Joseph R. Ensign House (1910)

The house at 690 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury was built between 1905 and 1910 for Joseph Ralph Ensign and his wife, Mary Phelps Ensign. Joseph Ensign had succeeded his father, Ralph Hart Ensign, as president of the Ensign-Bickford Company. In 1955, the house became the Parish House for First Church across the street. Today, it is home to a branch of Webster Bank and the Arts Exclusive Gallery.

Charlotte Pettibone Winslow House (1879)

The Stick-style house at 348 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury was built in 1879 on the site of a c.1679 house, built by John Pettibone, Sr. The house was later owned by Rosetta Pettibone Bestor (1769-1825), wife of Dr. John Bestor. After her death, it was purchased by John Owen Pettibone in 1826. A large landowner, he was a probate judge of Simsbury and served in the State Senate. After his death in 1876, the property passed to his niece, Charlotte Pettibone Winslow, who tore down the old house and built the present one. She was the widow of Rev. Horace Winslow, who had retired and moved to Weatogue. According to the Commemorative Biographical Record of Hartford County (1901):

Mr. Winslow was married, May 8, 1850, at the Church of the Puritans, New York City, by the pastor, the Rev. George B. Cheever, D.D., to Charlotte Henrietta Pettibone, daughter of the late Capt. Jonathan and Mrs. Fanny Rosanna (Phelps) Pettibone, of Simsbury, Conn. Mrs. Winslow has for more than fifty years been a worthy and sustaining helpmate to her husband, and has always been interested in his work. She is of a kind and lovable disposition, and her devotion to her husband and children is unsurpassed. She was born at Weatogue, Simsbury, and was only three years old when she attended her first school, was a pupil of various private schools, and was graduated at the age of sixteen at Hartford Female Seminary, with first rank in her class. She also took courses in French, Music and Art while residing in Hartford, and later at New York City, being for a time a pupil at the private school of Madame Okill. About the year 1844, Miss Delia Bacon, of New Haven, sister of Rev. Leonard Bacon, D.D., conducted a class of young ladies in higher branches of study, This class Miss Pettibone joined, giving special attention to the Bible, to Shakespeare, and to philosophy, and the few months spent in New Haven were most delightful and profitable, as Miss Bacon was a lady of rare ability and attainments.

Hattie & Eliza Stowe House (1891)

Author Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) and her husband, Calvin Stowe (1802-1886), had twin daughters named Harriet (Hattie) Beecher (1836-1907) and Eliza Tyler (1836-1912) Stowe. Neither twin married, but they lived with their parents, traveling with their mother and managing the family’s households in Hartford and in Mandarin, Florida. After their mother’s death in 1896, the twins settled in Simsbury, where their brother, Charles E. Stowe, was the minister at the First Church of Christ. According to the new Images of America series book on Simsbury, their former house at 965 Hopmeadow Street was provided for them by their brother when he became minister in 1891. They wouldn’t have moved there until their mother died, so perhaps the house was built in 1891? Today, the house is used for offices.

Update 4/5/12: There’s a new article about the Stowe family’s connections with Simsbury. Check it out!

Alexander T. Pattison House (1896)

At 750 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury is a distinctive house constructed in 1896 for Alexander T. Pattison. The following biographical entry is from Taylor’s Legislative History and Souvenir of Connecticut for 1903-1904:

Hon. Alexander T. Pattison of Simsbury, Republican Senator from the Third District, is the son of Joseph and Delia (Sceery) Pattison. He was born in East Weatogue, town of Simsbury, March 26, 1861, and received his education in the public schools of the town, Granby Academy and Prof. McLean’s School, Simsbury. He began his business career as clerk in the general store of Judson Wilcox, which was established in 1851. Since January, 1886, he has successfully managed the business. He married, October 7, 1885, Miss Ella Ruth Wilcox, daughter of Judson and Nancy S. (Chapman) Wilcox of Simsbury. They have had four daughters: Lucy W., born October 14, 1886; Stella C, born September 1, 1888, died Dec. 26, 1888, Julia E., born August 26, 1890, and Ruth Frances, born June 8, 1902. He has been secretary and treasurer of the Simsbury Cemetery Association since 1888, and is a director and secretary of the Simsbury Electric Co. He was a valuable member of the House in 1897. This session he was Senate chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and plainly showed that he was the “right man in the right place.” He was also chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills. Senator Pattison’s influence is ever felt for the good of the community in which he resides.