Mansion House.
Mansion House was a term used in early land records when referring to a two-story dwelling. This rare survivor, built by a very wealthy individual is a first period Connecticut two over two that epitomized the Mansion House, measuring 20’4” in depth x 46’10” in length. The original portion is framed in oak, chestnut and pine, the longer timbers are hewn and the shorter timbers are mechanically sawn. All the girts, plates and summers are beaded. There is 8’ feet clearance on both floors between the underside of the summers and the flooring. The posts, straight on the first floor and shouldered on the second are chamfered with wind braces of at least 7’ feet long at every corner. The first floor walls were originally filled with nogging. The layout is asymmetric with the parlor and parlor chamber measuring 19’5” x 19’8” and the hall and hall chamber measuring 17’3” x 19’5” while the porch is 9’6” in width. The first period front stairway, dogleg to the left, retains its handrail and newel posts with a drop finial. Original flooring exists on the second floor and in the attic. Some four-panel doors 36” in width have survived along with a first period curved back corner cupboard.
The house was enlarged in circa 1830 by adding 12’ onto the rear making the new depth 32’4”. In the process, a post and purlin frame was installed in the attic to support the reuse of the original rafters on the front side, in two pieces, and new one-piece rafters on the rear. The original stone chimney was removed at the time of expansion and replaced with five brick fireplaces and a brick chimney through the roof.
The building is to be dismantled.
(William Gould Architectural Preservation LLC is not responsible for errors or omissions in text or content displayed on this site and no offers are made except through a written proposal from the company.) HISTORIC HOUSE OR BARN NEEDS RESCUE? A dedicated preservationist, William Gould Architectural Preservation, LLC has long worked to save historic houses and barns endangered by change and development. Unfortunately, such structures are being condemned at a faster rate than we can find homes for them. Consequently, while we remain very interested to hear about your antique building, we must be selective so that we can continue to effectively advocate for the buildings that we have. Our online endangered house and barn form will help you to tell us what we need to know in order to advise you on the most effective course of action to save your important historic structure.
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The Building Artisans Guild
