William Jillson Stone House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William Jillson Stone House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 561 Main St., Willimantic, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1825 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000912 |
| Added to NRHP | August 05, 1971 |
The William Jillson Stone House is a special old building located at 561 Main Street in Willimantic, Connecticut. It sits inside Jillson Square Park. This house was built a long time ago, between 1825 and 1827. It's unique because it's made of stone, which was not common for houses in the area back then.
The house belonged to William Jillson, an important person who helped start industries in Willimantic. Today, the Windham Historical Society takes care of it. The house is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
About the House
The William Jillson Stone House is a two-story building. It's made from strong, local granite stones. These stones are laid in a pattern of wide and narrow rows. The walls of the house are very thick, about 17 inches (43 cm) wide!
There's also a smaller, one-story part of the house that sticks out to the right. The front of the house has five windows and a main door in the middle. The door is set inside a rounded archway. Inside, the house has a central hallway with rooms on either side. The wooden decorations around the doors and fireplaces are quite simple.
Who Was William Jillson?
This house is important because it was the home of William Jillson. He was born in Cumberland, Rhode Island. William Jillson was one of the first people to buy rights to use the water power from the Willimantic Falls. This water power was very important for running machines in factories.
William and his brothers started several mills in the area. These mills eventually grew into a very large company called the American Thread Company. For many years, this company was the biggest employer in Willimantic. The house itself was built using the same type of stone that came from the river bed, just like the materials used for some of the mills.
House History and Restoration
After William Jillson passed away, the house was divided into several apartments. For a while, one of the mills even used it for storage. In 1920, it became a single-family home again.
Later, some local people who cared about history saved the house from being torn down. In the 1970s, the historical society worked to restore it. Today, the rooms inside the house are decorated to show what a home might have looked like for an important industrialist in the early 1800s. It's like stepping back in time!
See also
