The War Office, also once known as the Capt. Joseph Trumble Store and Office, is a historic commercial building on the Lebanon Green in Lebanon, Connecticut, built about 1732 as a commercial building. It is most significant as the place from which Governor Jonathan Trumbull conducted military business during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. It is now part of the museum property managed by the Connecticut Society of the

Sons of the American Revolution The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. A non-profit corporation, it has described its purpose ...

that also includes the Trumbull House and the Wadsworth Stables. The building was listed on 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 War Office is located facing Lebanon's elongated village green on the west side of West Town Street north of the Governor Jonathan Trumbull House, a National Historic Landmark. It is a 1-1/2 story wood frame structure, with a gambrel roof, central brick chimney, and clapboarded exterior. Its façade has the main entrance on the left side and two sash windows irregularly spaced. The side elevations have single windows on the ground floor and attic levels. The interior is plainly finished and houses museum exhibits. The War Office was built around 1732 by Captain Joseph Trumbull as a place to conduct his merchant business, but it is most significant for its use during the

. It served as the war office of Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, with more than 1,000 councils of war taking place there. Visitors to the office included

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

, Rochambeau,

Lauzun Lauzun (; Languedocien: ''Lausun'') is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France. The village of Lauzun is located in the north of Lot et Garonne, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is separated from Périgord (Dordog ...

Lafayette Lafayette or La Fayette may refer to: People * Lafayette (name), a list of people with the surname Lafayette or La Fayette or the given name Lafayette * House of La Fayette, a French noble family ** Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757� ...

, Admiral de Ternay, Generals

Henry Knox Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806), a Founding Father of the United States, was a senior general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, serving as chief of artillery in most of Washington's campaigns. Following the ...

, John Sullivan, and

Israel Putnam Israel Putnam (January 7, 1718 – May 29, 1790), popularly known as "Old Put", was an American military officer and landowner who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). He als ...

, and political leaders

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of t ...

, and

John Jay John Jay (December 12, 1745 – May 17, 1829) was an American statesman, patriot, diplomat, abolitionist, signatory of the Treaty of Paris, and a Founding Father of the United States. He served as the second governor of New York and the f ...

. and The Lebanon Green was also where the French Army's cavalry wintered in 1780-81 before joining the rest of their army for the march to

Yorktown, Virginia Yorktown is a census-designated place (CDP) in York County, Virginia. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1682. Yorktown's population was 195 as of the 2010 census, while York Co ...

. The War Office was abandoned and in deteriorating condition when it was given to the Connecticut chapter of the

in 1891, and it has served as a museum since.

References

External links

Trumbull War Office
- CT Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution {{National Register of Historic Places Lebanon, Connecticut National Register of Historic Places in New London County, Connecticut Buildings and structures in New London County, Connecticut Historic places on the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Historic district contributing properties in Connecticut American Revolution on the National Register of Historic Places Military facilities on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut Museums in New London County, Connecticut History museums in Connecticut American Revolutionary War museums in Connecticut

Description and history

See also

References

External links