Prudence Crandall House
Encyclopedia
Prudence Crandall House, also known as Elisha Payne House and as the Prudence Crandall School for Negro Girls, is a historic house in Canterbury, Connecticut
. It is notable for having been the home of Prudence Crandall
, the abolitionist and educator, and the school which she ran from 1832 until 1834 when it was closed by mob violence. The building is now home to the Prudence Crandall Museum. For her brave actions at this home and school, Prudence Crandall is Connecticut's official state heroine.
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It was built in 1805 by or for one Elisha Payne.
Architecturally, the "house is a notable example of what has been termed the 'Canterbury type' because of several similar examples in the vicinity. It shows the peculiar roof form of gable
on hip
with twin chimneys, a triangular pediment
at the eaves above a projecting pavilion
at center of the facade, which carries a Palladian window lighting the stair hall at second floor level and an elaborate entrance doorway."
The main cornice around the entire house includes modillion blocks just above a Greek fret. The two front corners of the house sport "fluted pilasters on high bases", which "also flank the central pavilion, framing also in miniature the elements of the Palladian window, which exhibits keystone arches and Gothic arch muntins in the large section." The Gothic pattern is "repeated in the lunette
occupying the tympanum
of the roof-line pediment above, which also has modillions and Greek fret under the raking cornice." The Palladian window is the combination window on the 2nd story, including a central large window with over-window plus two narrow side windows, separated by pilasters.
The foundation is of dressed stone blocks.
Inside, the ornamental fireplace mantel
is original, as is the stairway and almost all moldings and other interior elements.
It was the site of a girls school run by Prudence Crandall during 1832–1834 that first had all-white students, then Crandall admitted one black girl, which made the school into what is believed to be the first integrated school in the United States. That led to immediate protest and withdrawal of the white girl students. The school was then was closed and reopened as an all-black school, first with three then eventually 24 students, mostly boarding students from out-of-state. The school was challenged locally and in court rulings up to the state supreme court level. The case became a "cause celebre
" nation-wide, and was subject of William Lloyd Garrison
's Liberator and other newspaper coverage.
The Connecticut legislature passed a law, the "Black Law" in 1833, which prohibited blacks from out-of-state to receive education unless the school's town specifically allowed it. Undaunted, Crandall proceeded. She was arrested and put in jail over one night in August 1833. Later, after receiving a court ruling in favor of the school, a mob attacked the school with clubs and iron bars, breaking 90 windows on September 9, 1834. Crandall closed the school the next day.
, which termed it the "Elisha Payne House" and also as "Prudence Crandall School for Negro Girls".
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1970.
The house was studied in depth in 1981. The study "concluded that there had been only minor changes to the house since the occupancy of Prudence Crandall and that approximately 95% of the structure is unaltered."
The building was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1991.
It is located within the Canterbury Center Historic District
, another listing on the National Register of Historic Places
. The house is a museum and includes period rooms, changing exhibits, a small research library (available for in-house study) and a gift shop. It is located at the southeast corner of the junction of Connecticut Route 14 and Connecticut Route 169.
Canterbury, Connecticut
Canterbury is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,692 at the 2000 census.-History:The area was first settled in the 1680s as Peagscomsuck, consisting mainly of land north of Norwich, south of New Roxbury, Massachusetts and west of the Quinebaug River and the...
. It is notable for having been the home of Prudence Crandall
Prudence Crandall
Prudence Crandall , a schoolteacher raised as a Quaker, stirred controversy with her education of African-American girls in Canterbury, Connecticut...
, the abolitionist and educator, and the school which she ran from 1832 until 1834 when it was closed by mob violence. The building is now home to the Prudence Crandall Museum. For her brave actions at this home and school, Prudence Crandall is Connecticut's official state heroine.
Construction and Architecture
Architecturally, the "house is a notable example of what has been termed the 'Canterbury type' because of several similar examples in the vicinity. It shows the peculiar roof form of gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
on hip
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
with twin chimneys, a triangular pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
at the eaves above a projecting pavilion
Pavilion
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
at center of the facade, which carries a Palladian window lighting the stair hall at second floor level and an elaborate entrance doorway."
The main cornice around the entire house includes modillion blocks just above a Greek fret. The two front corners of the house sport "fluted pilasters on high bases", which "also flank the central pavilion, framing also in miniature the elements of the Palladian window, which exhibits keystone arches and Gothic arch muntins in the large section." The Gothic pattern is "repeated in the lunette
Lunette
In architecture, a lunette is a half-moon shaped space, either filled with recessed masonry or void. A lunette is formed when a horizontal cornice transects a round-headed arch at the level of the imposts, where the arch springs. If a door is set within a round-headed arch, the space within the...
occupying the tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
of the roof-line pediment above, which also has modillions and Greek fret under the raking cornice." The Palladian window is the combination window on the 2nd story, including a central large window with over-window plus two narrow side windows, separated by pilasters.
The foundation is of dressed stone blocks.
Inside, the ornamental fireplace mantel
Mantel
Mantel is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany....
is original, as is the stairway and almost all moldings and other interior elements.
School
The house, on the Canterbury Town Green, was empty and available for sale in 1831, and Crandall purchased the house for $500 down payment plus a $1500 mortgage.It was the site of a girls school run by Prudence Crandall during 1832–1834 that first had all-white students, then Crandall admitted one black girl, which made the school into what is believed to be the first integrated school in the United States. That led to immediate protest and withdrawal of the white girl students. The school was then was closed and reopened as an all-black school, first with three then eventually 24 students, mostly boarding students from out-of-state. The school was challenged locally and in court rulings up to the state supreme court level. The case became a "cause celebre
Cause célèbre
A is an issue or incident arousing widespread controversy, outside campaigning and heated public debate. The term is particularly used in connection with celebrated legal cases. It is a French phrase in common English use...
" nation-wide, and was subject of William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison was a prominent American abolitionist, journalist, and social reformer. He is best known as the editor of the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator, and as one of the founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society, he promoted "immediate emancipation" of slaves in the United...
's Liberator and other newspaper coverage.
The Connecticut legislature passed a law, the "Black Law" in 1833, which prohibited blacks from out-of-state to receive education unless the school's town specifically allowed it. Undaunted, Crandall proceeded. She was arrested and put in jail over one night in August 1833. Later, after receiving a court ruling in favor of the school, a mob attacked the school with clubs and iron bars, breaking 90 windows on September 9, 1834. Crandall closed the school the next day.
Preservation
The house was surveyed in 1940 by the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings Survey
The Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
, which termed it the "Elisha Payne House" and also as "Prudence Crandall School for Negro Girls".
It 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 1970.
The house was studied in depth in 1981. The study "concluded that there had been only minor changes to the house since the occupancy of Prudence Crandall and that approximately 95% of the structure is unaltered."
The building was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1991.
It is located within the Canterbury Center Historic District
Canterbury Center Historic District
Canterbury Center Historic District is a historic district in Canterbury, Connecticut. It is located in the area around the junction of Route 169 and Route 14 , including properties along Elmdale and Library Roads...
, another listing 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...
. The house is a museum and includes period rooms, changing exhibits, a small research library (available for in-house study) and a gift shop. It is located at the southeast corner of the junction of Connecticut Route 14 and Connecticut Route 169.
External links
- Prudence Crandall Museum
- Elisha Payne House: 4 photos, 2 data pages and supplemental material, at Historic American Building Survey
- ”From Canterbury to Little Rock: The Struggle for Educational Equality for African Americans”, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan