Russell Henry Chittenden House
Description and history
The Chittenden House is an irregularly shaped three-story brick structure with Queen Anne elements. It has projecting gabled sections, including a shingled projecting square turret at one corner. It has tall chimneys with corbelling and molded caps at the top. Although its interior has been remodeled to accommodate multiple units, the alterations retained much of the original interior decorative elements.
The house was purchased by Russell Henry Chittenden in 1887, probably from its builder, and was to remain his home until his death in 1943. Chittenden was born in New Haven in 1856, and studied chemistry at Yale. On a trip to Germany in 1878 to study with leading German chemists he became interested in the chemistry of digestion, which would become a lifelong study. He became a professor at Yale in 1882, and headed a laboratory in which the study of physiology and chemistry were combined. His principal innovations revolved around developing techniques and an understanding of the digestive process, in particular the role enzymes played in the breakdown of complex protein molecules. He also made early strides in the field of nutrition, setting the stage for later developments in that area. His influence also extended to the school itself, building one of the finest biochemistry departments in the nation.
The house was designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It is also a contributing building in New Haven's Hillhouse Avenue Historic District.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut
- National Register of Historic Places listings in New Haven, Connecticut
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Russell Henry Chittenden House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved October 3, 2007.
- ^ James Sheire (March 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Russell Henry Chittenden House / John C. Flanagan Law Office". National Park Service. and Accompanying one photo, exterior, from 1975
- ^ Mary McCahon; J. Paul Loether & John Herzan (December 17, 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Hillhouse Avenue Historic District". National Park Service. and Accompanying 22 photos, from 1979 and 1985