The oldest surviving house in Middlebury was built by Josiah Bronson on Breakneck Hill Road in 1738. The house also served as a tavern and hosted a number of French officers during the Revolutionary War: first in 1781 when Rochambeau’s French army encamped in Middlebury from June 27 to July 1, on its way to the Siege of Yorktown, and again from October 26-28, 1782, during their return journey. One of the officers to stay in the tavern was the Baron de Viomenil, who was second in command to General Rochambeau during the Yorktown Campaign. At these times, Rochambeau himself most likely stayed with Captain Isaac Bronson, Josiah’s father, further down the hill. The Josiah Bronson House was acquired in 1940 by Lawrence M. and Esther Duryee, who restored it.
Larry and Esther Duryee were my Grand Uncle and Aunt on my mother’s side. As a child my mother , brother and myself took a train trip across country from California to the east coast to visit my great grandmother, Grace Lawrence Duryee Hutchinson in New Jersey and my aunt and uncle in Connecticut. I was totally enchanted with the house and the environs. There was a little lake with a rowboat on the property, the fields were green and open then, with white fencing all around.Aunt and Uncle had two horses, Tallyho and Crack-o-dawn,who pulled us on a carriage ride with Uncle Lawrence. I have more to say about the history of the house, but for now, I am out of time! Penny Hamilton
Hello Penny,
I would love to hear more of your recollections about the Duryee family of Middlebury and this property if you would care to share them.
Sincerely,
Bob Rafford, president, Middlebury Historical Society, Municipal Historian
This may be a part of my family history. I am related to Col. Ozias Bronson.
Dear Mr. Rafford;
I am sorry I never replied to your request! It is rare that I search out this site. I would be happy to share whatever I remember from our stay at the Josiah Bronson House. thank you for your interest.
Sincerely,
Penny Hamilton
I am related to Col. Ozias Bronson as well. I would love to talk to you Mary Bronson Gann.
The Bronson House was painted white when we visited my aunt and uncle Duryee there in around1957. The house was already so old that the original wood floor was all wavy from use. Aunt Esther told me that the soldiers hid behind the fireplace. there was a grand old tree in the back of the house. After my brother and I were put to bed, the adults retired to a patio under that tree to visit and drink gin and tonics. The smell of gin and tonic still brings back the memory of that time.