Daniel Bacon House (1793)

Daniel Bacon House

At 5 Pleasant Street in Woodbury, facing the North Woodbury Green, is a house built in 1793. An imposing mansion with lavish interiors, the house was built for Daniel Bacon (1774-1828), a wealthy merchant, and his new wife, Rebecca Thompson, daughter of Judge Hezekiah Thompson. As described in Woodbury and the Colonial Homes (1900):

They entertained with a kind and generous hospitality. One of their descendants writes that Mr. Bacon was a remarkable man and his wife a queen among women.” They are credited with having the first cook stove in Woodbury, the ladies of the town expressing interest in the new invention.

Daniel Bacon inherited much business ability from his father Jabez Bacon for he was a successful merchant having a store near his home and adding to his already considerable wealth. He possessed great strength of character and filled a large place in the community in both political and church affairs. He was instrumental in having the North Church built on its present site giving five hundred dollars toward it.

Daniel Bacon, Esq. is vividly described by William Cothren in his History of Ancient Woodbury (1854):

In early life he was a merchant, as was his father before him, and in business added largely to his patrimony, already large; but he subsequently relinquished this for a semi-public life of ease and independence, employing his leisure in the care of a large landed estate, on which he resided until his death. It was here providence assigned his place, and this place he filled. In the struggle whence originated the north church, he had a large share of responsibility and labor, which he cheerfully bore.

In the community also, as an eminently useful citizen, he had his place, which he filled with credit to himself. Toward all ecclesiastical expenses he contributed a tenth of the sum to be raised, and said to others, “Come, fill the rest,” and it was done. Such a man, one to take the lead, and mark out the way, occupies a position in community seldom appreciated till he is removed from it. He was the friend of every young man in the town. Did a boy, “just out of his time,” in a trade, want a hundred dollars, Daniel Bacon gave it to him. Many of these, now first in society in point of wealth and character, leaned on Daniel Bacon’s purse and counsel in their “trial day.” Many in political life, had to assemble first, in Daniel Bacon’s “old counting-room,” in the old store now demolished, and take counsel of his foresight, and catch a little of his vigor, before they felt they were well prepared for the fray; and many, in different parts of the state, still remember him, pushed into the van and bearing the brunt of the fight in the legislature, at Hartford, in those somewhat Hudibrastic contests, for which our legislatures are making themselves every year more and more remarkable. When he died, it was found that men of moderate means, all over the town, were indebted to him, in small sums from fifty to two hundred dollars, for which he had their paper. Some of it, though regularly renewed, had been outstanding nearly a quarter of a century. This was because such persons found it inconvenient to pay, and he let the paper lie to accommodate them. Acts like this, in a man of large wealth, constantly dealing in public stocks elsewhere, where his money was worth double the legal interest, show the usefulness of the individual, and the sort of character he chose to make. It should be added, that he was a sincere Christian, and his monument has no epitaph but that consoling one of “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.”

In private life he was beloved by a large circle of relatives and friends. His doors were always open, his house always full, his tables ever groaning under the “old-fashioned profusion.” His descendant, now occupying the “old homestead,” said to the author the other day, “he could not but hear, almost every hour, as he walked about the grounds, the bustle, and almost roar of active life, that once swelled through the old mansion.” Alas, these old-fashioned men of strength and girth, this ancient hospitality of country life, are they not passing from among us? and do we not forget, in the hum and progress of the present, the old-fashioned, solid, country worth, that gave to such hospitality its greatest charm? We live, indeed, in a progressive age. Society is hurrying on with great velocity to a state of the highest intelligence, and the most extended power. The author is not of those who fear this state of affairs. He would, however, look back occasionally, receive the light of the past, and never forget the founders of that edifice that is so rapidly rearing its top in the sky.

Dr. Myron Downs House (1842)

Dr. Myron Downs House

The Greek Revival house at 38 Church Street in Roxbury was built in 1842 for Dr. Myron Downs. His life is described in the Proceedings of the Connecticut Medical Society, Vol. IV, No. 1 (1888):

Myron Downs, M.D., was born in the town of Roxbury, Litchfield Co.. Conn., A.D. 1805.

He studied medicine with Dr. Josiah R. Eastman of that town, and graduated from the medical department of Yale College in 1830, and the same year became a member of the Litchfield County Medical Society, which relationship continued to the day of his death.

He practiced his profession a few years in the village of New Preston in the adjoining town of Washington. At the earnest solicitation of Dr. Eastman, who wished to give up his practice, he returned to Roxbury in 1832, and was soon engaged in a laborious country practice in which he continued nearly fifty years. He died in Roxbury, April 7, 1887.

Dr. Downs was a conscientious, faithful, and devoted physician, giving his long life to the practice of his profession regardless of any question of compensation for his services. An old and intimate friend justly said of him: “He seemed to consider the human race as one great family; that his services were due alike to rich and poor; that he would rather die without wealth than to make a demand for payment for services rendered to the poor and unfortunate members of the family.”

He was called upon to fill many important trusts in the community. He was Judge of Probate, Town Treasurer, a representative in the State Legislature, Postmaster, and for over forty years Town Clerk. To all of these offices he gave the same honest faithful service that he rendered by the bedside of his patients.

Dr. Downs was married to Marinda B. Benedict of New Preston. His wife died Oct. G, 1886. He had no children.

Phineas Smith House (1796)

Phineas Smith House

After serving in the Revolutionary War, Phineas Smith of Woodbury settled in Roxbury. He built the house at 3 Southbury Road around 1796, the year the new town was incorporated, and served as Roxbury’s first representative in the state legislature in 1797. According to Homes of Old Woodbury (1959), p. 224, the columns at the front of the house came from an old church in New Haven that had burned and were drawn to Roxbury by ox cart. Phineas Smith married Deborah Ann Judson. Their son Truman Smith (1791-1884) became a lawyer in Litchfield and their second son, Phineas Smith (1793-1839), became a lawyer in Vermont.

Salvation Army Citadel (1908)

Salvation Army Citadel

In 1908 the Salvation Army constructed a Military Gothic-style Corps (church) building, known as the Citadel, at 661 Main Street in Manchester. The Salvation Army ministry in Manchester had been established in 1887. In 2001 the church planned to demolish the building and construct a new one. There were objections from local preservationists, who did not want to see the building, unique in the state, destroyed. The Salvation Army then came up with a new plan that would renovate the existing Citadel and attach a modern addition for a chapel. The cost was doubled, but the Citadel was saved. The new chapel was opened in 2003.

Giles H. Alford House (1894)

Giles H. Alford House

The house at 106 Windham Street in Willimantic was built in 1894 for Giles H. Alford (1827-1900). Born in Otis, Massachusetts, Alford studied at the Westfield Normal School and became a teacher in Windsor. As described in the Commemorative Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham counties, Connecticut (1903):

In 1851 Mr. Alford went to Riverton, Conn., to take a position as clerk in the store of his uncle, Alfred Alford, who was extensively engaged in the furniture business at that point. At this time he made his first visit to Willimantic, part of his work being to deliver a load of chairs to a customer in that city. After a short time spent with his uncle, Mr. Alford bought out the Union Shoe Co., of Riverton. then comprising a general store, and this was his first business venture. Although he incurred a heavy load of debt, he pulled through, and became the sole owner of the establishment. During the first years of the Civil war Henry Alford cared for the store while Giles H. Alford was engaged in Virginia and Maryland as a sutler with Gen. McClellan’s army in 1861 and 1862.

In 1862 Mr. Alford removed to Willimantic, Riverton not affording as broad a field as he desired. In company with his cousin, James Alford, he opened a grocery store on Main street, in the present location of Purinton & Reade, but the close confinement soon undermined their health, and both retired from the store, Giles H., exchanging his interest for a farm belonging to Chauncey Turner in Mansfield, to which point he removed at once. Farm life restored his health, and after about two years he was again strong and rugged. According[ly] he sold the farm and became a traveling salesman for the Upson Nut Co., of Unionville, Conn. He came into contact with machine manufacturers, and for eight years followed the road. During this time his family lived at Unionville, but later removed to Willimantic. It was also during this time that Mr. Alford bought the bankrupt hardware stock of Mr. Simpson, and put it in charge of his oldest son. Upon his retirement from the road he went into this business himself. C. N. Andrew was at one time a partner with him, and later bought his interest in that store. At a later period Mr. Alford opened the hardware store where he is found at the present time, in company with his son, the firm being G. H. Alford & Son. This son was Howard R. Alford, and on his death, his brother, Carl R., succeeded to his interest, and the firm is unchanged in its title.

After his death, his widow, Adeline C Cadwell, and unmarried daughter Adelaide Louise Alford, a member of the D.A.R., lived in the house.