Recent archaeological investigations at the Allen House in Shrewsbury and Marlpit Hall in Middletown are revealing significant new information about these storied structures and the people who lived and worked in them. Especially significant is the discovery of a rich deposit of early 19th-century artifacts at Marlpit Hall, which may be associated with an outkitchen used by enslaved individuals. While the historical record provides considerable information about the families that owned these structures, archaeology can provide a more complete picture of the past and shed light on aspects of local history missing from the written record.