Building at 136-138 Collins Street, Hartford
The building at 136鈥�138 Collins Street in Hartford stands as a rare and distinguished example of Second Empire architecture, a style seldom seen in the city. Constructed around 1870, this 2陆-story brick residence is located in the Asylum Hill neighborhood, just east of Sumner Street, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Architecturally, the house is defined by its slate mansard roof, which features elaborately carved dormers with round-arched windows, decorative keystones, and scroll brackets. A two-story projecting pavilion on the east side adds further visual interest, and paired brackets under the eaves enhance the vertical emphasis typical of the style. The structure sits atop an elevated basement, giving it a notably tall and stately presence. Its three-bay fa莽ade is centered by a main entrance, while windows are adorned with peaked lintels and bracketed sills.
Although the front porch is a 20th-century addition, remnants of the original veranda鈥檚 roofline can still be seen, particularly on the western half of the house. Despite this alteration, the building retains much of its original decorative detailing, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship.
Historically, the home was once owned by Isaac Frisbie, who served as superintendent of Hartford鈥檚 poorhouse, which formerly stood behind the property on Garden Street. Today, 136鈥�138 Collins Street remains an imposing and stylistically rich reminder of Hartford鈥檚 19th-century residential architecture.
Architecturally, the house is defined by its slate mansard roof, which features elaborately carved dormers with round-arched windows, decorative keystones, and scroll brackets. A two-story projecting pavilion on the east side adds further visual interest, and paired brackets under the eaves enhance the vertical emphasis typical of the style. The structure sits atop an elevated basement, giving it a notably tall and stately presence. Its three-bay fa莽ade is centered by a main entrance, while windows are adorned with peaked lintels and bracketed sills.
Although the front porch is a 20th-century addition, remnants of the original veranda鈥檚 roofline can still be seen, particularly on the western half of the house. Despite this alteration, the building retains much of its original decorative detailing, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship.
Historically, the home was once owned by Isaac Frisbie, who served as superintendent of Hartford鈥檚 poorhouse, which formerly stood behind the property on Garden Street. Today, 136鈥�138 Collins Street remains an imposing and stylistically rich reminder of Hartford鈥檚 19th-century residential architecture.
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Building at 136-138 Collins Street on Map
Sight Name: Building at 136-138 Collins Street
Sight Location: Hartford, USA (See walking tours in Hartford)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Hartford, USA (See walking tours in Hartford)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Hartford, Connecticut
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles