Washington Street Historic District

The Washington Street Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Originally Boston Road, it was renamed after George Washington’s visit to Middletown in 1789.

The deKoven House:

Captain Benjamin Williams built an impressive brick house in Middletown in 1791.
Benjamin Williams came to America from the Island of Bermuda when a young man, and settled in Middletown, Connecticut, where he died June 15. 1812, at the age of forty-five years. He built and lived in the house on East Washington street subsequently known as the De Koven place, and at present as the Wadsworth House, He became a large ship owner and had many vessels plying between the East and West Indies and the port of Middletown, the towns on the Connecticut river having extensive shipping interests in those days. Then came the war of 1812, and French privateers captured the greater number of his ships. He expected that the government would reimburse him for this loss, and died in the hope that his widow would receive what was her due, but this was never done.

The house was later owned by Henry L. deKoven, who was also involved in merchant shipping and was the first president of the Middlesex County Bank in 1830. In 1900. the house passed to Clarence Seymour Wadsworth, who used it as a business office after he built the Mansion on his Long Hill Estate. In 1941, he bequeathed the house to the Rockfall Corporation, which he had founded in 1935 and has been dedicated to environmental education, conservation projects and planning initiatives in Middlesex County. Restored in 1942, the house opened as a Community Center for non-profit organizations in Middlesex County.

Stueck’s Modern Tavern:

In 1893, Jacob Stueck built the commercial structure at 460 Main Street in Middletown, which housed his bakery. In 1914, his son, Philip Stueck, built an attached structure at 62-70 Washington Street. Philip operated a restaurant on the upper level, called Stueck’s Modern Tavern, and rented out the first floor to various retail shops. The restaurantremained in business until 1939. The Renaissance Revival building, which features bold notched brick-work, was sold to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1946.

The Wetmore-Starr House (1752):

Built around 1752, on Washington Street in Middletown by Jeremiah Wetmore, on property that had once been part of the 1670 land grant to Rev. Samuel Stow, the town’s first minister. The house was purchased by Jehosaphat Starr in 1756, who enlarged the original central chimney home with an addition to the east elevation. This was done to accommodate his large family, which eventually grew to 14. Starr, a Major during the Revolutionary War, was married to Sarah Stow, who was a great-grand niece of Rev. Samuel Stow. The house remained in the family until 1851.
Click For More Information On This House: www.connecticutcommunities.org/

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