Gen. William Hart House, historic house in Connecticut, United States
The Gen. William Hart House is a residential building in Georgian architectural style located on Main Street in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, built around 1767. The structure features symmetrical window placement, corner boards, decorative cornices, and a central entrance with columns typical of wealthy colonial homes.
William Hart, Jr. built the house in 1767 and became a successful merchant trading with the West Indies, accumulating wealth and status in the community. During the American Revolution, he commanded a Connecticut militia unit and engaged in privateering against British vessels, roles that defined his influence in the region.
The house carries the name of its original owner, William Hart, and reflects the lifestyle of a wealthy merchant family rooted in the coastal trade. Its prominent location on Main Street shows how important such homes were to the community's identity.
The house sits centrally on Main Street in Old Saybrook, making it easy to reach on foot from nearby streets. Visitors can view the exterior at any time, while guided interior tours are available on weekends during warmer months, with advance reservations possible for private visits.
From a second floor room, Hart could see his fleet of trading ships docked at the nearby North Cove, merging his residence with his commercial operations in a way that reflected his mercantile success. This proximity of home and business was uncommon among colonial merchants.
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