Nehemiah Hubbard House

Hubbard, Nehemiah, House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	Middletown, Connecticut
Coordinates:	41°32′17″N 72°40′52″W / 41.53806°N 72.68111°W / 41.53806; -72.68111Coordinates: 41°32′17″N 72°40′52″W / 41.53806°N 72.68111°W / 41.53806; -72.68111
Built:	1745
Architect:	Kelly,J. Frederick; Isham,Norman M.
Architectural style:	Colonial
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	82003771[1]
Added to NRHP:	May 11, 1982

Description

Address: Corner of Laurel Grove and Wadsworth Street, Middletown, Connecticut
Style: Center-Chimney Colonial
Date of Construction: 1744
Materials: Clapboard siding and brownstone foundation with wood shingle roof
Structural System: Wood frame, Post and beam with Gable roof
Architect: Unknown
Builder: Unknown
Historic Use: Residence
Current Use: Residence

Relationship to Surroundings

This colonial saltbox house is sited on a large lot at the rural western edge of Middletown. Screened from the front by bushes, trees, and a stone wall, and on the east by a cedar paling fence, the house is very secluded. A two-story gambrel-roofed wing on the west, a two car garage on the north, and a large nineteenth century barn south of the house complete the estate.

Significance

This house was the home of Nehemiah Hubbard, prominent banker and merchant of late eighteenth century Middletown. The land, part of an original 226-acre (0.91 km²) tract, belonged to the Hubbard family, noted early settlers of the town, for a number of generations. Nehemiah was in the fourth generation of Middletown Hubbards. Although the house was some distance from the commercial section of Middletown, Hubbard used the property as a home and for extensive farming operations. Nehemiah Hubbard was Deputy Quartermaster for Middletown during the American Revolutionary War, and was the first President of the Middletown Bank. The house remained in the Hubbard family through the nineteenth century. Early in the 20th century, it was the home of Thomas McDonough Russell, Sr.

This 1744 center-chimney saltbox retains most of its early features, both interior and exterior. The main fireplace with its beehive oven measures over eight feet wide. Much early hardware remains. The two-story gambrel-roofed "kitchen wing" is added, but is sympathetic in style with the original house. The house underwent restoration in 1929 by the Colonel Wadsworth family.

Current Use and Condition

It continues to be used as a residence.

References

Connecticut portal

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2006-03-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 

• Middletown, Connecticut Historical and Architectural Resources. Volume III, Card Number 146. Roger Sherman. August, 1978.