USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > New Canaan > Landmarks of New Canaan > Part 37
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"It rises from the ground as formally as any Georgian mansion, yet it is the example par excel- lence of the 'bring the outdoors indoors' theory. It is as elegant as the Petit Trianon, yet conforms to the exigencies of living in one room.
Sybaritic in his tastes, Mr. Johnson has surrounded himself with an ordered array of art objects. The museum-piece furniture, by Mies Van de Rohe, pioneer modern architect, was ac- quired by Mr. Johnson in 1930. He has moved it from house to house as anyone else might move precious antiques. They are part of a setting as rich as the painting attributed to Poussin that stands on an easel beside the conversation group.
"Constant waxing has already given the dark red brick floor, the fireplace cylinder, and the wal- nut cabinets a patina that belies their age. . . . When asked why he chose his particular building materials ... he said they seemed 'logical.' The result is a truly original building of timeless ele- gance and classic simplicity, as well as a conclusive demonstration of the fact that modern building techniques have come of age."
In narrating the story of the Glass House it is impossible not to mention the extreme in- terest that it has aroused. Its unique design was apparent early in its construction as the brick foundation and chimney defined its area, the structural steel its architectural lines, and the plate-glass its transparent form; from that time on the property wall along Ponus Street was regularly edged with inquisitive eyes.
It is to be hoped that Mr. Johnson in his role of director of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art, was prepared for cre- ating interest in proportions rather phenom- enal to the usual home-builder.
Certainly he has been generous and gracious in dealing with this interest, opening his house to the public for the local tour of modern houses for the benefit of the New Canaan Library building fund, and to other groups on request. (And in restraining trespassers by the polite sign at the gate-a mild rebuke in itself. )
Individual reactions must necessarily be as
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divergent as individual personalities, but pre- sentiments of the future are certainly eonvine- ingly present in the Glass House. In particular, the serenity of unbroken line, the luxury of un-
eluttered spaee, the comfort of complete fune- tionalism with no gadgets-all this when under- stood by the man and woman of today seems fervently to be desired.
Ckande Woher,
THE BURTIS-MEAD-ROBERTS HOUSE
EDITH VAN DE WATER, Author
CLINTON VAN DE WATER, Artist [December 1, 1949]
Beyond the Merritt Parkway, on Lower South Avenue, stands the Roberts homestead, one of the finest examples of the salt box type of house left in New England. Built in the early 1700's, it has withstood not only the onslaught of time, but also of modern decorators. Exeept for the installation of plumbing and of central heat- ing, the interior is the same today as it was
when built. For me, it holds a eharm of age- less dignity which dates from my childhood.
As one enters, the first objeet which meets and holds the eye is the enormous old fireplace, which takes up one entire side wall. Eight feet wide in front, six feet wide at the baek, and four feet deep, it was designed to serve the heating and cooking needs of a large family.
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At one side is the Dutch oven, which, when heated, acted as a fireless baker, holding its heat for hours without danger of ever burning the dinner.
The original irons stand in the fireplace as well as some very old pots. A leather bucket used before the Civil War for carrying water stands nearby.
Under the fireplace, in the cellar, there still remains the old ash oven, into which, through an opening in the hearth, the ashes were swept. It is capable of holding from one to one and a half tons of ashes. These were preserved through the winters and carried out in the spring to be used as fertilizer on the land. Mr. Roberts tells me that wood ashes were con- sidered the very best for growing corn.
In each of the rooms there are small corner cupboards, and on each cupboard, as well as on all the doors, are hand-wrought hinges: HL, or "Holy Lord" hinges, they were called. Over many of the bedroom doors gun racks still re- main, so that the early owners could easily reach for their guns in case of attack by In- dians.
The floors and the beams are made entirely of oak, the floor boards 10"-24" wide and the beams, all hand hewn, are 8''x8" and entirely put together with pegs. It was well indeed, that this house was built so sturdily and that it had many small rooms instead of a few large ones, for it has always been a house containing many children.
I have traced the land records back only to 1872 because it was not possible to find mate- rial of interest beyond that. Being so far from the center of either New Canaan or Darien, it is not mentioned in any of the early records that I have read. My chief source of material, then comes from one or two early settlers, who lived nearby, and from Norman Roberts and Samuel Roberts, who have owned it for so long.
The land was part of that large area included in the "Flatt Ridge," "Bell's Ridge" and "Ye Gret Ox Ridge" region. About one hundred rods to the east ran the "Perambulation Line" dividing the Stamford and Norwalk sides of Canaan Parish.
When the Proprietors of Stamford divided
this land from common to privately owned land, this region fell largely to the following families: Seely, Bell, Waterbury, Andrus, Bates, Holly, and some others. Certain facts in land and family records suggest that the house itself was either a Seely or Waterbury home. At any rate, it is very old and most certainly was built by one of these early Stamford families.
On June 7, 1872, William Andreas of Darien sold the house and 39 acres to James A. Burtis for $150. James, Steve and Charlie Burtis, all brothers, lived there until Charlie's family grew too large, when he built next door. Steve worked with Justus Mead in his shoe shop across the street.
They were sons of Wolsey Burtis, who had large land holdings across the road to the north and west of Justus Mead. Wolsey was brother of Andrew Burtis, who owned to the north of the Roberts house. Andrew was a blacksmith, and had his shop on what is now Burtis Lane. His house still stands next to the Belcher ma- chine shop.
The land owned by Andrew Burtis finally was sold to Benjamin Mead, and his heirs still hold it.
James Burtis and his large family lived in the house from 1872 until about 1886. His in- come depended largely on the farm products he raised and, when crops were poor, the fam- ily suffered accordingly. He finally mortgaged to Mary Scribner for $1,300, and she foreclosed. In April, 1888, she sold 30 acres (probably the other nine had gone to Charles Burtis ) to Mary Jane Roberts for some $600.
The Roberts family was from Brooklyn, and for many years used the house only during the summers. I wrote to Samuel Roberts asking him for his early recollections about living there and received the following letter, which I quote in full:
"My dear Edith:
"It was nice hearing from you. Your letter brought back 'old times.'
"My first recollection of the old house is going up there for my school vacations. I was young and eager then and there were many sheds on the farm, all of which fascinated me; especially as these
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buildings always contained queer animals of which I, a city boy, knew nothing.
"There were, as you know, five girls in our family and two boys. Each of us thought we must have at least one guest all the time. The St. Mary's Literary Society, connected with a Catholic Church in Brooklyn, looked on the Old Homestead as their 'Country Home' and we were always sure of having a group of these boys for any summer holiday and many weekends.
"How did we sleep? Well, three in a bed and a cot here and there was the custom. My good mother did the cooking and I feel a touch of sadness when I think of the work she had to do and how little we helped her.
"She cooked corn - ah! what delicious corn - in a wash boiler. I seem to remember something being said about 100 ears at a time. I do remember eating my share. The easy way of getting rid of the cobs was by throwing them in the large fireplace and burning them up.
"Looking backward on the guests we had, I re- member my father brought up his office boy from the city for a short vacation. The youngster lived in the 'swamp district' of New York and could not grasp the fact that all of God's blessings were free in the country and seriously asked my mother 'if he could walk on the grass?'. I do not think he was particularly happy while he was with us and rather longed for his New York 'gang.'
"One of my early recollections is of an elderly lady who lived opposite the old house-your grand- mother-Mrs. Whitney. Being ordinary city boys, my brother and I of course did our share in annoy- ing her. She would get angry and threaten us with all kinds of punishment.
"But just as soon as there was a thunder shower, a flash of lightning, we would see Mrs. Whitney coming over to our house to visit until the storm was over. There was generally a cup of tea and a piece of cake for refreshment.
"Of course, there being five attractive girls in the family, there were many young men visitors. The one I remember best was a dark-haired gentle- man who I think escorted one or the other of our girls somewhere. He drove a fine horse and had a
good carriage and was indeed a popular swain. That young man was your father. When he was 25 years old my mother was 50 years old and we had a big party in honor of both of these grand people.
"My sisters married and my parents died and the farm came to me. At that time the Boy Scouts were getting started and I became interested in the Brooklyn group. There was a demand for places where the boys could go and enjoy the country and I threw the old house open to Troop 118 and they did enjoy it. Such grand boys like James Underwood, who spent an entire summer there.
"So many interesting things happened. Why at one time the house was supposed to be 'haunted.' It came about in this way. The Scout troop was there and the boys suggested that one of their number walk out on the roof of the extension 'as nature made the boy.' He took up the dare and was blissfully parading on the roof, when a car coming down the hill turned full headlights on him.
"The people in the car thought the house vacant and were naturally surprised to see a boy walking on the roof. They reported the circumstances and an 'investigation' was made and all ended well. The boy in question is now an official in the Shef- field Farms Milk Company.
"There was one boy supposed to be 'very baď' and was put in my care by the Big Brothers move- ment. The boy had had a difficult life. He joined our troop and went to the old house with the other boys. He loved it, and proved to be just a regular fellow like the rest of the boys. He developed into a fine Christian man. He died a few years ago in Texas.
"I had a letter from him written when he knew that his end was near, saying that his experience at the Old Homestead was the turning point of his life and had shown him the way to bigger and better things. If the old place has done nothing else than to help save that boy, it has much to its credit.
Sincerely,
"S. H. ROBERTS."
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Judy guion 1949
THE NOYES-GUION HOUSE
ARBA B. MARVIN, Author
JUDITH-ANNE GUION, Artist
[December 8, 1949]
This house, 118 Park Street, between Elm Street and Richmond Hill Road, is the home that Samuel Sherwood Noyes, M.D., pur- chased from Ezra Benedict in the year 1813. Dr. Samuel, then a young man, continued to reside there throughout the remainder of a long and useful life.
Various of his descendants have continued to reside there and the two little children who play in the yard these sunny days are Dr. Sam-
uel's great-great-great grandchildren. The il- lustration above was drawn by their aunt "Judy," in other words their mother's twin sis- ter, the twins being daughters of Mrs. Franklin Sherwood Guion, the present owner of the homestead.
And if the house could speak, it would tell of great aunts and great-great aunts all of whom found shelter and rest within its walls. Mrs. Catherine St. John (Noyes) Guion, daugh-
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ter of Benjamin Noyes and granddaughter of Dr. Samuel Sherwood Noyes, called it the "House of Rest." She was a frequent contribu- tor to the columns of the New Canaan Adver- tiser under the pen name Keith Saint John. Writing in about the year 1917, this Mrs. Guion described certain feature of the house as fol- lows:
"The room stands now, as it did in my childhood. The ceiling is white and hard, unbroken and scarce- ly disfigured, though the recent introduction of electric lighting is a startling innovation. It was a necessity-but that is another story.
"The windows, two facing the east and two the north, are fitted with tiny panes of glass, 24 in each window, and the springs are of the ancient style, in common use early in 1800, for it was only 12 years after the opening of the century that my grandfather purchased the house.
"The east and north sides of the long room, being pierced with windows, what else do we find? Two doors upon the south, one giving entrance from the hall, the other into a room with pleasant west exposure; the west wall is unbroken and there are commodious spaces between doors and windows for the pictures and furniture which have greeted my loving eyes since the days when, a motherless child, my home was at Grandpa's.
"People think the room and its belongings quaint and curious; there is scarcely anything modern in it. Between the front windows hangs a gold framed mirror, beneath it, the circular ends of great grand- mother Chapman's mahogany dining-table the straight edges brought together, and its surface covered with an array of books, pictures and quaint tokens, the like of which it would be hard to find.
The chairs and little square footstools are mahog- any, the old writing desk of three generations back might disclose manuscripts and books to fascinate the relic hunter for hours, and on top stand china heirlooms, onc bearing the family name. Even so modern an article as a piano-forte is yet of so remote a period that it seems fit companion for the chairs and tables. The straight pillar-shaped legs are clasped with an ornamental brass band, the rosewood top is decorated with a graceful vine, done in that peculiar greenish gold one sees only on real antiques, and the stool with red leather- covered seat is a marvel of beautiful carving.
"A heavy square mahogany table, of the style now made by the Roycrofters in oak, occupies the northwest corner of the room, and there with the
family Bible, are the daguerreotypes of Dear Doc- tor Grandfather, and his wife and his nine children, all in an album of papier-mache, besides at least a dozen likenesses of other relatives, a source of deepest satisfaction to two dear little women, who alone are left in this home of their childhood.
"Upon the wall over the ancient desk hangs a group photograph of grandpa's compeers, men well and widely known in their professions and on one wall opposite, his college diploma signed by Jere- miah Day; its modest companion a certificate of his membership in the Connecticut Medical Society, bearing the signature of John R. Watrous, its president in 1810.
"The house is full of relics and of memories. Each room could tell a story. Every human life has ele- ments of comedy and tragedy, and here were parents and children, numbering a family of 11, and from this village home, the circle widened and overflowed into many cities of the world.
"Two generations have lived, loved and died within its modest walls, the third generation, still in the noon of life, turns lovingly to its hospitable shelter, and the fourth generation, yet in the glow and happiness of youth, explores its ancient attic or roams joyously throughout the meadows of the old homestead."
But let us consider the early problems of this young medico, Samuel Sherwood Noyes, who in 1812 brought his bride to New Canaan to establish a home, build up a practice and rear a family. Perhaps there was a house short- age at the time or perhaps there was a shortage of ready cash, but in any event he and his friend Enoch St. John rented and shared the house now known as the Ashwell home on the east side of Park Street overlooking God's Acre-Mrs. Noyes and Mrs. St. John were sis- ters, the daughters of Dr. Joseph Chapman of Westport.
After a year in the Ashwell house, Dr. Samuel and his wife Esther became the parents of a son. They named him Samuel. This was on March 12, 1813. Twelve days later they bought a home of their own together with three and a half acres of land. This was on the other side of the road, farther south, and on the eastern edge of what might then have been regarded as the wide open country. To the north the nearest house was at the corner of what is now Seminary Street and to the south the nearest
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was on the corner of what is now Richmond Hill Road; to the west were grain fields and pastures with two nice brooks.
The house, newly built, was not then as large as now. Up Cape Cod way it would have been called a 'half house,' for what is now the south chimney was a central chimney and what is now a central hall and stairway were limited by the north wall. As the family grew, other rooms were added and likewise a second chim- ney, until the house took the shape pictured above.
As time went on and the doctor's practice became more lucrative he purchased adjoining acreage. Ultimately he and his wife Esther had a compact farm of about 20 acres, with hay meadows located elsewhere. Although his main interest was in the practice of his profession, in his church and in the schools, he took much pride in his dairy and in his grain fields. The barns were at the rear of the house, and though standing in 1878, have since been removed.
Of the orchard at the south of the house, only two trees remain. The meadows and wheat fields were cut to bits when the railroad came through in 1869 and when Railroad Avenue was projected westwardly to meet Brook Street, (now Seminary) beyond the brook.
*
Joseph Noyes, great-grandfather of Samuel Sherwood Noyes, M.D., of New Canaan, was born in Stonington, Conn., October 16, 1688, and was graduated from Yale in 1709. He was a son of the Rev. James Noyes, senior member of the original board of trustees of Yale Col- lege, and for over 50 years the minister of Ston- ington.
In the History of Wallingford, Connecticut, by Dr. C. H. Davis, it is written that "this fam- ily of Noyes belonged to a line of ministers, which, at the time of the decease of Rev. James Noyes, had existed during 200 years in uninter- rupted succession. The family is of Norman descent and originated in England with Wil- liam de Noyes, one of the followers of William, Duke of Normandy, in his conquest of Eng- land in 1066."
Joseph Noyes studied theology with his father, Rev. James Noyes of Stonington, and was licensed to preach by the New London As- sociation, May 2, 1710. In September, 1710, he entered on a tutorship in college, which office he held for the five following years.
In November, 1714, the pastor of New Haven, the Rev. James Pierpont, was removed by death, and when the society at New Haven met, July 1, 1715, "to nominate a man to carry on the work of the ministry on probation," Joseph Noyes received a majority of votes. His ordination took place on July 4, 1716.
In the first year of his ministry he was largely instrumental in promoting the removal of the college to New Haven, by his exertions in rais- ing subscriptions, "and when the college was actually settled there, he further aided it with means, and also by hearing for two years nearly all the recitations of the Senior Class."
The descendants of Rev. Joseph Noyes can claim royal descent through his wife, Abigail Pierpont, daughter of Rev. James Pierpont, to whom Rev. Joseph Noyes was married in 1716. She was a descendant of Mabel Harlakendon, whose ancestry has been traced direct to William the Conqueror.
Of the ten children of Rev. Joseph Noyes and Abigail Pierpont, all born in New Haven, the youngest was John, born December 13, 1735. He was graduated from Yale in 1756, was licensed to preach in 1756, was married to Mary Fish in 1758 and died in 1767. Of their five children, four survived him, Joseph, John, James and Mary.
Confining our attention to John, we find that he was born in Weston, Conn., August 27, 1762; married first, Eunice Sherwood, 1786; second, Mrs. Fanny Swan, 1827; died May 15, 1846. Graduated at Yale, 1779, licensed to preach 1783, and pastor of the church at Wes- ton nearly 60 years. Hundreds of his sermons have been preserved at 118 Park Street for more than a hundred years, for his eldest son was our Samuel Sherwood Noyes, M.D., of New Canaan born May 20, 1787; married Es- ther Chapman, 1812; died 1877.
We quote further from the writings of Dr.
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Samuel's granddaughter, Catherine: "In those early days the Connecticut villagers lived a simple life; the mother busy with child-rearing and daily house cares, relieved sometimes by hired service. The kitchen was at the front of the house, often entered from the street, for in this room the family were engaged in cook- ing, eating, sewing and spinning, therefore due care was taken that those so employed should have the opportunity to glance out upon the street and see such small happenings as passed their quiet home.
"At Grandpa's the kitchen faced the street, but was entered through the south porch, for the front door opened into a tiny hall which gave into the kitchen as well as into that quaint parlor, of which I have already written. I will not give the dimensions of the chimney which supplied the kitchen, lest I raise suspicions as to my veracity, but I can recall the sight of the big fireplace, with crane and pot hooks, and the big brick oven, over whose demolition I now grieve.
"I have seen Aunt Enee arrange her Thanks- giving dinner therein: Indian pudding, turkey, spare rib, chicken pie, mince pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, all of mammoth proportions, and closing the door, go tranquilly to church, leav-
ing the dinner to cook itself, which it did to perfection."
The two small children who now play in the yard on Park Street will some day point with pride to the portrait of Dr. Samuel's paternal grandmother now hung in an honored position on the south wall of the Fairfield Historical Society Library.
Born Mary Fish (1736-1818) daughter of Rev. Joseph Fish and Rebecca Peabody and a direct descendant of John Alden and his wife Priscilla of the Mayflower, she lived a long and eventful life. Space does not here permit even a summation of what was written by her or what has since been written about her, but for the record, we note that her unpublished auto- biography, written in 1800 at the request of Prof. Benjamin Silliman of Yale, a son by a sec- ond marriage, was copied with care just a hun- dred years ago by Great-aunt Julia Chapman Noyes (1820-1903).
That transcript is one of the many family treasures still carefully preserved at 118 Park Street. It is well worthy of publication in its entirety. Perhaps ways and means will some- time be found for doing that.
THE STEVENS-WATERBURY- MERRITT HOUSE
MRS. ROBERT D. DUMM, Author WHITMAN BAILEY, Artist
[December 15, 1949]
The Stevens-Waterbury-Merritt House, on the north side of Jelliff Mill Road, is one of the oldest dwellings in the Talmadge Hill section of New Canaan.
Standing on a small plot of high ground just
east of the Noroton River, and overlooking the pond and the newly rebuilt Jelliff Mill, is the brown shingled, blue and white trimmed house whose first ownership is credited to David Stevens, Sr., and Ephraim Smith "around 1714."
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Talmadge Hull
The Stevens-Waterbury-Merritt House
In the eighteenth century it was called the "Stevens Mansion House."
For 148 years now, it has been known as the "Waterbury Homestead," having been in the possession of the Waterbury family since Deo- date Waterbury bought the "then small saw and gristmill" in 1801, "and moved his family from Darien into the (then) small story and a half house which tradition claims was built by the Indians."
Later, he moved the house from its site near- er the mill dam to its present location, and in- creased its main body to double its original size. Today, this two and one half story house with its two story north wing, is a 14 room dwelling, plus three attic storage rooms. There are two chimneys, with several large fireplaces, and one valuable old "Franklin Fireplace."
The homestead is still occupied by two of Deodate's descendants, Helen and Irving Mer- ritt, who own half the property. The other half is owned jointly, according to Miss Merritt, by Mary E. Waterbury, and John Waterbury, and others.
The original grant on which the house stands was a parcel of land extending from the river to the Old Stamford Road and following the present Weed Street. It is marked on the map showing the Proprietary Division of Com- mon Land in Canaan Parish as belonging to "Stevens-ante 1714."
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