Marion Historic District (Cheshire and Southington, Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
The Marion Historic District is a historic district
in the Marion section
of Southington
in Hartford County, Connecticut
. The district also includes two houses on the Cheshire
side of the town line
between Southington and the town
of Cheshire in New Haven County
. The historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1988. Architectural styles in the district include Greek Revival, Italianate and Federal.
It includes the Asa Barnes Tavern (also known as the Levi B. Frost House
) and the Federal
style Barnes-Frost House
, which are separately listed on the National Register.
and his troops during the American Revolutionary War
. In June 1781, the French troops under Rochambeau's command left Farmington
and marched 13 miles to their eighth camp through Connecticut, near Asa Barnes's Tavern in the Marion section of Southington. They camped there for four days. Rochambeau and his officers took shelter in the tavern, and the troops set up camp on a hill on the other side of the road. The area of the encampment has since become known as French Hill, and a marker on the east side of Marion Avenue commemorates the French campsite. According to Rev. Timlow's Sketches of Southington (1875), "Landlord Barnes gave a ball at his tavern, at which a large number of the young women of the vicinity were present; and they esteemed it something of an honor to have had a 'cotillion' with the polite foreigner." The celebrations—infused with spirits provided by Landlord Barnes—spanned the four nights they were in Southington. Rochambeau revisited Asa Barnes's Tavern again on the return march on October 27, 1782. According to Timlow's Ecclesiastical and Other Sketches of Southington, Conn., coins, buttons and other things were picked up in the vicinity many years after the two encampments. The Asa Barnes Tavern is now a private residence very near the camp site at 1089 Marion Avenue.
The Marion Historic District does not have local historic district designation. The town of Southington has not established local historic districts and the portion of the district that is located in the town of Cheshire is not included in either of that town's two local historic districts.
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
in the Marion section
Marion, Connecticut
Marion is a neighborhood in the town of Southington in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is generally the area in the vicinity of the intersection of Route 322 and Marion Avenue just north of the Cheshire town line....
of Southington
Southington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...
in Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
. The district also includes two houses on the Cheshire
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
side of the town line
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
between Southington and the town
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
of Cheshire in New Haven County
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
. The historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1988. Architectural styles in the district include Greek Revival, Italianate and Federal.
It includes the Asa Barnes Tavern (also known as the Levi B. Frost House
Levi B. Frost House
The Levi B. Frost House, also known as Asa Barnes Tavern, is an historic house at 1089 Marion Avenue in the Marion section of Southington, Connecticut, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and historic significance.Asa Barnes established a tavern in this...
) and the Federal
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
style Barnes-Frost House
Barnes-Frost House
The Barnes-Frost House in Marion section of Southington, Connecticut, was built in 1795. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.It was included as a contributing building in the Marion Historic District....
, which are separately listed on the National Register.
Rochambeau visit
Marion is the site of an encampment by the French general, Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de RochambeauJean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
Marshal of France Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general who participated in the American Revolutionary War as the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force which came to help the American Continental Army...
and his troops during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. In June 1781, the French troops under Rochambeau's command left Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
and marched 13 miles to their eighth camp through Connecticut, near Asa Barnes's Tavern in the Marion section of Southington. They camped there for four days. Rochambeau and his officers took shelter in the tavern, and the troops set up camp on a hill on the other side of the road. The area of the encampment has since become known as French Hill, and a marker on the east side of Marion Avenue commemorates the French campsite. According to Rev. Timlow's Sketches of Southington (1875), "Landlord Barnes gave a ball at his tavern, at which a large number of the young women of the vicinity were present; and they esteemed it something of an honor to have had a 'cotillion' with the polite foreigner." The celebrations—infused with spirits provided by Landlord Barnes—spanned the four nights they were in Southington. Rochambeau revisited Asa Barnes's Tavern again on the return march on October 27, 1782. According to Timlow's Ecclesiastical and Other Sketches of Southington, Conn., coins, buttons and other things were picked up in the vicinity many years after the two encampments. The Asa Barnes Tavern is now a private residence very near the camp site at 1089 Marion Avenue.
Significant properties
The historic district includes 34 primary contributing properties. These include:- Asa Barnes Tavern, 1089 Marion Avenue, a Greek Revival/Colonial structure that is itself individually listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. - Miles Upson House, 1316 Marion Avenue, a one-story gable front Colonial example, "perhaps the oldest house in the district to retain its original form" (See photo #3 in photos accompanying NRHP nomination)
- The Lester Beecher House, 1166 Marion Avenue, has been termed a Queen Anne style house for its irregular massing and 3 story tower.
Historic district designation
The Marion Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 21, 1988, as a result of a nomination submitted by the Connecticut Historical Commission in July 1988. The nomination described the district as being architecturally significant "as a collection of well-preserved buildings dating from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries which together reflect the historical development of the Marion community of Southington." Contributing properties in the district were described as representing three distinct periods on Marion's history: "early agricultural development" from about 1770 to 1842, "19th-century industrial activity and community growth" from 1842 to 1900, and "early suburban growth" from 1914 to 1938.The Marion Historic District does not have local historic district designation. The town of Southington has not established local historic districts and the portion of the district that is located in the town of Cheshire is not included in either of that town's two local historic districts.