Page 37 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 54 Late Spring 2025

Wallingford Historic

Preservation Trust

Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust
maintains two wonderful properties in town,
the Nehemiah Royce House and the Franklin
Johnson Silver Museum. The Royce House
was built in 1672 and is the oldest house
in Wallingford. Its namesake and builder,
Nehemiah Royce, was one of the original
thirty-eight people authorized to purchase
the parcel of land now known as Wallingford
from the Quinnipiac tribe and a local elected
official. George Washington visited the house
twice when it was in its original location (in
1924 it was moved to its present location). It
was owned by the Royce family for over 200
years.
Nehemiah Royce house - outside
The Franklin Johnson House is from a
different, yet still historic, era; it was built in
1866. After being used as a private residence,
it was used as a dentist’s office for many years.
It now is used as a silver museum.

Nehemiah Royce house with Halloween decorations

Both properties have been restored so that
HIS TO RY
their interior and exterior resemble a home
from its respective time period and host open
houses a few times per year, including the
lovely annual holiday display, where both are Franklin Johnson house - outside
set up with gorgeous Christmas decorations.

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