Barn Record Litchfield

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Building Name (Common)
Marie Louisa Carriage House / Wisdom House
Building Name (Historic)
Spruce Brook Farm
Address
235 East Litchfield Road, Litchfield
Typology
Overview

Designations

Historic Significance

  This building, c. 1875-1900, is significant as a surviving barn from Spruce Brook Farm (at 231 East Litchfield Road - sold by Mrs. Frederick T. (Margaret) Busk in 1949 to the Daughters of Wisdom. The lower level, now a meeting space, originally held wagons and carriages, and the upper level contained a caretaker’s quarters. The workshop immediately to the north (once a stable for horses) was built about 1925 on the site of an earlier barn that burned in 1924 after it was struck by lightening. Other outbuildings (see continuation sheet) include a dairy barn, former stable and equipment shed. The Busks kept dairy cattle along with horses (Carley 2014).

Field Notes

Surveyed and HRI by Rachel Carley, 2014.

Use & Accessibility

Use (Historic)

Use (Present)


Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Demolished

No

Location Integrity

Original Site

Environment

Related features

n/a

Environment features

Relationship to surroundings

This building stands to the northeast of the Farmhouse on the Wisdom House site. Main approach is north from East Litchfield Road. Distant views to the east. Equipment shed stands to the northwest; stable to the north. Spruce Brook barn is to the north near the entry from Clark Road; drive runs from Clark through to East Litchfield Road.

Typology & Materials

Building Typology

Materials


Structural System

Roof materials


Roof type


Approximate Dimensions

24' x 44'

Source

Date Compiled

11/17/2015

Compiled By

Charlotte Hitchcock

Sources

Carley, Rachel. 2014. Historic Resource Survey of Barns, Litchfield.
Town of Litchfield, Tax Assessor Records
Historic Maps
Information from Sister Rosemary Greco
Torrington Register, 8/1/1924

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