Built at the corner of Forest and Hawthorn Streets in Hartford for the lawyer, John Hooker and his wife, Isabella Beecher Hooker. The original structure of 1853 was expanded into a Gothic Revival villa by architect Octavius Jordan in 1861. This was the first house built in the notable Hartford neighborhood of Nook Farm. Isabella, an important figure in the Women’s Suffrage Movement, was the sister of Harriet Beecher Stowe. The house was altered in the early twentieth century when part of the roof was raised in 1906 and the porte-cochere added in 1924. Today the house is surrounded by 1950s-era apartment buildings and is itself an apartment building.
John and Isabella Beecher Hooker House (1861)
Hey Alex! This is a great idea for a new blog with some solid, meaningful content. The subject is also one that I imagine is not much covered on the internet. It’s more or less outside of my areas of expertise, but I imagine you’ll find an audience!
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I used to live here on the right side first floor apartment. It is beautiful inside– but they are going to rip the doors out to make it all fire code.. It is such a shame.
Ryan
I also used to live on the first floor, right side, about 25 years ago. The interior was beautiful – the foyer was all custom walnut paneling. The rooms had original hardwood floors, marble fireplaces, gothic-shaped windows, and high ceilings. Mark Twain lived in this house for several years – he rented it for his family while they were building his masterpiece home at the other end of the street.
I was born in 1953-100 years after this house was built. And this is where I grew up- In the 3rd floor apartment. It was a magical place that instilled a love of historical homes in me.
The banisters that we would slide down, the back stairs that we could hide in, the slate roof that could be climbed, the fire escape off our outside porch, the musty dirt floor cellar. This house was filled with adventures beyond imagining.
Sadly,we watched as apartment bldgs. sprung up around it, the empty fields across the street were paved…& Hartford High was built & dominated this once historical neighborhood.
What an amazing area this was back then. Every year I got to participate in the annual Frog Jump at Mark Twain’s house at the corner!
My Mom stayed on there after we were all grown, yet was forced to move later due to all the crime.
Theresa V.Prevost died 5 years ago & I write this in her memory as she loved this house as so many of us did. R.I.P. Mom
Betsy Thompson (Prevost)
I just saw this house hidden behind those big old apartment buildings today and wondered about it. Of course you have the answer! Love your site. Also – Steve Courtney told me you work at the Twain House? I do too as of Feb 8 – would love to meet you!!
Deb, I still haven’t met you yet!
Is it still being operated as an apartment? If so….where can I find more information?
Mia,
You could try contacting them here:
https://www.csregroup.com/apartments/ct/hartford/carriage-place/