David Humphreys House
Description and history
The Humphreys House is located in southern Ansonia, on the east side of Elm Street north of Vose Street. It is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, with a gabled roof, central chimney, and clapboarded exterior. Its main facade is five bays wide, with sash windows arranged symmetrically around a center entrance. The entrance is slightly recessed, with a shallow projection gabled portico. The interior retains many original early features, include a large fireplace in the rear chamber, and hand-carved wall paneling. The house underwent major restorative work in the late 20th century.
David Humphreys was born in this house in 1752, when the area was still part of Derby. Humphreys was a friend of and aide de camp to General George Washington and was nominated by President Washington to become the first ambassador of the United States to a foreign country (Portugal). He was also responsible for introducing merino sheep to Connecticut, brought over when he United States Ambassador to Spain. The historic house museum has been restored to a mid-18th-century appearance, and serves as the headquarters for the Derby Historical Society.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Connecticut
- National Register of Historic Places listings in New Haven County, Connecticut
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ http://derbyhistorical.org/humphrey.htm Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine Derby Historical Society website retrieved on 2009-05-11
- ^ "NRHP nomination for General David Humphreys House". National Park Service. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
External links
- General David Humphreys House Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine - Derby Historical Society