Gilman-Hayden House - East Hartford, Connecticut - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com

The Gilman-Hayden House is a Georgian style home built on a berm on the west side of East Hartford's Main Street. The house stands in a residential area comprised of late nineteenth- and and early twentieth-century homes. Behind the house the land stretches west to the Connecticut River and a region once known as Gilman's landing. The post and beam framed house stands two-and-a-half stories high and is topped by a gable roof. Built in 1784, the five-bay dwelling was designed on the central-hall plan, with twin, interior brick chimneys. It is an early example of the vernacular Georgian style in this community.

The Gilman-Hayden House has been associated with prominent East Hartford families who helped to settle the community and guide its growth over the past two centuries. The Bidwells, who sold the lot where the house stands, were among the town's founders, and the Gilmans, who built the house, were also early settlers who dominated the agrarian northwestern district of the community. The Williams family, relatives of the famous William Williams (one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence), occupied the house during the second quarter of the nineteenth century; but it was a relative of the Williams', a young man named Edward Williams Hayden, whose association with this property has created its particular significance.

Edward Hayden (1842-1878) owned and occupied this house from 1865 until his death. He was a prolific diarist, and his vivid journals of the Civil War have been preserved at the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford, Connecticut. The diaries create a clear picture of a young man's agonizing decision to go to war, the impact of the war experience, and the eventual return to the province of farm and town. His legacy is significant as an example of the cultural patterns created during America's Civil War years. He deliberated carefully over whether or not to go to war, listing columns of pros and cons before enlisting in the army. He worried about leaving his family and farm to go and fight for the Union cause. His thoughts and experiences show the impact of the war on a generation of young men.

Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1784 Additional Dates of Construction: Modifications done during the 19th century and repairs done in the 20th century. Architectural Period/Style: Georgian Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Country house Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: Prominent East Hartford families who helped to settle the community and guide its growth over the past two centuries Listed Building Status (if applicable): National Register of Historic Places Main Material of Construction: Wood Private/Public Access: Private Related Website: [Web Link] Rating: Architect (if known): Not listed Landscape Designer (if known): Not listed Admission Fee (if applicable): Not Listed Opening Hours (if applicable): Not listed

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