HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY BUILDING AND STRUCTURES Norwich Heritage Trust, Inc, P.O.Box 185 Norwich, CT 06360	This Building sponsored by Norwich Heritage Trust, Inc.
Building Name:	Historic Name: Captain Joseph Kelley House
Town/City: Norwich	County: New London
Address:2	Street: Church Street
Owners:Alex and Frances Hudyma, Willimantic CT.	Private
Present Use: Residential	Historic Use Residence
Exterior is viewable to public	Interior is NOT accessible
Style of Building: Colonial	Construction Date: c. 1737
Materials Asbestos Siding Brick Foundation	Structural System Wood Frame
Roof Gable Roll Asphalt
Stories: 2.5	Dimensions: 31' X 58'
Structural Condition: Fair	Exterior Condition: Fair
Alterations: Early 20th Century front porch, new window sashes and additions c. 1870
Outbuildings:
Environment: Residential High Building Density

Interrelationship of Building and Surroundings: The building is an isolated structure which faces Washington Square, formed by the intersection of Church, Washington, Main, and Water Streets. Evergreens screen much of the house from the street. The house is also set back from the street.

Features: The facade is 6 bays wide. A one bay, two-story addition is on the left side. The doorway is centrally placed. A two - story porch with Doric columns occupies the width of the facade. Windows have 2 - over- 2 double - hung sash. The side elevations are three bays wide with a two-story flat roofed rear addition of an additional three bays. The attic windows in the gable ends have 9-over-6 double-hung sash. The chimney is located slightly off center.

Architect:

Builder: Possibly Capt. Joseph Kelley, shipwright

Importance: Captain Joseph Kelley was one of the earliest shipmasters at the Landing. His voyage to Barbados in 1715 is the earliest mention of a specific sea captain at the Landing although shipping had begun in the late 17th century. Early in 1717 he established a shipyard in what is now the downtown. He apparently retired from shipbuilding about 1751, when he deeded the house to his son Daniel. The next three owners were all sea captains. The Kelley House, the earliest surviving building in the survey area, is perhaps the most intact 18th century dwelling which remains. It is an important document of the early seafaring and shipbuilding community of the Landing.

Sources: Assessor's Records Norwich
Beers, Atlas of New London County, N. Y., 1868.
Caulkins F. M. History of Norwich 1874 ed. p 303
Chase Ada Richards "In Old Norwich Town" scrapbook in CT. State Library
Norwich Land Records, Vols. 73 p. 114, 60, p. 416; 57, p 555; 54, p 334; 44, p. 448; 53, p. 190; 352, p. 295; 233, p 354; 184, p. 146; 168, p. 127; 145, p. 229; 32, p. 531; 32, p. 212, 30 p 389; 29, p. 248, 146; 13, p. 231; 12, p. 50; 8, p. 79
Post card in scrap book, Otis Library ( Jos. Williams House ).

Evaluations:

Threats None Private