Nellie McKnight Museum
Nellie McKnight McKnight home photo from the Connecticut State Library website
The Nellie McKnight Museum, owned and operated by the Ellington Historical Society is located at 70 Main St., Ellington Connecticut. Nellie McKnight bequeathed her home to the Ellington Historical Society to be used as a museum in 1981.
Nellie McKnight was born the second of six children on July 22, 1894 on her father's farm in Ellington CT in the house her grandfather built in 1850 at the intersection of Sadds Mill Road and Muddy Brook Road. Educated in the local schools, she graduated from Rockville High School in 1913. Nellie attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA and graduated in 1917.
Nellie taught school until 1929 when she returned to Ellington and became the librarian of the Hall Memorial Library until her retirement in 1967. Many Ellington residents fondly recall the weekly trips from Center School to the library to hear Nellie’s stories.
The Nellie E. McKnight Museum, formerly owned by the McKnight family, was built in 1812 in the Federalist style by the Sexton family. It has eight rooms and originally had seven fireplaces. Purchased by Howard McKnight (Nellie's father) on December 22, 1922, it was occupied by the McKnight family until Nellie's death in 1981.
The major renovations occurred in the 1920's when central heating, plumbing, wiring, hardwood floors, new ceilings and wall paper were added. Two fireplaces were removed and an archway was installed to connect the two adjoining rooms. Of special interest in the house is the decorative wall stenciling in the kitchen dating from the 1830's. The museum has a wide variety of artifacts from the McKnight family and other Ellington families.
Check Upcoming events for dates and times the Nellie McKnight Museum will be open.
Private tours for groups of 6-20 person can be scheduled
email: ellingtonhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
70 Main Street
Ellington, CT 06029