Dr. Philip Turner House

The Dr. Philip Turner House is a historic house at 29 West Town Street in Norwich, Connecticut. Probably built in the late 17th century, it is one of the oldest houses on Norwich, and well-preserved example of vernacular First Period architecture. At the time of the American Revolutionary War it was probably owned by Dr. Philip Turner, a leading surgeon for the Continental Army.[2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1970.[1]

Dr. Philip Turner House
Location29 West Town Street, Norwich, Connecticut
Coordinates41°32′55″N 72°5′55″W
Area1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Architectural styleColonial, Saltbox
NRHP reference No.70000729[1]
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1970

Description and history

The Dr. Philip Turner House is located in Norwich's Norwichtown neighborhood, on the north side of West Town Street near its junction with Sturtevant Road. It is a colonial-era "half house", 2-1/2 stories tall and three bays wide, with clapboard siding and a large chimney behind the entrance, which is in the rightmost bay. A rear leanto section, giving the house a classic saltbox profile, is a later addition. Some of its exterior siding is of significant antiquity, as it is fastened with hand-cut nails and exhibits feathering typical of early clapboards. The interior is basically two chambers on the ground floor, with a parlor in front and kitchen in the rear. There are two bedrooms on the upper floor, with original wide pine floors and period wainscoting.[2]

The house is believed to date to the late 17th century. Its early ownership and construction history are not known, but foundational evidence on an adjacent property suggests it was here that Dr. Philip Turner lived around the time of the American Revolutionary War. Turner served with the Continental Army through much of the war, acting as a surgeon at the Siege of Boston before being appointed Surgeon General of the army's Eastern Department in 1777, a post he held until the war's end. He later became a staff surgeon for the United States Army.[2]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "NRHP nomination for Dr. Philip Turner House". National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
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