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Historic Middlesex County Jail, Haddam CT
The Middlesex County Jail in Haddam, Connecticut, is a historic stone prison that dates back to 1845. It served as the county’s principal jail for over a century, housing inmates who had more freedoms than those in other institutions—they even grew vegetables and played baseball near the river. Haddam and Middletown were designated as half-shire towns when Middlesex County was formed in 1785, meaning each town had to maintain a courthouse and jail. Despite ongoing debates about consolidating the county’s judicial facilities, Haddam managed to retain its courthouse and jail, which contributed to the town’s economic growth. The jail officially closed in 1969, but efforts have been made to convert…
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First District Schoolhouse, Harwinton CT
Cheryl, myself and Molly headed out to Harwinton to add this beautiful old schoolhouse to our collection. They watched from my truck. I put a rain cover on my cameras to protect it from the light rain that was falling that day (although not really visible in the pictures). The First District Schoolhouse in Harwinton, Connecticut, has quite a history! Originally built in 1840, it was one of 12 one-room district schoolhouses in the town. The building was relocated in 1972 by the Harwinton Lions Club to its current spot across from the post office on Route 118, and it was restored the following year by the Harwinton Historical Society.…
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Plumtrees School, Bethel CT
Chery, myself and Molloy (our dog) pulled into the driveway of the Plumtrees School and I was able to capture this photograph. The Plumtrees School in Bethel, Connecticut, is a historic one-room schoolhouse built in 1867 on land donated by Eliza Benedict. It originally served the Plumtrees District, one of Bethel’s five school districts at the time. Over the years, the school underwent several changes: – In 1881, a cupola and bell were added to the building. – In 1957, it was closed for renovations, during which electricity and indoor plumbing were installed for the first time. – It reopened in 1962 as a kindergarten but was permanently closed in…
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District School # 3, Glastonbury CT
This post is part of a continuing series called “one room schoolhouses”. To view other one room schoolhouses in CT and RI access the search menu in the top right corner of the homepage and enter “schoolhouse”. While in Glastonbury I photographed the Distinct School No. 3, built in 1820. It was known as the Green School because it served students from the Hubbard Green area. It first opened to students in 1820 and in 1934, it was converted into a private residence, making it one of the schoolhouses that now serves as a home. 1 1 Information above derived from Microsoft Copilot Photographed with a Sony A7RV, 61mp, mirrorless…
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The Old Farm School, Bloomfield CT
This post is part of a continuing series called “one room schoolhouses”. To view other one room schoolhouses in CT and RI access the search menu in the top right corner of the homepage and enter “schoolhouse”. Cheryl, myself and our dog Molloy stopped by this historic two room schoolhouse to add it to our collection. The Old Farm School, also known as the Brick School, in Bloomfield, Connecticut is a historic schoolhouse located at the intersection of Park Avenue and School Street in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Built in 1796, it holds the distinction of being the oldest surviving public building in Bloomfield. Before the brick structure was constructed, a log…
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“The Old Cider Mill”, Glastonbury CT
The Old Cider Mill 287 Main Street Glastonbury CT PH: 860 657-9197 Cheryl, Molloy (our dog) and I dropped by The Old Cider Mill on a Sunday winter afternoon. The facility was closed and unoccupied so getting an unencumbered good shot was easy. *The Old Cider Mill in Glastonbury, Connecticut, holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating cider mill in the United States. Its history dates back to the early 19th century, though the current building was constructed around the 1870s. Over the years, it has become a cherished landmark, offering a glimpse into the region’s agricultural heritage. Per their website it appears Riverview Farms operates the mill.…
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West St. One Room Schoolhouse, Southington CT
This blog entry is part of an ongoing project called “One Room Schoolhouses in CT”). If you’re interested in the history of one room schoolhouses in CT I suggest you purchase CONNECTICUT SCHOOLHOUSES THROUGH TIME by Melinda K. Elliott. This book was has been a very helpful resource for me as I did my research. At time of writing this book was available on AMAZON. West St. Schoolhouse 1432 West St. Southington CT 06489 This is a very beautiful one room schoolhouse that is in reasonably good condition. The West St. schoolhouse was rebuilt in 1762 after a fire burned down the original schoolhouse. It was home to students until 1945…
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Lyman Residence – Middlefield, CT
[wzslider height=”800″ lightbox=”true”]The following is an exact “copy and paste” from wikipedia: The Lyman Homestead: “The David Lyman II House, also known as the Lyman Homestead, is a historic house at 5 Lyman Road in Middlefield, Connecticut. It is a 2 1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, designed by New Haven architect Rufus G. Russell and built in 1863. It is among the best Gothic Revival structures in or around Middletown. The house is built in part on the foundation of a 1785 house that originally stood on the site. The property includes a number of outbuildings, including a period carriage house, and a gas house used to provide carbide lighting to the main…
