The Willard Homestead is a historic house at 372 Willard Avenue the
Newington Junction
Newington Junction is a section of the town of Newington, Connecticut. It is centered at the intersection of Willard Avenue ( Route 173) and West Hill Road in the northwestern part of the town, in the area generally just south of the Hartford ci ...
area of the town of
Newington, Connecticut
Newington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Located south of downtown Hartford, Newington is an older, mainly residential suburb located in Greater Hartford. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,536. The Connecticu ...
. Construction of the house is estimated to have been in 1730, based on architectural evidence. In addition to being a well-preserved 18th-century house, it is locally significant for its association with the Willard family, who were early settlers of the Newington area.
[ and ] The house 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 v ...
in 1986.
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Description and history
The Willard Homestead is located between Newington's town center and Newington Junction
Newington Junction is a section of the town of Newington, Connecticut. It is centered at the intersection of Willard Avenue ( Route 173) and West Hill Road in the northwestern part of the town, in the area generally just south of the Hartford ci ...
, on the east side of Willard Avenue. It is a -story wood-frame structure, five bays wide, with a large central chimney, clapboarded exterior, and a dry-laid brownstone foundation. A two-story ell extends to the rear of the house. The interior of the house retains a great many original features, including woodwork and plaster, and some of the original hardware. The interior follows a fairly typical central-chimney plan, with a narrow entry vestibule with winding staircase, chambers on either side, and the original kitchen at the rear, with small chambers in each of the rear corners.[
The house was built about 1730, based on architectural analysis and deed research. The land on which it stands was granted to the Willard family in 1670, when the area was still part of Wethersfield. It remained in the Willard family until the mid-19th century. Josiah Willard, who was raised in this house, was Newington's first parish clerk, and is credited with naming the town. Both he and a later resident also served as local school teachers.][
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See also
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References
{{National Register of Historic Places
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
Houses completed in 1730
Newington, Connecticut
Houses in Hartford County, Connecticut
National Register of Historic Places in Hartford County, Connecticut