First Bank Building in Litchfield County
1820 First Bank Building in Litchfield County -The small, red brick building with its granite foundation was built by Senator Elijah Boardman in about 1820 as a law office for his son, George Sherman Boardman, who was studying law at Yale. George died in 1825, before he could actually practice law, and the building was used as a store instead. In 1852 it became the first 'home' of the Bank of Litchfield County, the first bank in New Milford and a predecessor to New Milford's present Bank of Boston.The Building, which served as a bank for only a few years, was used later as an office. Originally, the structure stood on the north side of Senator Boardman's house (now Cramer & Anderson) and flush with the sidewalk of Main Street, but in the 1890's it was moved back on the same lot to make room for a tennis court and a croquet ground. As late as 1945, it was used by a Boardman cousin, Miss Helen Cox, as a studio for her painting. It was purchased by the Society in 1939 and moved in 1964 to its present site next to the Main Gallery. Of late Federal design, the building includes an outside door covered with sheet iron and studded with hand-wrought nails, iron shutters, and a stone closet with marble shelves and a metal door which undoubtedly was used as a safe.
The building is currently used as a crafts gift shop with proceeds going to the Society.