Pratt House

The Pratt House is a crooked piece of history in Essex, Connecticut. The chimney and door of the building are not centered and the windows are asymmetrical, which is common in Georgian design. The building has seen a lot of evolution over time and continues to reflect the history and culture of the town of Essex. Different parts and levels of the house were constructed at different times. Most historians put the date of the second floor addition somewhere between 1790 and 1800, while the back of the home was likely built before 1700. The front section built by John Pratt, Jr., was likely added in 1732. L.T. Pratt was the original owner of the home and the founder of Essex. Tours of the home guide visitors through the front door, past a small front colonial entrance. There is only one mantel in the house and it is located in the front parlor. The color of the trim has been changed over the years, but the chestnut floors are likely remnants from 1732. Pratt House served as rental property in the 1920's, owned by the Griswold family. The Griswold family sold the home to the Society for the Preservation of New England who got the home up and running as a museum. They transferred ownership in 1985 to the Essex Historical Society. Today the interior and gardens surrounding the home offer a historical view into what life was once like in Essex.