Postcard (circa 1907–1915) of Branford House and the greenhouses
When built in 1902, Branford Manor cost $3 million - an incredible sum of money at the time. Plant shunned the high society of Newport and chose instead the wide views of Long Island Sound available at Avery Point.[3]
Branford House was designed by Plant's wife Nellie (who had a Sorbonne education in architecture) and built by Robert W. Gibson.[3] Although the outside was built to the Tudor style to match the estate, the interior was a patchwork of various styles - "Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Classical, and even Flemish" - desired by the Plants.[3] The house included a two-story fireplace surrounded by a clothes-drying conveyor belt, a then-rare elevator, and other architectural curiosities like doors leading into exterior walls.[3]
Plant fancied himself a 'gentleman farmer' and built vast agricultural facilities on the grounds. These included huge greenhouses (including one to store his tropical plants during the winter), a 22,250-square-foot (2,067 m2) cow barn, poultry enclosures, and fruit and vegetable fields. The estate totaled more than 70 acres (0.28 km2), including carpentry and plumbing shops, a boarding house, and other buildings. Bothered by its smell, Plant bought the Quinnipiac Fertilizer Company on nearby Pine Island and replaced it with an orchard where his grandchildren played.[3]
Plant died in 1918; the estate passed through his son then his daughter-in-law before being sold for just $55,000 at auction in 1939. The state of Connecticut soon acquired the property, and passed it to the United States Coast Guard via a quitclaim deed funded by the federal government. As a duty to that deed the Coast Guard built Avery Point Light in 1942, though it was not lit until 1944. The lavish grounds were bulldozed into the water to make room for barracks for a training center; the house became offices and executive quarters. The west wing was used as the base chapel until it was destroyed by fire in 1963.[3]
In 1967, the property was transferred back to the state for use as a satellite campus of the University of Connecticut, though the buildings were largely in poor condition. By the 1980s the house needed millions of dollars of renovations which UConn could not afford; there was discussion of a private developer turning it into a conference center, or of the town taking over the property.[4] The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 23, 1984.[1]
Ultimately UConn carried out renovations to the house, which were completed in 2001.[3] The house is not in regular academic use; UConn rents it out for event uses.[2] The second floor of the Branford House is home to the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art.[5]
^ ab"Branford House Mansion". University of Connecticut. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
^ abcdefgh. University of Connecticut. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
^McGirr, Sarah; Devine, Joseph D. (20 October 1985). "Branford House debate: two views". The New London Day. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
^Dorsey, Kristina (2016-02-26). "Alexey von Schlippe's grandson records remembrances of the artist for potential Germany exhibit". The Day (New London). from the original on 2016-02-27. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
External linksedit
Uconn - Branford House
April 11, 2024
branford, house, located, groton, connecticut, campus, uconn, avery, point, which, rents, events, built, 1902, morton, freeman, plant, local, financier, philanthropist, summer, home, named, after, hometown, branford, connecticut, house, added, national, regist. The Branford House is located in Groton Connecticut on the campus of UConn Avery Point which rents it out for events 2 Branford House was built in 1902 for Morton Freeman Plant a local financier and philanthropist as his summer home he named it after his hometown of Branford Connecticut 3 The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 23 1984 1 Branford HouseU S National Register of Historic PlacesSeaward side of Branford House in 2014Show map of ConnecticutShow map of the United StatesLocationShennecosset and Eastern Point Roads Groton ConnecticutCoordinates41 19 1 N 72 3 52 W 41 31694 N 72 06444 W 41 31694 72 06444Area22 acres 8 9 ha Built1902ArchitectGibson Robert WilliamsArchitectural styleJacobeanNRHP reference No 84001158 1 Added to NRHPJanuary 23 1984 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp Postcard circa 1907 1915 of Branford House and the greenhousesWhen built in 1902 Branford Manor cost 3 million an incredible sum of money at the time Plant shunned the high society of Newport and chose instead the wide views of Long Island Sound available at Avery Point 3 Branford House was designed by Plant s wife Nellie who had a Sorbonne education in architecture and built by Robert W Gibson 3 Although the outside was built to the Tudor style to match the estate the interior was a patchwork of various styles Gothic Baroque Renaissance Classical and even Flemish desired by the Plants 3 The house included a two story fireplace surrounded by a clothes drying conveyor belt a then rare elevator and other architectural curiosities like doors leading into exterior walls 3 Plant fancied himself a gentleman farmer and built vast agricultural facilities on the grounds These included huge greenhouses including one to store his tropical plants during the winter a 22 250 square foot 2 067 m2 cow barn poultry enclosures and fruit and vegetable fields The estate totaled more than 70 acres 0 28 km2 including carpentry and plumbing shops a boarding house and other buildings Bothered by its smell Plant bought the Quinnipiac Fertilizer Company on nearby Pine Island and replaced it with an orchard where his grandchildren played 3 Plant died in 1918 the estate passed through his son then his daughter in law before being sold for just 55 000 at auction in 1939 The state of Connecticut soon acquired the property and passed it to the United States Coast Guard via a quitclaim deed funded by the federal government As a duty to that deed the Coast Guard built Avery Point Light in 1942 though it was not lit until 1944 The lavish grounds were bulldozed into the water to make room for barracks for a training center the house became offices and executive quarters The west wing was used as the base chapel until it was destroyed by fire in 1963 3 In 1967 the property was transferred back to the state for use as a satellite campus of the University of Connecticut though the buildings were largely in poor condition By the 1980s the house needed millions of dollars of renovations which UConn could not afford there was discussion of a private developer turning it into a conference center or of the town taking over the property 4 The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 23 1984 1 Ultimately UConn carried out renovations to the house which were completed in 2001 3 The house is not in regular academic use UConn rents it out for event uses 2 The second floor of the Branford House is home to the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art 5 See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in New London County ConnecticutReferences edit a b c National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 a b Branford House Mansion University of Connecticut Retrieved 3 June 2014 a b c d e f g h The History of Morton Plant and Branford House University of Connecticut Archived from the original on 15 October 2014 Retrieved 3 June 2014 McGirr Sarah Devine Joseph D 20 October 1985 Branford House debate two views The New London Day Retrieved 12 June 2014 Dorsey Kristina 2016 02 26 Alexey von Schlippe s grandson records remembrances of the artist for potential Germany exhibit The Day New London Archived from the original on 2016 02 27 Retrieved 2021 04 14 External links editUconn Branford House Historic postcards of Branford House Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Branford House amp oldid 1199341786, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
