William Andrew House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William Andrew House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 131 Old Tavern Rd., Orange, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1775 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001695 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 2002 |
The William Andrew House is a very old and special building in Orange, Connecticut. It's also known as the Richard Bryan House or the Bryan-Andrew House. This house is now a historic house museum, which means you can visit it to learn about history!
It was built a long, long time ago, either around 1750 or 1775. This makes it the oldest building still standing in Orange. The house is a great example of Georgian colonial architecture, a popular style when America was first being settled. In 2002, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites across the country. Today, the local historical society takes care of it and runs it as a museum.
Contents
What Does the William Andrew House Look Like?
The William Andrew House is located in the southern part of Orange. You can find it on the north side of Old Tavern Road, close to the Indian River.
How Was the House Built?
This house is a one-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof (called a gabled roof) and a chimney right in the middle. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboards.
The house has some really cool old details:
- A fancy trim piece (cornice) above the front door.
- Special wooden panels (feather-edged sheathing) on the inside.
- Hand-split wooden strips (lath) that were put in place without using nails! This shows how much hard work went into building it.
The front of the house has five sections, with the main entrance in the middle. Above the front door, there's a window with many small glass panes (a multilight transom window). Inside, many of the original parts are still there. You can even see the hand-cut wooden beams that make up the house's frame. There are also sections that extend out the back, like lean-tos.
Who Lived in the William Andrew House?
Historians have different ideas about when the house was built and who lived there first.
Early History of the House
One idea is that the house was built around 1750 for the Bryan family. They were some of the first people to settle in an area called North Milford.
Another idea suggests it was built later, around 1775, for William Andrew. Some people think that earlier dates might be confusing this house with an even older one that is no longer standing.
From Farmhouse to Museum
Over the years, the house was used for different things. It even provided homes for people who worked on a dairy farm.
In 2000, the Town of Orange bought the house. They wanted to fix it up and turn it into a museum. Now, it's a place where everyone can learn about the history of Orange and what life was like long ago!
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