Preston – Architectural History in Historic Preston City

Preston City is an important point of reference for Preston’s history. The Preston City Historic District includes residential, institutional, and commercial buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as several historic sites. The area also has a high concentration of historically significant buildings and sites dating from the late 17th through the 20th century. This breadth of history makes the District a specific focal point if you want to understand Preston through its architectural history.

A Rural Historic District

The Preston City Historic District remains a rural transportation hub. Well-preserved homes and institutional buildings shape the area, with little modern development. The historic character of the area therefore comes from the interplay of various buildings and sites, not just a single building. The District offers a clearly defined historic focus to guide your travel plans.

Route 164 runs through Preston City and is designated a Connecticut Scenic Road. The Baptist Church is also closely associated with this road: it holds the most prominent position among the commercial and institutional buildings in the center of the District and is visible from almost anywhere in Preston City. Its prominent position can therefore be understood both within the District and in terms of its visibility throughout the area.

Architectural History at the Baptist Church and Poorhouse

The Baptist Church was built in 1812. In 1832, it was turned so that its gable faced Route 164. The three-tiered steeple and the bell tower with its pyramidal roof were added during this alteration. The building’s history therefore includes both a specific construction date and a later change in orientation and additions to the structure.

The poorhouse stands at the southern edge of the Preston City Historic District. Its northern section dates from the early 18th century and was built by Ephraim Jones in 1733. In 1807, the town added the southern section as a poorhouse, or workhouse. The two dates help place the complex as the result of two construction phases, rather than attributing it to a single year of construction.

Memorials and Other Historic Traces

Smaller and more varied points of interest also contribute to the area’s historic character. The Old Town Pound on Amos Road is an enclosure bounded by stone walls. The Civil War Monument and the Mott Memorial mark the site of the home of General Samuel Mott, regarded in Preston City as a hero of the American Revolutionary War. Downer-Doane Memorial Park is located at the southwest corner of Shetucket Turnpike and Route 164 and is part of the Historic District.

The blacksmith shop in the Preston City Historic District was built by Morrison Robbins in 1871 and served as a demonstration museum. Its construction date therefore belongs to a different period from that of the poorhouse and the Baptist Church. Together with the memorials, it adds to the picture of a District whose historic significance spans different buildings, sites, and periods.

Planning Your Trip to Preston

If architectural history is one reason for your trip, Preston City offers several specific points of interest: the construction phases of the poorhouse, the alterations to the Baptist Church, and the historic sites in the District. When searching for a hotel in Preston, you can use this focus as a guide when choosing where to stay. That way, your decision is not centered on a single attraction, but on whether you are interested in a rural setting with a broad span of history.

Discover more destinations: Stonington, Uncasville, Lisbon, New London, East Lyme, Groton, Waterford, Bozrah.

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