Watertown - Historic Buildings of Connecticut

Frank B. Noble House (1904)

The house (pdf) at 191 Woodruff Avenue in Watertown is thought to have been designed by Griggs and Hunt of Waterbury. The house was built for Frank B. Noble, corporate secretary of the Chase Brass and Copper Company in Waterbury. According to an obituary that appeared in Metal Industry, Vol. 18, No. 11 (November, 1920)

Frank B. Noble, who died at his home in Watertown on July 2, 1920, was, up to the time of his death, secretary of the Chase companies for a number of years. He was 55 years old and his connection with the Chase companies extended over a period of 35 years. He had been a resident of Watertown all his life, attending the public schools there. Later he studied at the Waterbury High School.

Mr. Noble always took an active interest in his native town, and was usually foremost in all projects having for their object the betterment of his birthplace. He was president of the Watertown library, treasurer of the Episcopal church, trustee of the cemetery association and a member of the Civic Improvement League. He is survived by two daughters and a son, all of Watertown.

His family lived in the house until 1924. It was then the home of Waterbury attorney, John H. Cassidy and his family until 1963.

Woodward Chapel (1924)

The earliest Episcopal church building in Westbury (now Watertown) was built in 1765. Called Christ Church, it was replaced by a new church in 1794 and then by a third building, located on the street called The Green, built in 1854-1855. That church was replaced on the same site by a new edifice, which still stands today, built in 1924 and designed by Allen & Collens to resemble an English parish church. The church was expanded in 1960 with the addition of a wing for a parish hall. In 2003, Christ Church became one of the “Connecticut Six,” parishes that clashed with Connecticut Bishop Andrew D. Smith over support for the naming of V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay Episcopal priest, as New Hampshire’s bishop. In 2007, the entire congregation severed its ties with the national Episcopal Church and left its church on The Green to become New Hope Anglican Church. In 2010 the former Christ Church was purchased by the nearby Taft School and was renamed Woodward Chapel.

Charles Merriman House (1750)

The Charles Merriman House, located at 75 Woodbury Road in Watertown, across from the Taft School, was built in the eighteenth century and been much altered and enlarged over the years. The oldest part of the house dates to 1750. In 1812, Charles Merriam added the large Federal-style front section. Merriam, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, was a tailor (and later merchant) whose shop and store was located just up the street, on what is now Hamilton Avenue. According to New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Volume IV (1914):

Charles, son of Amasa Merriman, was born at Wallingford, Connecticut, August 20, 1762. He served in the revolution, enlisting as a drummer in 1775, when he was thirteen years of age. He was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. He finally became drum major and served throughout the entire war. While he was in the army he also made clothes for the men, and it is said that when he married, his only worldly possession was a tailor’s goose. When the war was ended, he and his boy chum, a lad named Punderson, walked to the latter’s home in Connecticut, and there Merriman met his future wife, Anna Punderson, a sister of his army chum. He settled at Watertown, Connecticut, where he commenced business as a tailor. He was, however, compelled to give up this trade on account of ill health, and he then “rode post” from New Haven to Suffield for four years, after which he made a voyage to the West Indies. He then became engaged in business as a merchant in Watertown, where he continued until his death, which occurred August 26, 1829. He was of a genial nature, and was distinguished for decision of character and stern integrity.

Merriam was also a Mason. As related in the History of Ancient Westbury and Present Watertown from its Settlement to 1907 (1907):

The first Masonic Lodge was held December 22, 1790. […] This meeting was held at Landlord (David) Turner’s, where they continued to meet until March 11, 1793, when they removed to the Charles Merriman house (opposite Taft’s School), now occupied by Miss Mary Merriman. Brother Merriman was “to find the Lodge with house room, wood, candles, etc. for the term of one year, and to have for his reward twelve dollars and find the Lodge with Liquor at Prime cost in New York, allowing freight and transportation.”

A rear addition to the house was built circa 1890-1910. The house was altered in the Colonial Revival style in 1912, when the columned south portico was added.

Gridley-Munson House (1849)

Having built a store north of the Congregational Church in Watertown in 1846, Amos Gridley built his Italianate-style house next door (10 Deforest Street) in 1849. Gridley eventually went bankrupt. The house had other owners. In 1912, James Woolson remodeled it in the colonial revival style, adding the porches on the side of the house (the front portico is original). The house was later owned by William J. Munson, who donated the house and land to the town in 1928 in memory of his wife. The house now contains the Board of Education offices and the land, known as the Marion B. Munson Memorial Park, is joined to the Watertown Public Green.

Amos Gridley Store (1846)

In 1846, Amos Gridley built a brick store (22 Deforest Street) next to the Congregational Church in Watertown. Gridley also built his Italianate house next door. He was accused of dubious business practices and eventually went bankrupt. Unusually for a store, the building has a colonnaded Greek portico. It was later used as a town hall and firehouse and is home to the Watertown Historical Society.

Cashman Farmhouse (1841)

The Italianate farmhouse at 1002 Middlebury Road in Watertown (pdf) was built in 1841 by James Bishop, on part of the Hamilton Farm, which had been purchased that year by his father, Leverett Bishop. In 1854, the property was sold to the Partree family. In 1903, the house was purchased by Rollin and Howard Cashman, who ran a dairy farm on the property for nearly 40 years. For a time, the house was operated as The Graham House Bed and Breakfast, but it is now again a residence.

Truman A. Warren House (1851)

The ashlar granite Italianate house at 5 The Green in Watertown was erected in 1851 by Truman A. Warren. He was the son of Alanson Warren, of the manufacturing firm of Warren, Wheeler & Woodruff. Alanson Warren was also the first president of a company that grew out of that firm: Wheeler & Wilson, manufacturers of sewing machines. Truman A. Warren was a Republican politician. The house has been attributed to New Haven architect Henry Austin or it may have been designed by an architect copying Austin’s style of Italianate villa.