Gaylordsville Spite House

Calvin the Courageous (Atlas Obscura User)

This curious five-tiered structure, which resembles a wedding cake in house form, has an unusual history behind it. In 1961, Jan Pol, a junk dealer, built the house as a ‘monument to injustice’ at the intersection of South Kent and Riverview roads in Gaylordsville. A spite house is a building erected with the intention of annoying neighbors.

Supposedly, Pol adopted a baby girl with his then wife, but the state took her away for bureaucratic reasons. As an act of vengeance, he built this architectural oddity, considered at the time to be an ugly departure from the quaint Connecticut houses nearby. According to local legend, the walls are made of old bottles, a body is buried in the foundation, and Pol is the father of the child.

Jan Andrew Pol’s book, The Passage of My Life, provides an intriguing glimpse into the story behind the construction of the striking and one-of-a-kind building he designed. The building, which was initially pink, is now being restored to its former glory by its current owner.

Know Before You Go

Note that this spite house was purchased a few years ago and is now private property. The home can be viewed from the road, but visitors are asked to be respectful and avoid trespassing.