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EATON'S TAVERN, PLAINFIELD, CT $325,000
Built in 1725 along an old Indian path, a weekly stage coach from Norwich to Providence began to run by the Tavern in 1768, which years later, ran daily. Town historical records indicate that the "spacious tavern house for the accommodation of travelers" operated by Captain Eaton "became a very noted and popular resort". George Washington stayed at the tavern in 1776 and in 1781, which said arrival is illustrated by a large wall mural (approximately 7 x 8 feet in size) inside the front door entrance area of the Plainfield town hall. History indicates Lafayette wrote a letter while sitting in an antique chair on the inn's front stoop. In 1797 Captain Eaton opened a post office which was Windham County's third. This house was also the original court room for Judge Joseph Eaton.
The home features original wide board floors, dentil moldings, original iron latch door fixtures, stonewalls with granite post gate, 2 refurbished and working Rumford fireplaces, all updated systems and a 2 dog shed/kennel.Today the home is used as a residence and is located in mixed use area on Rte 14A (a modestly traveled route) just several hundred yards from I-395 exit 88.
This location offering outstanding visibility and accessibility is complimented by zoning regulations that allow for a multitude of in home business uses, including by special permit, the operation of a Bed and Breakfast and/or an assessory apartment.
Approximate driving time to some area points of interest for potential to draw business:
Mill Ridge Manor, a major wedding facility,
Plainfield, CT
5 minutes
*Prudence Crandall House and Museum, Canterbury, CT
5 minutes
Hopeville State Park, lakefront beach and recreation facility
7 minutes
River Ridge Golf Course (18 holes)
8 minutes
Wright's Mill Farm, 500 capacity wedding facility, Canterbury, CT
15 minutes
Mohegan Sun Casino
22 minutes
Foxwoods Casino and Resort
25 minutes
Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium
35 minutes
U. S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT
35 minutes
Providence, RI
40 minutes
TF Green International Airport (Providence)
40 minutes
Ocean Beach Park, New London, CT
40 minutes
Misquamicut State Beach, RI
50 minutes
Bradley International Airport (Hartford)
65 minutes
In addition to the fact that George Washington and Lafayette stayed at the property, the Prudence Crandall House is one of numerous area Historical Landmarks that history buffs from afar may be interested in touring. Others include the Nathan Hale homestead in Coventry, and the Henry Bowen House (Roseland Cottage) in Woodstock that was host to 4 U.S. Presidents. Prudence Crandall's Academy to educate the daughters of local wealthy families transformed in 1833 by becoming the first integrated school in the U.S. when she admitted a 20 year old black female named Sarah Harris. As the white families withdrew their daughters, Prudence responded by replacing them with free black female students from as far away as Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Prudence was arrested and put on trial twice. In 1886 the legislature honored her stand by granting her a pension of $400 a year. In 1995 the CT General Assembly passed an act making her CT's state heroine. Southeast CT is the state's number one tourism market due to the diversity of attractions. There is glitz and entertainment of two of the world's largest Casinos without city or in some cases seedy environment of those in other locations. There is the history and preserved authenticity of the seaport villages. The Mystic area and the RI Beaches is where the protected waters of Long Island Sound meet the open ocean. The "RI Beaches" differ from CT beaches because they offer open ocean with surf. This area is where the protected waters of Long Island Sound meet open ocean. This combination offers some of the best boating on the east coast. I-395 is an optional route (never congested) to this area for many Massachusetts travelers, including from Boston. Also present is the rural character of Northeast CT (Plainfield is considered part of Northeast CT). This federally designated area of bountiful natural beauty offers the last undeveloped area in the Boston to Washington D.C. east coast megatropolis. For more info visit www.thelastgreenvalley.org. Other business potential from the south could be realized if tourists visiting Mystic, casino travelers or others from metro NY/NJ be persuaded to travel another 15 to 20 minutes north on I-395 (off of I-95) if offered an alternative historic theme, or, the fact that there are no accommodations available at other hospitality facilities for those who have dogs. For those traveling to Maine, interstate 95 to 395/290 to 495 is an alternate to interstate 84 to 90/290.
While there is plenty of opportunity for business, on the realistic side, a building design offering "spacious accommodations" in the 1700's has it's limitations by modern standards which is one reason the Tavern is hundreds of thousands of dollars less than any other B&B offering in CT. A floor plan layout of the building is provided here on line. There are four bedrooms and a bath on the second floor. Two of the bedrooms are small. One option would be to put a bathroom in next to the largest bedroom for a premier room (existing closet between the two rooms already has an opening), while offering the other 2 rooms with the existing bath as a suite. The addition of an assessory apartment is allowed by special permit. This is an excellent location for many types of small businesses offering high visibility and superior highway access. Obviously any business conducted in harmony with preservation of the home will be of less intensity than conventional commercial. Commercial sites with similar highway access in this area and others sell for the list price of this property (and more) for the land alone.
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