Plainfield Academy and Educational Heritage

Delve into the educational legacy of Plainfield Street Historic District with the establishment of Plainfield Academy in 1770. Seeking to provide students with advanced preparation for college, the academy thrived, attracting over 100 pupils from outside the town at its peak. Although the original classroom buildings are no longer standing, a gambrel-roofed house built in 1790 by Alpheus Hatch, one of the academy’s principal instructors, stands as a reminder of its educational influence.

In the colonial period, Norwich Road was a major inland route, contributing to the area’s status as a crossroads with numerous stores and taverns. Baton’s Tavern, once a prominent inn where Lafayette and Washington were entertained, is part of the district’s historical tapestry. The district encompasses homes of early entrepreneurs, storekeepers, doctors, and tavern owners, reflecting the vibrant commercial and social life of the past.