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.

G. Burgess Fisher House (1930)

Built in 1930 for G. Burgess Fisher and his wife, the house at 105 Scarborough Street in Hartford is one of the homes that will be open as part of the Mark Twain House & Museum‘s 31st Annual Holiday House Tour on Sunday, December 4, 2011. Described as “semi-Tudor” and French-Norman Chateau in style, the house was designed by Milton E. Hayman. It features Tudor elements (presented in a more ordered fashion than is typical of the style) and also has examples of classical detailing. The house was featured in an advertisement, headed “Modern De Lux Living” in the Hartford Courant of April 26, 1932. The ad, placed by the Hartford Gas Company, extolled the house’s modern amenities, including the “All-Gas Kitchen.” The original gas stove was later bought by Martha Stewart for one of her own houses.

Frank E. Wolcott House (1924)

At 26 West Hill Drive, in the West Hill Historic District in West Hartford, is a Colonial/Tudor Revival house, built in 1924 and designed by Smith & Bassette for Frank E. Wolcott. His manufacturing company produced the Silex coffee pot. A vacuum brewer, the Silex coffee pot, utilizing heatproof Pyrex glass, was first produced in 1915. The rights to its design, which originated in Europe, had been acquired in 1909 by two sisters, Mrs. Ann Bridges and Mrs. Sutton, of Salem, Massachusetts. Wolcott’s company was later renamed the Silex Company. Its first patent for a coffee pot was assigned to Hazel M. Bridges in 1926. Frank E. Wolcott filed additional patents in the 1930s.

The Marjorie Hayden House (1908)

Architect Wilfred Griggs designed the house at 70 Pine Street in Waterbury, which was built in 1908 for Margery (or Marjorie) Hayden. Her father was the inventor Hiram Hayden. When his house next door burned down, Margery and her sister Rose donated the land to the City of Waterbury to become Hayden Homestead Park. Margery Hayden bequeathed her own home to Waterbury Child Guidance Clinic in 1974.

Another house on the same street designed by Griggs is at at 175 Pine Street. It was built around 1901 for his brother, David C. Griggs. According to the History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Vol. III (1918):

In the acquirement of his education David C. Griggs attended Miss Pritchard’s private school, the public schools of Waterbury and the Sheffield Scientific School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1892. His early business experience came to him through eight months’ service with the Berlin Iron & Bridge Company and in February, 1893, he became identified with the Waterbury Farrel Foundry & Machine Company, in which he worked his way upward through the various positions of the engineering department. In 1899 he was made a director of the company and was chosen to his present position as secretary in 1902.

David C. Griggs and his wife, Helen Trowbridge Williams, moved into the house in 1904. They lived there until their deaths (David in 1958 and Helen in 1966). The house’s current occupant is architect John J. D’Amico.