Perry House, Stratford, Connecticut:
At 1128 West Broad Street is a first-period colonial house built in 1690 by Benjamin Beach. In 1853, William Perry purchased the home for his wife and ten children. A well-known politician and probate judge, his name continues to be associated with the house to this day. Following Perry’s ownership the west parlor room served as a school from 1889 to 1898. As the highway (I-95) was being constructed in the mid 1950’s, then owner Jessie Murphy renovated the interior into apartments. She eventually willed the house to the Town of Stratford in 1981. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places two years later. The house was saved from demolition in 1997, due to its significance as one of Stratford’s oldest structures. Perry House Foundation Inc. now manages the property and welcomes public tours and events. The historic dwelling is now billed as “The Doorway to Stratford.”
