
David Hoadley
April 29, 1774 – July 1839
David Hoadley achieved considerable fame as a self-taught architect with no formal schooling and though he was dismissed as merely a “builder” by some, others point to his genius in the use of wood for classical detail and his unsurpassed buildings, particularly the North Church on the New Haven Green.
Hoadley was a cousin of Silas Hoadley, the clockmaker and began as a carpenter and builder. In 1795, he designed the Congregational and Episcopal churches in town and, in 1800, the Col. William Leavenworth Mansion, which stood until 1905.
He also designed and built the Judge William Bristol House, facing the New Haven Green. Although the building was razed, the house’s doorway was preserved and is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He also built a house for Judge John Kingsbury in Waterbury in 1805.
Hoadley moved to New Haven in 1814 to build the landmark North Church on the New Haven Green. Hoadley also designed the First Congregational Church in Cheshire as well as churches in the nearby towns of Bethany, Orange, Norfolk, and Milford.
Hoadley was originally interred at the Grand Street burial ground in Waterbury. His remains were re-interred to Riverside Cemetery in Waterbury in July 1891.
His son, David Hoadley, was a banking and railroad executive instrumental in the completion of the Panama Railroad.
Wilfred Elizur Griggs Gallery
Wheeler Beecher House
Built in 1807, this historic home in Bethany, Connecticut is a wonderful example of Federal period architecture. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Avon Congregational Church,_2010-04-07
The Avon Congregational Church is a located in Avon, Connecticut. Built in 1819 for a congregation founded in 1754, it is a high-quality example of Federal period architecture, and one of the finest works of architect David Hoadley. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.