House at 161 Damascus Road

Description and history

Damascus Road is a major secondary through route traversing the east side of Branford in an east-west direction.  Number 161 is located on the south side, east of Patrick Lane and in front of a public school.  It is a 1-1/2 story wood frame structure, with a side gable roof and clapboarded exterior.  Its main facade is three bays wide, with small sash windows placed on either side of the centered entrance.  The entrance has a simply framed surround, as do the windows, and the building corners have narrow cornerboards.
By its style and construction, the house has been estimated to have a construction date of about 1750.  Alterations include the removal of its central chimney (at least above the roof line) in the late 20th century.  It was in the early 20th-century thought to be the Blackstone Homestead, but this was determined not to be the case by later research.  The house was for many years associated with a 26-acre (11 ha) farm property, which remained intact and associated with it until 1963, when most of that property was sold to the town for construction of the school.