NRHP Reference # 85001931 Added to NRHP 26 August 1985 | Area 85 ha | |
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Location New Preston Hill, Findley and Gunn Hill Rds., Washington, Connecticut Architectural style Colonial, Italianate, Federal | ||
The New Preston Hill Historic District encompasses a small rural 19th-century village center in the New Preston area of the town of Washington, in Litchfield County, Connecticut. Settled in the late 18th century, it is distinctive for its examples of stone architecture, include a rare Federal period stone church. The district, located at the junction of New Preston Road with Gunn Hill and Findlay Roads, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Description and history
The New Preston area was first settled in the 1750s, and the New Preston Hill junction was where its first meeting house was built in 1754. The area was by then of recognized significance for the crossroads, with New Preston Road serving as a stage route between Hartford, Connecticut and the Hudson River. The village supported the surrounding agricultural community, but declined in importance in the mid-19th century, when the village New Preston became more important for the water power the drove its industries.
The historic district encompasses about 210 acres (85 ha) around the junction of New Preston Road with Gunn Hill Road and Findlay Road. The main focus of the district is a triangular green, with the 1824 Old Stone Church as its main focus. This church has no heat or electricity and is used during the summer and for weddings. The church has another building, the "Village Church" that is used for the rest of the year, outside this district. The district includes other nine other mainly residential properties surrounding the green, and extending westward along New Preston Road.
There are 12 contributing buildings: