Preston City Historic District
Encyclopedia
Preston City Historic District is a historic district
that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It includes the center of the village of Preston City
in the town
of Preston, Connecticut
. The district is located along Old Shetucket and Amos Roads, which, prior to the 1930s, were major thoroughfares.
The historic district was listed on the National Register in 1987. It includes 24 contributing building
s, one other contributing structure, another contributing site, and three contributing objects. It includes representation of Greek Revival
, Georgian, and Federal architectural styles.
with Preston City as the focus for transporting farm goods to the larger town.
The Preston City Baptist Church was built in 1812. The building was turned to a different orientation, and its "three-stage steeple and bell tower with a pyramidal roof" were added later, in 1832.
The James Treat House is the largest residence and is located prominently on Amos Road. The "Mott and Downer House", a five-bay colonial house, are both on Amos Road and were both built before the American Revolutionary War.
The Calvin Barstow House, a Georgian
colonial house surrounded by a picket fence, was built during 1786-1800. It includes a meeting room for the St. James Masonic Temple.
The Aron B. Gates House, c. 1830 on Northwest Corner Road, is a Greek Revival
building. It has a c.1900 barn.
The Thomas Meech House, built in 1795, on Northwest Corner Road, is Federal/Colonial. It includes a facade overhang that is unique within the district.
The Rev. Augustus Collins House, c. 1830, on Shetucket Road, is Greek Revival
.
The "Old Town Pound" on Amos Road is a stone wall enclosure. It served as a pound
, a common feature of British medieval villages (where stray livestock might be held).
One house, the Ephraim Jones House, used to be the poorhouse
of Preston and was originally built in 1733.
Other contributing elements include the Civil War Monument and Mott Memorial, erected in 1898.
Non-contributing elements include a Revolutionary War Monument dating from 1967 and the Downer-Doane Memorial Park, which, as of 1986, is maintained by the Preston Historical Society.
As of 1986, the district's area included only three modern intrusions.
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...
that was listed on 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...
. It includes the center of the village of 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...
in the town
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, Connecticut
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:...
. The district is located along Old Shetucket and Amos Roads, which, prior to the 1930s, were major thoroughfares.
The historic district was listed on the National Register in 1987. It includes 24 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, one other contributing structure, another contributing site, and three contributing objects. It includes representation of Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
, Georgian, and Federal architectural styles.
Historical significance
Preston City was established in 1686 as the town center for the newly designated town of Preston. The town of Preston was initially setup as an agricultural community for the port town of NorwichNorwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
with Preston City as the focus for transporting farm goods to the larger town.
Contributing properties
Contributing properties in the district include a church, a library, a blacksmith shop, a former tavern, and a poorhouse, as well as houses and some barns. All buildings are of wood-frame construction.The Preston City Baptist Church was built in 1812. The building was turned to a different orientation, and its "three-stage steeple and bell tower with a pyramidal roof" were added later, in 1832.
The James Treat House is the largest residence and is located prominently on Amos Road. The "Mott and Downer House", a five-bay colonial house, are both on Amos Road and were both built before the American Revolutionary War.
The Calvin Barstow House, a Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
colonial house surrounded by a picket fence, was built during 1786-1800. It includes a meeting room for the St. James Masonic Temple.
The Aron B. Gates House, c. 1830 on Northwest Corner Road, is a Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
building. It has a c.1900 barn.
The Thomas Meech House, built in 1795, on Northwest Corner Road, is Federal/Colonial. It includes a facade overhang that is unique within the district.
The Rev. Augustus Collins House, c. 1830, on Shetucket Road, is Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
.
The "Old Town Pound" on Amos Road is a stone wall enclosure. It served as a pound
Pound (village)
The Village pound was a feature of most British medieval villages.A high walled and lockable structure it served several purposes; the most common use was to hold stray sheep, pigs and cattle until they were claimed by the owners, usually for the payment of a fine or levy. The pound could be as...
, a common feature of British medieval villages (where stray livestock might be held).
One house, the Ephraim Jones House, used to be the poorhouse
Poorhouse
A poorhouse or workhouse was a government-run facility in the past for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality....
of Preston and was originally built in 1733.
Other contributing elements include the Civil War Monument and Mott Memorial, erected in 1898.
Non-contributing elements include a Revolutionary War Monument dating from 1967 and the Downer-Doane Memorial Park, which, as of 1986, is maintained by the Preston Historical Society.
As of 1986, the district's area included only three modern intrusions.
External links
- Old Church, Preston City, New London County, CT: one photo and supplemental material, at Historic American Building Survey
- House Opposite the Church, Preston City, New London County, CT: two photos and supplemental material, at Historic American Building Survey