Poquetanuck
Encyclopedia
Poquetanuck is a village in the town
of Preston
, Connecticut
, located near the banks of a bay known as Poquetanuck Cove that opens to the Thames River
. The village includes the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP)-listed Poquetanuck Village Historic District.
Historically, Poquetanuck was one of three distinct settlements in the town of Preston, the others being Preston City
and Long Society. The village of Poquetanuck was the site of shipbuilding
activity.
The historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 1996. It includes representations of Colonial, Mid 19th Century Revival, and Late Victorian architectural styles. At the time of the 1996 listing, there were 39 contributing building
s, two other contributing structures, and one contributing site in the district. In its National Register nomination, the district was described as "a well-preserved, cohesive, and densely built concentration of primarily 18th-century and early 19th-century village residences....[It has] the identity of location, feeling, and association of a center of colonial and early 19th-century daily life."
One contributing property
in the historic district
is a home built in 1754 by sea captain William Gonzales Grant which currently houses a bed and breakfast inn.
Route 2A, a two-lane undivided highway, passes through Poquetanuck. Increased traffic volumes on this road, attributed to the nearby Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun
casino
s, are considered to be a threat to the historic character of the village.
A 234 acres (94.7 ha) tract with about one mile of shore frontage on Poquetanuck Cove belongs to The Nature Conservancy
, which maintains it as Poquetanuck Cove Preserve.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
of Preston
Preston, Connecticut
Preston is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,688 at the 2000 census. The town includes the villages of Long Society, Preston City, and Poquetanuck.-History:...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, located near the banks of a bay known as Poquetanuck Cove that opens to the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
. The village includes the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP)-listed Poquetanuck Village Historic District.
Historically, Poquetanuck was one of three distinct settlements in the town of Preston, the others being Preston City
Preston City, Connecticut
Preston City is a village and the original town center of the town of Preston, Connecticut. The core of the village around the junction of Old Northwest Road and Route 164 is designated as the Preston City Historic District, a historic district that is listed on the National Register of Historic...
and Long Society. The village of Poquetanuck was the site of shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
activity.
The historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 1996. It includes representations of Colonial, Mid 19th Century Revival, and Late Victorian architectural styles. At the time of the 1996 listing, there were 39 contributing building
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
s, two other contributing structures, and one contributing site in the district. In its National Register nomination, the district was described as "a well-preserved, cohesive, and densely built concentration of primarily 18th-century and early 19th-century village residences....[It has] the identity of location, feeling, and association of a center of colonial and early 19th-century daily life."
One contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
in the historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
is a home built in 1754 by sea captain William Gonzales Grant which currently houses a bed and breakfast inn.
Route 2A, a two-lane undivided highway, passes through Poquetanuck. Increased traffic volumes on this road, attributed to the nearby Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the second largest casino in the United States with of gaming space. It is located on along the banks of the Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state's tourism is...
casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s, are considered to be a threat to the historic character of the village.
A 234 acres (94.7 ha) tract with about one mile of shore frontage on Poquetanuck Cove belongs to The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
, which maintains it as Poquetanuck Cove Preserve.
External links
- preston-ct.org, Heritage landscape and resource planning report andrecommendations.
- captaingrants.com, Bed and breakfast inn including several properties in the historic district