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2. John B. Wright House, c. 1759 – 22 High Street
New England Farmhouse, with Federal Style details
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This building is a two-story frame residence with wood corner boards, side-gabled roof, cornice returns, offset ridgeline red-brick masonry chimney, and two-story cross-gable rear ell. There is a two-story five-sided bay with bracketed hipped roof on the south (side) elevation. Fenestration is a mix of four-over-four and two-over-two double-hung sash, all with simple frame surrounds. The entry has a paneled door and a frame surround with arched fanlight and wide entablature above. The building is primarily sheathed in horizontal board siding, however patterned shingles and board paneling can be found on the two-story bay on the south elevation.

This John B. Wright House is architecturally significant as a good example of a New England Farmhouse style residence. Although historical records indicate that the house was built c. 1759, the residence’s architectural features – particularly the entry details – are typical of those popular within the Federal style, which rose to prominence c. 1780. As such, the home was likely built slightly later than is noted, or was altered during the late 18th or early 19th century. The house is present on the site on maps from 1859 and 1874, and on the latter is listed as the property of John B. Wright. Wright served for many years as the Connecticut collector for the Internal Revenue Service, a position to which he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln. Wright also served many years as a State Representative, and 1861 and 1862 as State Senator.