Warner House (East Haddam, Connecticut)
{{short description|United States national historic place}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Warner House
| nrhp_type =
| image = Warner House, WPA Architectural Survey.jpg
| caption = Photo from the WPA Architectural Survey
| location = 307 Town St., East Haddam, Connecticut
| coordinates = {{coord|41|27|12|N|72|26|27|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Connecticut#USA
| built = c.1738 and c.1790
| architect =
| architecture =
| added = February 19, 1987
| area = {{convert|50|acre|ha}}
| refnum = 87000174{{NRISref|version=2010a}}
}}
The Warner House is a historic house at 307 Town Street in East Haddam, Connecticut. Built in 1738,{{Cite web |last=Farley |first=Erin |date=2019-12-26 |title=Site Lines: A Love Story at the Palmer-Warner House |url=https://www.ctexplored.org/site-lines-a-love-story-at-the-palmer-warner-house/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Connecticut Explored |language=en-US}} it is notable for its high quality interior woodwork and hardware, the latter of which were probably made by some of its owners. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The house is now owned by Connecticut Landmarks, and in 2019 it opened as a historic house museum.{{Cite web |last=Hewitt |first=Cate |date=2019-10-07 |title=Palmer Warner House in East Haddam Opens As Trailblazing LGBT Site |url=https://ctexaminer.com/2019/10/07/palmer-warner-house-in-east-haddam-opens-as-trailblazing-lgbt-site/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=CT Examiner |language=en-US}}
Description and history
The Warner House is located in a rural-suburban setting of western East Haddam, on the west side of Town Street (Connecticut Route 82) near its junction with Petticoat Lane. It is a {{frac|2|1|2}}-story wood-frame structure, five bays wide, with a side-gable roof, large central chimney, and clapboarded exterior. The main entrance is at the center of the symmetrical front facade, sheltered by a gabled portico supported by round columns. The entrance is flanked by simple pilasters. The interior follows a typical period center-chimney plan, with high-quality wood paneling around the main parlor fireplace, and elaborate millwork in the second parlor.
The house was built in 1738 by John Warner, and was restyled in 1790, when most of its fine woodwork was added. John Warner was a noted regional maker of interior hardware (hinges, latches, and so on), whose work is probably in this house. His son and grandson, the next occupants of the house, were blacksmiths.
The house was purchased in 1936 by Frederic T. Palmer, a restoration architect, who undertook a careful restoration of the house.{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=87000174}} |title=NRHP Inventory-Nomination: Warner House |author=David F. Ransom and John Herzan|date=May 14, 1986 |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NRHP url|id=87000174|title=Accompanying 20 photos, exterior and interior, from 1986 (see photo key page 15 of text document)|photos=y}} In the mid-1940s, Palmer's lover, Howard Metzger, also moved into the house. The couple were not publicly out, but their status as a couple was well-known in their community. They hosted many gatherings of LGBT friends at the home.
Palmer and Metzger also enjoyed collecting antiques, and the house was featured in Antiques Magazine in 1957.
Palmer was a trustee and boardmember of Connecticut Landmarks, who received the property after the death of his partner in 2005.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ctlandmarks.org/palmer-warner Palmer-Warner House at Connecticut Landmarks]
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
Category:Houses in East Haddam, Connecticut
Category:Houses completed in 1738
Category:LGBTQ history in Connecticut
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Middlesex County, Connecticut