James Alldis House

The James Alldis House is a residential building in Queen Anne Revival style in Torrington with a striking round tower and conical roof. The ground floor features straight, narrow board siding while upper levels display a textured wavy surface.

The building was constructed in 1895 as a home for a supervisor at the Excelsior Needle Company and reflects the prosperity of the needle manufacturing industry. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The colored-glass windows inside come from renowned studios and show how wealthy homeowners decorated their rooms in the late 19th century. These elaborate details were common in Connecticut houses that reflected the comfortable lives of their owners.

The building is located at 355 Prospect Street in Torrington and now has mixed use with office space on the ground floor and apartments above. Visitors should note that the lower section functions as a private office, so visibility from outside is limited.

The house still preserves its original hot air heating distribution system from 1895, making it a rare example of this early heating technology. Additionally, an original carriage house remains on the property, recalling the transportation methods of that era.