St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Bethel (1910)

Planning began in 1834 to erect an Episcopal chapel in Bethel. Dedicated to St. Thomas, the building was erected the following year on Center Street (now 95 Greenwood Avenue) and at the time was part of St. James’ Parish in Danbury. In 1909, the old white frame church was taken down to make way for a new edifice, built of stone that came from stone walls on outlying farms. Services were held on Christmas Day in the unfinished structure in 1909. The new St. Thomas Episcopal Church was dedicated a few weeks later, on January 16, 1910. Additions, which included a chapel, parish hall, kitchen and an upstairs caretaker’s apartment, were made in the 1970s.

Elisha H. Holmes, Sr. House (1840)

The house at 16 Main Street in South Windham was built c. 1840 by Elisha H. Holmes, Sr. (1799-1886). As related in Vol. I of the Commemorative Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties (1903), Holmes

came to Windham in 1818, and followed his trade of cabinetmaker, also engaging in farming. Later he had a grist and plaster mill at South Windham. At one time he engaged largely in dredging operations, both in salt water and the Great Lakes. His death, which occurred Sept. 21, 1886, was regarded as a loss throughout the community. In politics he was a Democrat, and he represented the town of Windham in the State Legislature, also holding local offices. His wife, Lydia, was a daughter of Amos Dennison Allen, a cabinet—maker of Windham, with whom Mr. Holmes learned his trade.

In 1833, Elisha H. Holmes inherited land from his in-laws, the Allen family, which he sold to George Spafford, a partner in Spafford, Phelps and Co., which made paper manufacturing machines. The company failed after the Panic of 1837 and was acquired by Charles Smith and Harvey Winchester. In 1837 and 1838, Holmes sold additional land to the new partners, who were expanding the company. In 1872, Holmes built a house for his son, Elisha H. Holmes, Jr., at 4 Main Street in South Windsor.

Chauncey Spencer House (1860)

Chauncey Spencer was a builder who erected a number of tenement houses in the village of Ivoryton in Essex. In 1856 he acquired the land at 3 Main Street in Ivoryton from Dan Parker, whose daughter Temperance he had married in 1853. He built the house on the property by 1860. After the Temperance died in 1892, Chauncey married her sister, Cornelia. The home remained in the Spencer family until 1963. (more…)

N.I.A. Starkweather House (1867)

The Nichols Improvement Association was founded in 1889 to beautify and improve the historic village of Nichols in the town of Trumbull. The N.I.A. owns and maintains the Nichols Green, which has a World Wars Monument, and other properties totaling 42 acres. Across from the Green is the John B. Nichols Community Center. The N.I.A. acquired it as the John B. Nichols Memorial Park in 1951 and developed it as a community center. It includes the Stratweather House, 1773 Huntington Turnpike, which houses the N.I.A. offices and is available for rentals. The house was built in 1867 by John B. Nichols (1817-1899). Near the house is the Bunny Fountain, an 1895 gift from the Peet family to the citizens of Nichols.

David C. Hubbard House (1825)

The house at 373 Saybrook Road in Haddam was built about 1825 by David C. Hubbard, who was a ship builder and master carpenter employed at the Huntington and Child shipyards at Higganum Landing. After his death in 1841 the house was acquired by Luther Freeman. About 1810, Freeman had started a brickyard about a half a mile north of the Landing. He retired around the time he bought the house and the business was continued by his sons, George A. Freeman and Orrin Freeman, until circa 1850. George inherited the house from his father, but lived at the Landing. He sold the house to Harvey Child in 1870.