Buell's hotel is significant in Connecticut Irish history because many of its female employees were Irish. By the middle of the nineteenth century East Hampton's bell-making had become such a dominant economic force that East Hampton was known as Belltown.
Photo: View east showing façade and west elevation. (Tod Bryant)
Photo: View east showing west elevation. (Tod Bryant)
In 1860 half of the workforce was employed in bell factories and many of them were Irish immigrants. Most of the men worked in the factories, but many of the women formed a servant class which worked in the homes of the wealthy and at establishments like Buell's Hotel.
Cunningham, Jan and John Herzan. Belltown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places nomination. 1985.
This is a side gable, four bay building that faces north onto East High Street. It has a center chimney and the there are pilasters with Doric capitols at the corners of the facade. The main entrance is in the east bay and the door is surmounted by a fanlight and a triangular pediment. Fenestrations consists of twelve-over-twelve double hung wood windows. An ell with a gable roof and a center chimney extends from the south elevation.
The building is in the midst of a commercial strip on Connecticut Route 66. There is another house of similar age to its east, but they are isolated islands in a sea of big box stores.
Date(s): Built c. 1805 Style(s): Federal Historic Use: Single family dwelling, Hotel Present Use: Multi-family dwelling
Accessibility:
Exterior visible from public road.
CT Irish-American
Heritage Trail
640 Arrowhead Drive
Orange, CT 06477
The Irish experience has had a profound impact on Connecticut's past, and its narrative spans all periods of the state's history and touches every one of its eight counties and 169 towns.
