About this property
The Converse House and Barn are a historic residential property at 185 Washington Street in Norwich, Connecticut, built around 1870 for a local businessman and philanthropist. It is a prominent example of High Victorian Gothic architecture. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and is included in the Chelsea Parade Historic District. The Converse House is located a short way south of Norwich's triangular Chelsea Parade park, on the east side of Washington Street opposite Norton Court. It is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame Gothic Revival structure, with asymmetrical massing, vertical board siding, and a polychrome exterior. The front facade is dominated by a hip-roofed tower on the right, in front of which is a distinctive seven-sided porch. Front-facing windows are set in peaked-gable openings, and there is decorative woodwork attached to the steep Gothic roof gables. The interior features fine oak flooring, walnut paneling in the dining room, and a fireplace surround with Dutch landscape in tile. The barn appears to be of similar age to the house, which was built around 1870. The house is a prominent example of the High Victorian Gothic style. It was the home of Colonel Charles A. Converse, a local businessman and philanthropist. Converse is best known locally for donating the Converse Art Gallery to the Norwich Free Academy. National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. CT-260, "Colonel Converse House, 185 Washington Street, Norwich, New London County, CT", 9 photos, 5 data pages, supplemental material HABS No. CT-263, "Colonel Converse Barn, 185 Washington Street, Norwich, New London County, CT", 1 photo, 2 data pages, supplemental material
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Converse House and Barn
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Questions about this property
When was Converse House and Barn listed on the National Register?
Converse House and Barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 5, 1970.
What type of historic resource is Converse House and Barn?
Converse House and Barn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Converse House and Barn?
The period of significance for Converse House and Barn is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1870.
Can I research the history near Converse House and Barn?
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