The O'Connell House

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United States
Colchester, CT
The O'Connell House

Set in the heart of Colchester’s historic downtown Village District just across from the Town Green.

Our home offers four unique guest rooms available for short-stay bookings via Airbnb, as well as space on the main floor in our Dining and Drawing Rooms that provides the perfect setting for hosting intimate gatherings and celebrations, or even stylish photo shoots. Situated conveniently “20 minutes from everything,” take a short drive to explore our region’s beautiful landscape, nearby shoreline

and family activities. Spend the day local, walking around Colchester’s 320-year-old downtown to visit its shops and restaurants, or learn about its history. To book a room or learn more about us, visit: www.theoconnellhouse.com

04/17/2026

In full bloom with blue skies 🌺 ☀️

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night🎄
We hope to see you here next year :)

12/06/2025

The Lyman Viaduct in Colchester, Connecticut, around the 1870s and 2025. The viaduct was constructed in 1873, and it was a wrought iron railroad bridge that spanned 1,112 feet across a ravine in western Colchester. At the base of the ravine, 137 feet below the bridge, is Dickinson Creek, a small tributary of the Salmon River.

The viaduct was part of the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad, which was built in the 1870s and was intended to be a more direct route between New Haven and Boston. The line was later acquired by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, and in the early 20th century it was upgraded to allow for heavier trains. Rather than rebuilding the Lyman Viaduct, the railroad buried it with sand and cinder in 1912-1913. The old iron viaduct was left intact beneath the artificial embankment, and it remained in use until this portion of the rail line was abandoned in 1965.

The railroad right-of-way has since been converted into a rail trail, as shown in the bottom photo. The original 1873 iron viaduct is still here, buried beneath the sand and rocks, and there are a few areas where parts of the bridge are exposed above the surface. It is a rare surviving example of an iron railroad bridge from this period, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The best way to visit the viaduct is to park in the parking lot on Bull Hill Road and then walk about a quarter mile west along the trail.

Historic image attributed to photographer Albert M. McKenney. Courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Museum.

07/31/2025

A quick snap of a quiet Drawing Room last night.
But it won’t be quiet for long - we have a busy weekend coming up, hosting an intimate wedding and reception ✨

06/30/2025

New things coming very soon 👀
Here’s a little sneak peek of our Smith Room

05/23/2025

We’re still waiting for a vote on SB 1522: An Act Renaming The Community Investment Account The Donald E. Williams, Jr. Community Investment Account And Increasing Funding For Said Account but that means there is time to let your legislators know you support the bill!

On the 20th anniversary of this extremely successful and popular program, we are asking for a modest increase to the Community Investment Account (CIA) which provides essential, dedicated funding for historic preservation rehabilitation and planning, farmland preservation, open space protections and affordable housing. This fund is supported by a recording fee on land transactions and not a tax. All sectors contribute to the economy and quality of life in Connecticut. The CIA made it possible for Preservation Connecticut to distribute over $9 MILLION in grant funding, make over 720 technical assistance site visits, and create more than 1,500 jobs.

PLUS, this money is essential for the CT State Historic Preservation Office's grant funding that benefits you! With federal cuts looming, it’s more important than ever for SHPO to get their portion of CIA funds.

Helpful links:
PCT Impact Map: https://preservationct.org/impact
Advocacy page: https://preservationct.org/advocacy-2025
Find your CT legislators: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp

03/17/2025

Excited to finally announce we will be reopening our doors to guests on May 8th! All remaining 2025 dates are now available for booking on Airbnb.

Thank you to all who have reached out about availability, and thank you for your patience. We can’t wait to share the new and improved O’Connell House with you.

Follow the link in bio to book now.

12/16/2024

Scenes from Colchester’s Holiday Homecoming on the Town Green 🎄 ❄️ 🎅 We love being located in the historic town center next to all the action!

11/19/2024

The Colchester Historical Society has debuted its new museum exhibit, Discover the ABC’s of Colchester History, and we’re excited to be included in the letter ‘S’ for Switchboard!
This fun and informative exhibit “showcases 26 objects and images along with captivating stories that represent more than three centuries of history and tradition, passed down through many generations.” Learn about one of The O’Connell House’s past lives and so much more. Visit the Colchester History Museum, just a short walk from us, on Sundays 11am-2pm.

09/09/2024

Curated historic touches with modern amenities // The Cragin Room
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08/05/2024

Last evening after the storm, we heard the Colchester Colonials practicing and watched them march up the green. Following them back, we were treated to not just some beautiful music but to the most amazing double rainbow over the town green. Thank you Colchester Colonials for tempting us off the porch for a wonderful experience.

Address

12 Broadway
Colchester, CT
06415

Telephone

+18605371925

Website

https://www.theoconnellhouse.com/

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