Norwichtown in Southeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

Leffingwell Inn

Photographed by Michael Herrick, March 3, 2017

1. Leffingwell Inn Marker

Inscription.

Leffingwell Inn. . Leffingwell Inn. In 1675, Steven Backus built a simple two-room, side-chimney house. Over two centuries, it would be modified many times. Thomas Leffingwell, a founder of Norwich and friend of the Great Sachem, Uncas, bought the house in 1700 and acquired a license to operate an inn and tavern for the "publique entertainment of strangers." Taverns were hotbeds of the Revolution: places where people gathered for rum, tobacco and to discuss the news. During the 18th century, Christopher Leffingwell, a prominent industrialist, inherited the Inn. His five mills helped Connecticut be self-sufficient during the Revolution. Christopher was an invaluable supplier of provisions for the Patriots. In 1776, General Washington visited the Inn to secure supplies. Originally at the corner of Washington Street and Harland Road, the Inn was marked for demolition in 1957 to make way for relocation of state highways 2 and 32. It was purchased and preserved by The Society of the Founders of Norwich and moved to its present location. Acknowledgments. This panel was produced by the Norwich Historical Society in cooperation with The Society of the Founders of Norwich, Norwich Community Development Corporation, the Norwich Heritage Groups, Norwich Historic District Commission, City of Norwich, and Norwich Public Works Department. Research and writing by Regan Miner; panel design and oversight of fabrication by Geoff Steadman and Pam Ballard. The Norwich Historical Society received support for this project from: the State Historic Preservation Office of the Department of Economic and Community Development with funds from: The Community Investment Act of the State of Connecticut; the Sachem Fund; Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors; the R.S. Gernon Trust; and the Elsie A. Brown Fund. walknorwich.org 2015 . ( descriptive plaque ) Once upon a time in Norwich… there was a two-room building owned by the Stephen Backus Family in 1675. It later passed to Thomas Leffingwell, the son of Lt. Thomas Leffingwell, and in 1701 he was given permission to open an inn. There followed two major additions to the original building to provide space that use. Thomas’s son, Benajah, succeeded his father as an innkeeper and, in turn, Benajah's son, Christopher Leffingwell, continued in that business. Christopher Leffingwell, Norwich industrialist, entrepreneur, merchant and patriot distinguished himself for his contribution of provisions to the success of the American Revolution. Enroute to Providence during the war, General George Washington dined at the Leffingwell Inn and met with patriots from the region. The Leffingwell Inn originally was located at the corner of Harland Road and Washington Street. In 1957 it was doomed for demolition to make way for the new Connecticut Turnpike connector. Fortunately Philip A. Johnson, President of the Society of the Founders of Norwich, with the help of then Governor Abraham Ribicoff and State Highway Commissioner Newman E. Argraves, made possible its purchase by the State Highway Department. It was then deeded to the Society of the Founders of Norwich with the provision that the Society maintain the Inn as an historic site. At a cost of $100,000 it was moved to the present location at 348 Washington Street, where it is regularly opened to the public as one of New England’s finest examples of colonial architecture and furnishings. This memorial plaque is sponsored by Mr. Thomas Leffingwell Pulling of Oyster Bay New York .

Leffingwell Inn In 1675, Steven Backus built a simple two-room, side-chimney house. Over two centuries, it would be modified many times. Thomas Leffingwell, a founder of Norwich and friend of the Great Sachem, Uncas, bought the house in 1700 and acquired a license to operate an inn and tavern for the "publique entertainment of strangers." Taverns were hotbeds of the Revolution: places where people gathered for rum, tobacco and to discuss the news.
During the 18th century, Christopher Leffingwell, a prominent industrialist, inherited the Inn. His five mills helped Connecticut be self-sufficient during the Revolution. Christopher was an invaluable supplier of provisions for the Patriots. In 1776, General Washington visited the Inn to secure supplies.
Originally at the corner of Washington Street and Harland Road, the Inn was marked for demolition in 1957 to make way for relocation of state highways 2 and 32. It was purchased and preserved by The Society of the Founders of Norwich and moved to its present location.

Acknowledgments This panel was produced by the Norwich Historical Society in cooperation with The

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Society of the Founders of Norwich, Norwich Community Development Corporation, the Norwich Heritage Groups, Norwich Historic District Commission, City of Norwich, and Norwich Public Works Department. Research and writing by Regan Miner; panel design and oversight of fabrication by Geoff Steadman and Pam Ballard.
The Norwich Historical Society received support for this project from: the State Historic Preservation Office of the Department of Economic & Community Development with funds from: The Community Investment Act of the State of Connecticut; the Sachem Fund; Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors; the R.S. Gernon Trust; and the Elsie A. Brown Fund.
walknorwich.org 2015

( descriptive plaque )
Once upon a time in Norwich…

there was a two-room building owned by the Stephen Backus Family in 1675. It later passed to Thomas Leffingwell, the son of Lt. Thomas Leffingwell, and in 1701 he was given permission to open an inn. There followed two major additions to the original building to provide space that use. Thomas’s son, Benajah, succeeded his father as an innkeeper and, in turn, Benajah's son, Christopher Leffingwell,

Photographed by Michael Herrick, March 3, 2017

2. Leffingwell Inn Marker

continued in that business. Christopher Leffingwell, Norwich industrialist, entrepreneur, merchant and patriot distinguished himself for his contribution of provisions to the success of the American Revolution. Enroute to Providence during the war, General George Washington dined at the Leffingwell Inn and met with patriots from the region.

The Leffingwell Inn originally was located at the corner of Harland Road and Washington Street. In 1957 it was doomed for demolition to make way for the new Connecticut Turnpike connector. Fortunately Philip A. Johnson, President of the Society of the Founders of Norwich, with the help of then Governor Abraham Ribicoff and State Highway Commissioner Newman E. Argraves, made possible its purchase by the State Highway Department. It was then deeded to the Society of the Founders of Norwich with the provision that the Society maintain the Inn as an historic site. At a cost of $100,000 it was moved to the present location at 348 Washington Street, where it is regularly opened to the public as one of New England’s finest examples of colonial architecture and furnishings.
This memorial plaque is

Leffingwell House Historic Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, March 3, 2017

3. Leffingwell House Historic Museum

circa 1675

sponsored by
Mr. Thomas Leffingwell Pulling
of Oyster Bay New York

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list.

Location. 41° 32.686′ N, 72° 5.304′ W. Marker is in Norwich in Southeastern Region, Connecticut. It is in Norwichtown. It is at the intersection of Washington Street and Veterans of Foreign Wars Highway (Route 2), on the right when traveling south on Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Norwich CT 06360, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Connecticut Shoreline,

in Greater New London and in the Thames River Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New London County

and also one of the original Thirteen

Leffingwell Inn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, March 3, 2017

4. Leffingwell Inn

( descriptive plaque )

Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: East District School (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lathrop Manor (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lowthorpe Meadows (approx. 0.2 miles away); Benedict Arnold (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gravesite of Boston Trowtrow, Norwich's "Black Governor" (approx. 0.3 miles away); Andersonville Prison Camp Victims (approx. 0.3 miles away); Once upon a time in Norwich... (approx. 0.3 miles away); En Memoire de Vingt Compagnons de Lafayette (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norwich.

Regarding Leffingwell Inn. The Leffingwell Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Also see . . .
1. Leffingwell House Museum. (Submitted on March 12, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Leffingwell Inn on Wikipedia. (Submitted on March 12, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

The Leffingwell Inn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, March 3, 2017

5. The Leffingwell Inn

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,220 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 12, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.