1 West Main Street -
Dutton House

Hebron Connecticut Bicentennial 1976

This house was one of the most stylish houses in Hebron Center when it was built in the 1790’s. This was a time when Hebron’s center began to develop with houses and businesses around the Green. When Timothy Dutton built this house in 1790, he like most prosperous men in Hebron owned at least one slave. There is an old story that one day Squire Dutton walked past his cellar entry and saw his slave, who loved butter, rapidly consuming a tub of butter stored in the cellar. Squire Dutton chuckled and kept on walking. The name of this enslaved individual is unknown. However, by 1800, he had been freed like most formerly enslave individuals in Hebron.

Eventually, Daniel Arnold would buy this house and operate a store next door. In time the store would become a tin shop and then vanished. For a while, Congregational minister Rev. Amos Bassett lived in this house. During that time the Connecticut Missionary Society, one of the oldest missionary societies in the United States was formed due to Rev. Bassett’s missionary zeal. In the 1840’s, the Annable family lived here. William Annable was a young man who was paralyzed from the waist down and couldn’t walk. This did not stop him from being part of the life of young people in Hebron Center. He was invited to parties, reviewed the militia company when it trained on the Green, sketched, and wrote letters. He occupied a room on the second floor and had a good view of what was happening in Hebron Center when he sat by the window. By the early 20th century Miss Caroline Kellogg lived here. She was the one who added the porch to the front of the house.

Think about it

What would your life be like if you could not walk?

Would having a physical ability prevent you today from being part of a community?

Where to go next

Look at the space between # 1 West Main Street and Marjorie Circle.