-a-half story building made of brick. The main part of the house has three sections across the front. It has a sloped roof with a steep point above where the main door used to be. The roof edges stick out and have decorative blocks underneath them.
To the left side, there's a part of the building that is set back a bit. It has a porch with a curved metal roof. This roof is held up by posts with cool, open designs. Inside, many changes have been made over the years. But a few original things, like some fireplaces, are still there.
Who Was William A. Buckingham?
The house was built in 1847 for William A. Buckingham. He was an important person in Connecticut. He served as the mayor of Norwich. Later, he became the Governor of Connecticut. This was during the American Civil War, a very important time in American history. Governor Buckingham was known to have famous guests at his house, including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.
A Place for Veterans
In 1898, a group called the Grand Army of the Republic bought the house. This group was made up of soldiers who fought in the Civil War. They used the house as their meeting place. In the early 1980s, another group, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, also met there. This group is for descendants of soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War. Today, the house is used by different government and community service groups.
