First Congregational Church, Portland (1850)

First Congregational Church, 554 Main Street, Portland, CT

The origins of the First Congregational Church of Portland go back to 1714 when it known as the Third Society of Middletown, later called Chatham. The areas that are now the town of Portland and East Hampton were incorporated in 1767 as the Town of Chatham. Portland separated from Chatham to become the Town of Portland in 1841. The Society had two earlier church buildings before the current one. As related in the 1884 History of Middlesex County:

At the annual meeting in 1845, difference of opinion prevailed as to the location of the prospective new church, and accordingly a committee, consisting of Deacon Job H. Payne, Philip H. Sellew, and Ebenezer B. White, were appointed to select two or more judicious and disinterested persons as an advisory committee, to consult together and report. The next year, by a vote of nine to fifteen, it was determined to place the new edifice on the old site, but it was decided by the moderator (one of the deacons of the church) to be no vote. At a meeting soon after it was voted thirteen to seven to build on “Meeting House Hill.” This was likewise decided by the same moderator to be no vote. It is presumable that the foregoing decisions were reached by the moderator, in view of the smallness of the number present, the general want of enthusiasm, and possible lack of requisite pledges. Three years elapsed, when, November 6th 1849, it was voted twenty-six to nine, three not voting, that the meeting house should be erected on the lot owned by John I. Worthington, situated between the dwelling houses of Harlord H. Caswell, and George H. Pettis, and William H. Bartlett, Ebenezer B. White, Henry E. Sage, Philip H. Sellew, and Reuben Paynewere appointed a building committee. The present church edifice was built in 1850, and on the 18th of December of the same year was dedicated. It is of Gothic structure, 70 by 39 feet. The building cost $6,200; the site, bell, furniture, and other accommodations, $1,450; total, $7,650.

Jonathan Warner House (1703)

Jonathan Warner House in Portland

The earliest part of the house at 613 Main Street in Portland was constructed in 1703 for Jonathan Warner. It was one room over one room with an end chimney (a style typical of Rhode Island). The house was enlarged over the years. Behind the northwest part was a section built in 1764 by sea captain Ithamar Pelton (1744-1806). The south part of the house was added in 1912 by William Gildersleeve.

Dr. Charles H. Gilbert House (1856)

A 2001 walking tour of Main Street in Portland by Doris Sherrow (which I can no longer find online) lists the house at 576 Main Street as the home of Dr. Charles H. Gilbert with a construction date of 1856. It also explains that Gilbert married one of the daughters of Rev. Hervey Talcott, who lived next door at 572 Main Street. According to genealogical sites, it was Charles Henry Gilbert‘s father, Dr. Gershom Clark Hyde Gilbert (1817-1889) who married Rev. Talcott’s third daughter, Harriette in 1845. Dr. Talcott left Portland in 1867, later living for periods in Waterbury, Hartford and Westbrook.

Rev. Hervey Talcott House (1820)

The house at 572 Main Street in Portland was built c. 1820. It was the home of Hervey Talcott (1791-1865) who was pastor of the First Congregational Church of Portland from 1816 until 1861 (he remained the nominal pastor until his death in 1865). During his pastorate, which was the longest in the congregation’s history, the current church building was erected in the late 1840s. According a biographical entry from 1876:

He was ordained Oct 23,1816, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Chatham (now Portland), Ct., where he remained until his death, a period of almost fifty years. He was able to discharge all the duties of this office until within five years of his death, when he requested to be relieved somewhat and a colleague was appointed. He furnished an excellent example of those ministers of whom New England has produced so many, characterized by prudence, fidelity and the ability to grow with their parishes, so that they spent their days over one church. Mr. Talcott’s characteristics were a sincere and childlike piety an unvarying devotion to his work, a well-balanced and clear head, a genial and kindly manner, an unusual discreetness of conduct, and before all men a blameless life. All these qualities combined to make him greatly loved and honored in Portland, and his pastorate was long and successful. It is a striking proof of his prudence that though his church was rent by many dissensions during his pastorate, he retained the respect and confidence of every one almost without an exception. As a preacher he was earnest, pointed, instructive and scriptural. He could never be called brilliant, but had those qualities of a speaker that wear well. Personally he always gave one the idea of a high toned [C]hristian [sic] gentleman. His piety was apparent, but not obtrusive, and his presence was always attractive to young and old, and yet an air of godliness about him was sufficient to keep improprieties and wrong-doing at a distance without a word of rebuke. In his family he was greatly loved and he gave example as well as precept in keeping a well ordered [C]hristian household.

Talcott Pedigree in England and America from 1558 to 1876, pp.179-180.

George Pettis House (1845)

The Greek Revival house at 568 Main Street in Portland was built in 1845 and remodeled in 1926. It was originally the home of George Pettis, a shoemaker. In 1927 the house was owned by Gothard A. Olson (1892-1984), whose flooring company, Gothard A Olson & Sons, is still in existence. The house was next owned by Aline E. Roman, who sold Harold Roman the adjacent land which he built the house at 564 Main Street in 1936-1937.

Capt. Evelyn White House (1845)

The Greek Revival house at 608 Main Street in Portland was built c. 1845. It was the home of Evelyn White, a ship captain (he is listed as captain and, with O. G. Terry, co-owner of the sloop Phoenix, built in 1839 at the Portland shipyard of S. Gildersleeve & Sons). He is probably the same Evelyn White who later served a term in the state legislature in 1880 and twelve terms as selectman. By the late 1920s the house was occupied by members of the Gildersleeve family.