The New London County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located at 70 Huntington Street at the top of State Street in
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...
. It was built in 1784–86, and its design is attributed to Isaac Fitch. It is the oldest courthouse in Connecticut according to a plaque on the building, and the State of Connecticut Superior Court sits there. It was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1970.
Description and history
The New London County Courthouse is prominently situated at the junction of State and Huntington Streets in downtown
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...
. It is a 2½ story wood-frame structure topped by a gambrel roof with an octagonal cupola at its center. Its exterior is seven bays wide and finished in wooden clapboards. Corners on the first floor are finished with wooden quoin blocks scored to resemble stone, while pilasters are used on the second floor corners. The central bay of the main facade is wider than the others and projects slightly, with a gabled top. The sides of this projection are finished similarly to the building corners. The main entrance is in the center, framed by quoin blocks, with a
Palladian window in the second-story bay above.
The courthouse was built in 1784, its design attributed to
Isaac Fitch. It has served other purposes besides a courthouse, including a
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. ...
hospital in the 1790s and a recruiting center for the
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
. Town meetings and other civic affairs were also held here for many years.
[ An addition constructed in 1909 was designed by Dudley St. Clair Donnelly."Architects & Architecture: Pride of Place: The Architects who transformed New London"]
on the ''New London Landmarks'' website
See also
*
References
External links
*
{{National Register of Historic Places, state=collapsed
Courthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
Government buildings completed in 1784
County courthouses in Connecticut
Buildings and structures in New London, Connecticut
National Register of Historic Places in New London County, Connecticut