Benjamin Hall House (1790)

The house at 405 Maple Avenue in Cheshire was built c. 1790, but has been much altered from its original appearance. The book Old Historic Homes of Cheshire (1895), complied by Edwin R. Brown, states that “built by Col. Benjamin Hall for his son Benjamin, about 100 years ago,” but then notes

Benjamin Hall. Jr., for whom this house was erected, married Mary Ives in 1752. He graduated from Yale College in 1754. He was highly honored and esteemed as a citizen. He died in the year 1786, aged 50 years, at the very zenith of his usefulness.

The book also mentions later owners:

Here, also, William Law, the grandfather of Dr. William Law, resided for many years. He was a prominent official of the town, was selectman several years. and representative from this town in the years 1786, 1802, 1806, 1808 and 1809. A meeting of the Consociation of New Haven County was held at his house, November 14, 1786, he being one of those who were disaffected by the pastorate of the Rev. John Foote.

Chas. K. Brown, Wm, Spencer, Selden Spencer, and Franklin Howard have been owners of these premises, and have resided here with their families during these later years. Elizur P. Atwater purchased this property in the year 1873, and since that time has resided here. The farm connected with this place is considered one of the best in the town.

The Cheshire Grange was organized at the Atwater House in 1885 and its meetings were held there until a Grange Hall was erected in 1891. In 1957, the house was used at a convent for nuns who taught at St. Bridgid School. Today the building is home to Guardian Angels Homecare.

Billings Burtch House (1780)

The Billings Burtch House, located at 19 Nothwest Street in Stonington, was built circa 1780. The house may be named for Sgt. Billing Burtch (1746-1836). Grace Denison Wheeler describes the house in her 1903 book, The Homes of Our Ancestors in Stonington, Conn.:

The Billings Burtch house formerly stood where Mr. Peleg Hancox built his fine new house on Water Street, but about 1850 it was moved from there to the corner of Water and High Streets by Mr. Ezra Chesebrough, who purchased it and placed it where it now stands. It was some three feet or more above the road bed, with its yellow front door facing south, the approach to which was by some rambling stone flags, or slabs, about four or five inches thick, and placed as they were broken out with neither form nor comeliness. At one time the house was tenanted by George Howe, who was sexton and tithing-man at the old Baptist Church, and at another time Mrs. Elias Gallup, sister of Mrs. Ezra Chesebrough, lived there and had a millinery store. According to an old letter found, Mr. Billings Burtch died in this house aged ninety-two years.

The house must have been moved again to its current address.

Reuben Barber House (1775)

The house at 117 Barbourtown Road in Canton was erected in 1775 by Reuben Barber (1751-1825), who served in the Revolutionary War. Barber donated the land for the Canton Center Cemetery, across the road from his house, and was the first person to be buried there. Reuben‘s son, Sadosa Barber, lived in the basement while his house nearby was being built. He quarried the stone to build the stairway outside. In 1820, Loin Humphrey remodeled and repaired the house for his son, Lorin Harmon Humphrey.

Josiah Wolcott House (1754)

Suggested dates for the construction of the house at 329 Wolcott Hill Road in Wethersfield have included 1734, 1754, 1764 and 1775. It is said that the nails used in building the house were made by prisoners at Old Newgate Prison. The house, which is named after Josiah Wolcott, has overhangs with dentil molding above both floors. Horace Wells, who pioneered the use of anesthesia (using nitrous oxide) in dentistry, lived in the house for a time in the 1840s [or is this a confusion with another Horace Wells (1789-1853), son of Thomas Wells?]. The Hart Seed Company began in this house in 1892 when Charles C. Hart started packaging seeds in the kitchen. In 1957 the house was purchased by Glenn Weaver, a professor of history at Trinity College who wrote a history of Hartford. His wife Emojean was a teacher at Wethersfield High School.

William Smith House (1730)

The William Smith House at 166 Silver Lane in East Hartford is thought to date to as early as 1730, a year before the dirt path in front became town property. Smith had to arrange with his neighbors and the town to get road access to his home. Smith also owned the house next door, at 158 Silver Lane, which he ran as a tavern. Both buildings have been much altered over the years. In the 1920s, the house was the first in East Hartford to be decorated with electric Christmas lights. By the 1930s and 1940s owner Raymond C. Dunn’s elaborate holiday displays attracted people from far and wide, causing traffic jams. A police officer was needed to direct traffic. A contest for the best Christmas display each year was discontinued because he won every year.