USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Suffield > Celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Suffield, Connecticut, October 12, 13 and 14, 1920, with sketches from its past and some record of its last half century and of its present > Part 15
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"Oct. 23, 1773, ripe strawberrys and raspberrys, second crop of flax, good and well-coated and summer rye eared and in the blow; the most remarkable growing fall I ever knew."
"1780 Friday May 19th, a very dark day so that at 10 a.m. candles wanted in the house; fowls went to roost and everything appeared like half an hour after sunset on a cloudy day; the clouds of a greenish hue and very surprising and reflected same color on everything on the earth; and the next Sunday was seen by Esq. King and his wife a mock sun at half an hour high in the morning a little above the sun, which the sun passed over and left visible after it was above it."
"The Great River held good crossing on the ice with any load from the first of December to 12th of March without interrup- tion."
This house was one of the notable houses of the town and as far as Mr. S. R. Spencer has discovered the first one to be built with a chimney in each end and a hall through the middle, Its front doorway was the pride of the town for many years. The front hall was beautifully paneled and its stair rail of rare
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architectural grace. From this hall, entrance was gained into a small and dark room, whither the family were wont to retire in case of thunder showers. When Joseph Pease died 1794, this house passed to his son Dr. Oliver, who lived and practiced his profession till he was past eighty, and found time to be town clerk for twenty years and judge of probate. On his death the property passed to his daughter Emily, wife of the Rev. Elam Clarke, and from them to their daughter Miss Emily Clarke, last of the line, who died in 1885. The house was then bought by Martin J. Sheldon and given to the Connecticut Literary Institution and, having fallen into neglect, it was demolished in 1902.
The Spencer Place
Thomas Spencer, Jr., came to Suffield in 1674 and received a grant of sixty acres on the east side of High street, comprising the present Norton place and the property of St. Joseph's church. In 1698 his son Samuel received a grant of sixteen acres in the meadow which is still a part of the Spencer farm. High Street was becoming thickly settled by 1726 and Samuel Spencer sold his half of his father's grant and built a house on the present Olds & Whipple farm. It was on the flat west of the present house and was the first house built between High Street and Taintor Hill. The same year the town laid out a road by this house, and soon after Thomas Spencer built a house on the brow of the hill, east of his father's place and near where the large maple now stands. Sometime before 1743 Daniel Spencer built the house here illustrated. With the single exception of the Dan Phelps house west of the mountain it is said to be the only one in Suffield with an overhanging second story. Samuel Spencer died in 1743 and his sons divided the land, Daniel taking the north and Thomas the south half. Daniel Spencer died in 1772 and his farm passed to Daniel Spencer, Jr., who died in 1784, when the property passed to his children. In 1798 Augustine Spencer, son of Daniel Jr., sold his place to his cousin Hezekiah, grandson of Thomas. In 1803 Spencer Street was laid out by the town, just north of this house, but it was subsequently changed to the south. In 1810 Hezekiah Spencer moved to South Street to be on the post road but retained ownership of the farm.
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He died in 1820, and the farm passed to his son Alfred, who in 1823 married Harriet King, daughter of Ebenezer King, Jr., builder of the Gay Mansion and the Pool, and they renovated the house and moved into it. Alfred Spencer died in 1838 and was succeeded by his son Alfred who died in 1891, leaving seven children, who incorporated The Alfred Spencer Company which now owns the house and farm.
Gay Mansion
In 1795 Ebenezer King, Jr., bought "twenty-six acres of land on High Street bounded west on the post road, southwest corner bound being at the old drain through the lot." He was at that time in the heyday of his prosperity and reputed to be worth $100,000. He was one of the leading spirits in the Connecticut Western Reserve of Ohio, and later lost his fortune and died comparatively poor. Gay Mansion, as it came to be known later, was the finest house in Suffield, as the illustrations else- where show. In 1811, Ebenezer King sold the place to William Gay, who was then and for many years the leading lawyer of this part of Hartford County, and for over thirty-five years the postmaster of Suffield, the post office being at this house. The home passed to two unmarried daughters who lived long lives there, keeping the old furnishings of the house with scrupulous nicety and precision. For well nigh a hundred years the great hall carpet, woven in the house from wool grown and spun on the place, remained in good condition, and all the well preserved furnishings gave to the place a peculiar charm in later years as the home of Mrs. Elise R. Alling, who thus retained it in the pos- session of the descendents of the Gay family until 1916, when it was sold to Rev. Daniel R. Kennedy, Jr.
Luther Loomis Place
Joseph Pease recorded in his diary, "April 29th, 1790 Luther Loomis raised his house." which dates this house exactly. It is located on land that Col. Loomis had bought a few years before from Seth Austin. Col. Loomis was a man of importance in the town, merchant, and farmer, and largely interested in the Con- necticut Western Reserve. His house was fitting in every way for a man of his position. After his death it passed to his son,
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Luther, who was also, a merchant and public servant, having held at one time or another all the offices in the gift of his town and served as judge of probate, member of the Connecticut House of Representatives for six years, and of Connecticut Senate for four years. In 1842, he was the candidate for Gover- nor of Connecticut on the Conservative Democratic party. Upon his death in 1866, the property passed to his son Judge William L. Loomis, who like his father and grand-father served his town in many capacities and especially as town clerk. It is to his untiring patience and devotion that the unusually excellent condition of our Town Records is due, for to them he gave many hours of loving care and work. He is still affection- ately remembered by all who knew him and his fame as a racon- teur still survives. At his death, the property passed to his wife and her sister, Miss Sophia Bissell, and upon Miss Bissell's death in 1912 it was bought by Mr. Chas. L. Spencer and given to the Masonic bodies of Suffield for a home. By them it was loaned to the town as a Hostess House during the celebration.
Old Granger Place
The Granger genealogy says this house was built by Col. Za- dock Granger about 1780, but a close study of the records leads to the belief that it is about twenty years older. Robert Granger a blacksmith, lived on East Street as early as 1757, probably in the place now owned by John Zak. He sold the place illustrated herewith to his son Zadock in 1772, Zadock sold it to his brother Robert in 1776, and repurchased it from Robert in 1783. Col. Zadock Granger was a very active man and owned at various times besides his large farm, the Island, a part of the Oil Mill, and the saw mills at the mouth of Stony Brook. In 1798 he moved to Genesee, N. Y., and about that time sold this place to his nephew Thaddeus Granger, who resided here until his death in 1848. His son Hiram K. Granger sold this property to Amos and James Chapell in 1866, and they sold in 1902 to E. Clay- ton Holdridge, who kept it until 1911 and then sold it to Chas. Lucas, the present owner. The house has one feature believed to be unique among Suffield houses-the large grain bins in the south front room on the second story.
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Timothy Swan House
Six acres of the present "Mather Place" was the original grant to Thomas Huxley, Jr., and in the latter part of the eigh- teenth century was the home of Isaac Bissell who kept a black- smith shop there. In April, 1788, he sold his holdings to Benajah Kent (builder of the "Kent Place," now owned by S. K. Legare) and he sold them to Dr. Howard Alden in 1791. But in 1794 Dr. Alden built the house where Mrs. Edward A. Fuller lives, and sold this property to Timothy Swan who built the house and put the date, 1794, on the chimney. Timothy Swan in the intervals of writing hymns engaged in mercantile business with his brother- in-law, Ebenezer Gay, or at least with his backing, and the title was transferred back and forth for a decade or so, and eventually sold by Timothy Swan in 1807. The following transfers show its history and that it has been "The Mather Place" over eighty years: 1788, Isaac Bissell to Benajah Kent "with shop;" 1791, Benajah Kent to Dr. Howard Alden; 1794, Dr. Howard Alden to Timothy Swan; 1807, Timothy and Mary Gay Swan to John M. Garnett; 1819, John M.Garnett to Seth King, two and one- half acres and house; 1821, Seth King to Henry Loomis of New York City. Henry Loomis was living there in 1840 and paying interest to Elizabeth, widow of Capt. John Kent, from whom he had probably bought additional lands to the west, as the place contained twenty-five acres when deeded by Eliphalet Terry of Hartford and Harvey Bissell of Suffield to Timothy Mather of Windsor from whom it has come down by inheritance to the present owner, Elizabeth B. Mather.
Old Harmon Place
In 1766 Silas Kent traded his place in West Suffield, near the foot of the mountain, with Ebenezer Harmon 2d, born 1727, who had lived near the cemetery, and this place became the home- stead of one branch of the Harmon family for over eighty years. Ebenezer was succeeded by his son Israel, born 1753, and he by his son Julius, born 1796. Julius died in 1842, leaving no male heirs, and in 1852 Silas Root, trustee under the will transferred the place to Artemus and Horace King. Later transfers were: Artemus to Horace A. King; 1906, Edward C. King (son of Hor-
Leavitt Place, Built by Capt. Joseph Winchell Before 1742 (p. 173)
King Place, Built by William King 1750 (p. 174)
Granger Place, Built by Robert Granger 1760 (p. 171)
Harmon Place, Sold by Silas Kent to Ebenezer Harmon 1766 (p. 172)
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ace) to William H. Orr; 1906, William H. Orr to Joseph Abrano- vitch; 1906, Joseph Abranovitch to Julius Malinska.
Capt. Medad Pomeroy Place
This house appears to have been built on a different plan than any other house in Suffield. The record of transfers follows : 1768, Phinehas Pomeroy to Medad Pomeroy for forty pounds, forty- five acres (no building mentioned); 1773, Medad Pomeroy to Charles Smith, with house; 1799, Stephen and Ruth Porter to Dan Sheldon; 1815, Charles Sheldon to Andrew Dennison (first Master of Apollo Lodge); 1828, Andrew and Susan Dennison to William H. Owen; 1836, William H. Owen's children to Reuben Loomis; 1849, Reuben Loomis quit-claimed to Isaac Wing, a cigar maker, who is buried in Suffield while his wife, Hannah Ladd, is buried in Franklin, Conn .; 1853, Isaac Wing to John Nooney; 1858, John Nooney to O. W. Kellogg; 1859, O. W. Kel- logg to Roswell Merriman; 1870, Roswell Merriman to Lucretia Merriman; 1904, Emerson A. Merriman to T. H. Smith.
Old Leavitt Place
This house was built before 1742, probably by Captain Joseph Winchell who died in 1742. The records show the following trans- fers; Samuel Granger to Asaph Leavitt, "The Home lot I now dwell on"; 1746, Asaph Leavitt to John Leavitt (married in 1745) the above piece of property; 1752, Jonathan Leavitt to his brother John "the home lot where Captain Joseph Winchell lately lived, with Mansion house and barn thereon;" 1781 John Leavitt to son Joshua "Mansion house;" 1805, Joshua Leavitt to Joshua Leavitt, Jr .; 1820, Joshua Leavitt mortgaged to Lu- ther Loomis; 1826, Luther Loomis to Henry Wright, "The Joshua Leavitt Farm;" 1859, Halsey S. Wright, guardian, to Nathan Clark; 1886, The heirs of Nathan Clark to Fred Clark.
House of Posthumous Sikes
It is certain that Posthumous Sikes lived here as early as 1739. Victory Sikes mortgaged this land in 1717 and it is quite possible that this house is the house mentioned in that mortgage as its great chimney indicates it is one of the oldest houses in the town. The record of transfers follows : 1759, a deed speaks of the "heirs
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of Posthumous Sikes;" 1780-1783, Shadrach Sikes bought out the other heirs of Posthumous; 1811, Shadrach Sikes and his brother-in-law lived there, Delia Sikes to Jonathan Remington, 2d; 1841, Jonathan Remington, 2d, to Delia Sikes; 1845, Delia Sikes to Gramaliel Fuller; 1854, Luther H. Fuller to Lewis Z. Sikes; 1855, Lewis Z. Sikes to J. B. Vandelinda; 1863, John B. Vandelinda to M. A. Deming; 1864, Oscar and Mary Deming to George Williston; 1888, Estate of George Williston to Jewett Wright; 1889, Jewett Wright to G. H. Kent, 1910, George H. Kent Estate to F. S. Kent.
The King Place
This house, with its beautiful doorway, was built by Ensign William King about 1750 and remained in the direct line of the family until 1883. Ensign William King died in 1791 and was succeeded by his son Seth who died in 1846. The place passed to his son Deacon John A. King from whom it passed in 1869 to his daughters Martha and Jane, who sold it in 1883 to James O. Haskins the present owner.
Gad Lane Tavern
In a transfer of twenty-five acres by Jared Huxley to Samuel Lane in 1723, as given in Springfield Records (D.301), it is stated, "It lyeth on the west side of oynion gutter and on the west side of John Remington's land and bounded partly on the common." The same year James King transferred four acres on Fyler's brook to Samuel Lane. In 1725 John Lane transferred to Samuel Lane, Jr., "all my interest in my father's estate." In 1727 the town laid out a wall by Samuel Lane's house "west from Fyler's brook." In 1765 Samuel Lane transferred to "Grandson Gad" forty acres south of the way to Westfield and west of Pine Plane brook." Later transfers: 1827, Gad Lane to Ashbel, his son; 1847, Ashbel Lane to William Pomeroy; 1848, William Pomeroy to Gibson Lewis and Joel Austin; 1849, Gib- son Lewis and Joel Austin to David Allen; 1888, David Allen to Amos Hunt; 1906, Amos Hunt et al to A. S. Kent; 1909, Albert S. Kent to A. H. Bridge.
The Pool
In 1807, Uriah Austin sold to Ebenezer King, Jr., and Fidelio King the "west part of my farm including the Pool." The pool
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referred to is a strong sulphur spring supposed to contain most efficient medicinal qualities. The Kings immediately built a large hotel on the property and for two or three years business was booming, but it soon fell off and the enterprise proved a failure. Ebenezer King lived here until his death in 1824 when the prop- erty fell to his daughter Arabella and her husband "Deacon Reu- ben Granger" who conducted a popular boys' school here for several years before the opening of the C. L. I. The record of transfers follows: 1853, Reuben and Arabella Granger sold it to Charles V. Dyer; 1855, Charles V. Dyer sold it to Matthew Laffin; 1856, Matthew Laffin sold it to Jacob Loomis; 1860, Jacob Loomis sold it to Walter C. Holcomb; 1864, Walter C. Holcomb sold it to Alfred Spencer; 1892, Heirs of Alfred Spencer sold to Patrick Heavy. The old house was recently burned.
Seth Austin Tavern
This large house was known throughout the nineteenth cen- tury as The Archer Place, having been the home of Thomas Archer and his family from 1814 on. Just when it was built is uncertain, but it was built in two parts at different times and was a famous tavern throughout the Revolutionary period and ante- dates in part at least 1774. In 1723, the records show this land belonged to Richard Austin, Sr., son of Anthony, first school- master, and it evidently passed down through the family, for in 1774 we find Richard's son Joseph, who had moved to Durham, Connecticut, deeding a half interest in the land and buildings to his nephew, Seth Austin, who owned and lived in the other half. Seth Austin was married in 1754, and it is quite likely that part of the house was built as early as that time. In 1809, her husband having died, Mrs. Seth Austin deeded the place to David King and Samuel Arnold and they deeded it in 1814 to Thomas Archer. It remained in the Archer family until 1900, when it was sold to Chas. L. Spencer; a part of the old house was destroyed and a part was moved to Bridge Street, east of the school house.
Following is the full list of old houses and sites marked by the Historical Committee at the time of the celebration, arranged according to the streets or roads on which they are located, the names of the present owners being followed by the names of builders and the dates so far as available:
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High Street
D. N. Carrington-built by Capt. Abraham Burbank, 1736. Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. Holley-built by Ebenezer Gay, 1742. Ralph Raisbeck-lived in by Jonathan Rising, Jr., 1749. Louis Grabouski-lived in by Jonathan Rising, Jr., 1750. K. C. Kulle-lived in by Josiah King, Jr., 1762.
S. R. Spencer-built by Dr. Alexander King, 1764. W. S. Fuller-built by Lieut. Eliphalet King about 1765. Mrs. L. I. Fuller-built by Moses Rowe, 1767.
Mrs. G. A. Harmon-built by Squire Thaddeus Leavitt, 1773.
Mrs. C. C. Bissell-lived in by Ebenezer Hatheway, 1779. C. C. Austin-built by Shadrach Trumbull, 1779. C. A. Prout-built by Elihu Kent, 1782-1810. Mrs. J. O. Armour-built by David Tod, 1773-95. Miss Atwater-built by James Hall, 1786.
Masonic Club-"raised" by Luther Loomis, April 29, 1790. Mrs. E. B. Mather-built by Timothy Swan 1794.
Mrs. E. A. Fuller-built by Dr. Howard Alden, 1794. D. R. Kennedy, Jr .- built by Ebenezer King, Jr., 1795. Mrs. James H. Prophet-built by Captain Timothy Phelps, 1795. T. C. Austin Sons-built by Nathaniel and Thomas Austin, 1797. Mrs. A. R. Pierce-built by Thaddeus Leavitt, Jr., 1800. A. F. Warner-lived in by Elihu Kent about 1800. George Nichols-built by Ebenezer Nichols, 1806.
T. F. Cavanaugh-built by Harvey Bissell about 1815.
J. H. Norton and S. C. Loomis-built by Daniel Norton, 1814. W. E. Caldwell-built by Dr. Asaph Bissell, 1823. C. S. Fuller-built by Charles Shepard, 1824.
A. F. Warner-built by Hezekiah Spencer, 1824.
Suffield School-home lot of Gideon Granger, Sr. and Jr., 1786- 1817.
Boston Neck
Miss Flannigan-built by Jacob Hatheway about 1747.
E. A. Hatheway-built by Charles Hatheway, 1760.
William Morron-built by John McMorron, 1760, and moved here about 1810 from Babylon Road.
F. W. Brown-built by John Rising, 1765. H. S. Cowles Estate-built by Asa Tucker, 1765-74.
Thomas Burke-built by William Beckwith, 1784. Philip Schwartz-built by John Dewey, about 1800. E. C. Seymour-built by Jabez Heath, 1805. Harvey Fuller-moved here by Mrs. Deborah Morron about 1810. A. A. Brown-built by Salmon Ensign, 1812-15. G. W. Phelps-built by Henry Pease about 1825. Harvey Fuller-site of the old Oil Mill, 1785-1828. Philip Schwartz-site of the corn mill, 1687.
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House Built by Joseph Pease 1760; Taken Down 1902 (p. 167)
Seth Austin Tavern (Archer Place), Taken Down 1899 (p. 175)
Capt. Medad Pomeroy Place, Built About 1770 (p. 173)
Luther Loomis Place, Raised April 29, 1790 (p. 170)
Timothy Swan House, Built 1794 (p. 172)
Gay Mansion, Built by Ebenezer King, Jr., 1795 (p. 170)
Two Corners in Parlor of Gay Mansion
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Feather Street
John Zak-lived in by William Austin, 1757. Charles Lucas-built by Robert Granger, about 1760. Thomas F. Devine-built by Samuel Halladay, 1765. Patrick Quinn-lived in by Horace King, 1774. Frank Brewster-built by Joshua Kendall, 1799. Stanley Kement-built by John King about 1805.
Crooked Lane
Fred Kent-lived in by Posthumous Sikes, 1739. Fred Clark Estate-built by Joseph Winchell before 1742. B. A. Thompson-built by Joseph King 3d, 1769. Kirk Jones-lived in by Zebulon Adams, 1773. Henry Fuller-built by Zeno Terry, 1783-7. Henry Phillips-built by Thaddeus Sikes, 1809.
South Street
Mrs. C. C. Bissell-built by Jonathan Fowler, 1723. Edward Welch-built by Ensign Samuel Spencer about 1770. Hugh Scott-built by Asa Rising, 1791. John Cain-site of middle iron works, 1720.
Sheldon Street
C. Michel-built by Capt. Jonathan Sheldon, 1723.
O. R. Sheldon-built by Squire Phinehas Sheldon, 1743. Mrs. J. O. Armour-built by Martin Sheldon, 1789. J. J. Devine-built by Cephas Harmon about 1790. H. A. Sheldon-built by Erastus Sheldon, 1795. C. B. Sheldon-built by Benjamin Sheldon, 1806.
North Grand Street
S. L. Wood-built by Freegrace Norton about 1725. John H. Gregg-lived in by Moses Spear about 1750. F. S. Briggs-built by David Hanchett, 1765. Arthur Taylor-built by Capt. Isaac Pomeroy, 1769-73.
South Grand Street
George A. Sheldon-built by Sylvanus Griswold, 1763. P. D. Lillie-lived in by Gideon King, 1767. Michael Zukowski-built by Hezekiah Lewis, 1781. George Sheldon-site of west iron works, 1722.
North Street
J. O. Haskins-built by William King about 1750. E. H. Halladay-built by Jonathan Underwood, 1768-77. E. N. Stratton-built by Simon Kendall, Jr., 1809.
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Halladay Avenue
A. H. Bridge-built by Samuel Lane by 1726. George A. Kent-lived in by Seth Kent, 1762. Howard Halladay-lived in by Jeremiah Granger, 1772. George F. King-built by Thaddeus King, 1774.
West Suffield Road
Guisepi Romano-built by Victory Sikes, 1728.
M. H. Kent Estate-built by Asa Remington by 1800. Mrs. Anna Roche-built by Deacon Reuben Parsons, 1767. T. Harvey Smith-built by Capt. Medad Pomeroy about 1770. C. H. Nelson-built probably by Gideon King about 1797. A. G. Bissell-built by Capt. Oliver Hanchett, 1798. S. K. Legare-built by Benajah Kent, 1800.
Mrs. C. F. Whittemore-built by Barlow Rose, 1816.
Hill Street
N. R. Lewis-built by Daniel Remington about 1750. H. E. Hastings-built by Samuel Phelps, 1768-71. Timothy Miskell-built by Gurdon Grosvenor, 1818.
G. A. Peckham-built by Warren Lewis, 1824.
Taintor Hill
B. M. Gillett-built by Ebenezer Smith about 1724. J. R. Granger Estate-built by Capt. John Granger, 1728.
Prospect Street Alfred Spencer Co .- built by Daniel Spencer, 1726-47. John Matyskiela-built by Squire Samuel Hale, 1768.
Rising Corners
L. F. Hart-built by Aaron Rising about 1750.
Foot of the Mountain
Mrs Sophie Milski-sold by Silas Kent to Ebenezer Harmon 1766 William Kurias-built by Horatio King 1812 Over the Mountain
Samuel A. Graham- built by Judah Phelps about 1790 American Sumatra Co .- built by Dan Phelps about 1780
Old Factory Road
Joseph Beloski-site of the fulling mill 1710
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Turnpikes and Taverns
As early certainly as the first settlement in the Connecticut valley two important thoroughfares met near Stony Brook, not far from the upper end of South Street. At first only paths or trails and passable only for men and horses, they were after- wards made feasible for carts and still later for stages. South Street was the road up from the Windsor settlement, and at Stony Brook one road led on through what is now Remington Street and the Hill road to Westfield, whence ran a road to North- hampton, and another over the hills to the Hudson and Albany. The other road, branching from the junction at Stony Brook, followed the present course of Main Street and Crooked Lane to Springfield and was the course taken to Boston. Both these roads were laid out as public highways by Hampshire County about six years before the settlement of Suffield. For one hun- dred and fifty years these turnpikes passing through Suffield were main lines of travel, first by horseback and later by stage, and especially that between New York and Boston.
The old taverns were a natural and essential development from this travel and other conditions, and were not merely the stop- ping places for travelers, but served as community centers and for receiving and despatching the mails.
Tavern proprietors were men of prominence in both town and church with few exceptions. To run a tavern successfully for a series of years was a certain means of promotion in social rank. A study of the old deeds shows that innkeepers progressed rapidly to the rank of gentlemen and were often among the first considered in the difficult task of seating in the Meeting House. At one period it is tradition that there were twelve thriving taverns in Suffield. The following is a typical form of early license by the Hampshire County Court: "George Norton is Lycenced to keep a publique house of Entertainment within ye town of Suffield & to sell Lyquors to travelers, he keeping good order in his house and doing sd work faithefully & with- out offence."
George Norton who came from Ipswich in 1674 was one of the early innkeepers. He was a freeman in 1681, selectman and the
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first representative from Suffield to the General Court at Boston. He died in 1693 but the Hampshire County records show that the license was issued regularly to his widow, Mercy Norton, who did not die until 1725. George Norton's original allotment was on the west side of High Street opposite the Boston Neck road, and may have been the site of his tavern.
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