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.

George Sykes House (1893)

At 76 Prospect Street in Rockville (Vernon) is the 1893 mansion built for George Sykes. It was the first in a series of Queen Anne-style homes built for the owners of Rockville‘s textile mills. George Sykes came to America from Britain as a boy and from early on worked his way up in the textile industry. In 1866, at the age of 26, he came to Rockville to manage Hockanum Company mill, of which he was later president.

256-270 Broad Street, Bridgeport (1879)

A block of brick row houses at 256–270 Broad Street in Bridgeport, which date to around 1879, have been attributed to the architectural firm of Palliser & Palliser and the builder W. Bishop. The houses combine elements of the Victorian Gothic, Queen Anne and Romanesque styles in their eclectic facades. George and Charles Palliser built a number of such brick row houses in different parts of Bridgeport in the early 1880s, but this style of urban housing did not catch on in the city. One of this row of houses has a sign out front indicating that it was the home of Capt. William C. Hyer, who commanded a brigantine in fighting in 1864 at Fort Moultrie, Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina.

George Richardson House (1887)

The George Richardson House is a Queen Anne-style residence built in 1887 at 311 Barnum Avenue in East Bridgeport. The house’s architect was Henry A. Lambert. There appear to be two prominent George Richardsons associated with Bridgeport at this time. The house was built for George Richardson, originally a railroad engineer in Troy, NY. He became superintendent of the Consolidated Safety Valve Company, which he founded with his partner, Richard H. Ashcroft, in Boston in 1879. The company moved to Bridgeport six years later. Both men had earlier patented new safety valve designs in the 1860s. The house was later owned by George E. Nothnagle of the George E. Nothnagle & Son furniture store in Bridgeport. (more…)

Morris W. Bacon House (1870)

Morris W. Bacon was a noted New London businessman, philanthrophist and sportsman, known for his racing horses and fine yachts. At one time he owned a property on upper State Street with a house and a barn for his thoroughbreds. In 1895, he sold the property to Frank Munsey, who built the Mohican Hotel on the land. Morris had another house on Channing Street, facing Granite Street. Probably built around 1870, the house was pictured in the 1901 book, Picturesque New London and its Environs.