USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > New Canaan > Landmarks of New Canaan > Part 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
"At Greenwich-Ye 16th of October 1656. Wee the inhabitants of Greenwich, whose names are underwritten doe from this day forward freely yield ourselves place and estate to the government of New Haven submitting ourselves to the order and discipline of that General Courte both in respect to relations and government promising to yield due submission unto the lawful authoritie and wholesome lawes of the jurisdiction aforesaid -to wit of New Haven."
Signed by Angell Husted ( his name is first ) and 11 others.
Angell Husted had a son, Angell, who had two sons-Jonathan and Peter. Both these sons moved into Old Canaan Parish, where Jona- than married Hannah St. John Carter, and left no children. Peter married Ann Seymour of Norwalk, October 23, 1746. Peter Husted had a blacksmith and a carriage shop on Haynes' Ridge (Oenoke Ridge). He and Ann had at least seven children, one of whom was Thad- deus Husted. Thaddeus Husted married Abi- gail Seymour in 1782. One son was Thomas Seymour Husted, the husband of Prudence Crissey.
Prudence died of pleurisy on November 30, 1864, at the age of 73. Her will left two roods, more or less, to James T. Husted, Thomas S.
466
Hans Axel WallsEn -
The Husted-Welling-Baum House
and Hiram C. Husted of Cumberland, Indiana, and to Emma and Robert Clay of city, county and state of New York, "each being one equal undivided fourth part, more or less, of a cer- tain parcel of land described in a conveyance, thereof, made by Silvanus Seely to Prudence Husted, April 1, 1851."
James T. Husted had married Catherine Corson of the Cornelius Corson family who for generations were prominent in Staten Island, N. Y. At this time Catherine's brother, Corne- lius Corson, obtained by quit claim the rights to the properties, James releasing his for the sum of $150, Thomas and Hiram releasing theirs for $162.50. On June 1, 1866, these rights were conveyed to James T. and "Kate" S. Husted for $500.
James added to this heritage from the estate of Prudence Husted by purchasing adjoining property. The sale reads: "J. T. Husted from David S. Rockwell for $575.00 in cash and
other valuable considerations a certain piece of land situate in New Canaan containing 1% of an acre, more or less, bounded northerly by my own land, easterly by highway, southerly by land of said Grantee and westerly by my own land the west land of said tract is to run in a straight line from northeast corner of said Grantee's present premises in a northerly line to the corner of a stone fence as it now stands about 400 feet, more or less, and the north line is to run from corner of said stone fence in an easterly direction in a straight line to the high- way and the conditions and considerations above referred to are as follows:
"Whereas the value of the low lands drained by a ditch passing through the above described piece of land depends materially upon the keeping open to at least its present depth the said ditch; it is mutually understood and agreed as a part of the consideration that . .. shall forever keep open said ditch from the bridge in the driftway of said
467
Grantor across said stream or ditch from said bridge to northwest corner of said premises and shall be 3 feet wide at bottom and 5 ft. at surface and of a depth at least as low as a horizontal line with the upper side of the lower timber of a frame constructed by said Grantor as bridge above speci- fied for purpose of forming a dam said lower timber being imbedded across the stream which upperside of said timber is 4 ft. 6 inches lower than the top of stone work or abutment on which said bridge is constructed."
Included always in the transactions of this property is the covenant concerning the care of the "ditch," occasionally mentioned as drain, brook or stream. This brooklet has its source in the watershed approximately where West Street joins Oenoke Ridge. It flows under St. John Place, Seminary and Elm streets and Richmond Hill to Mead Park. From the park it continues its meanderings through the former Husted property, the Bird Sanctuary, under the railroad tracks, across the property of Mr. and Mrs. Bangham and that of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Ransom to the two lovely ponds on either side of lower Weed Street. From there it wanders merrily through the "Indian Wa- ters" property of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bailey to Jelliff Mill. Its name-for ditch, drain, brook or stream, it has a name-is the East Branch of the Noroton River.
In 1877 Catherine and James sold their pro- perty to Mary E. Wilson for the cosideration of $3,000. Then in 1879 Mary E. Wilson quit claimed it to Katherine and James for the same price. Whether they moved from their home for those two years or whether it was just a financial transaction we do not know.
It was Katherine (her name runs the gamut of the spelling of Catherine) and James who extended the house to its present size, retain- ing the wide floor boards and low ceilings.
It was, to quote from the memory of the Right Rev. Stephen E. Keeler, D.D., Bishop of Minnesota, who played there as a child; "a house of several levels, with unusual passages and stairways, all of which were very fascinat- ing to a young boy. The grounds were very lovely, especially some terraced gardens that
lay to the south of the house." To the south of the house there is now a magnificent ash of remarkable size. Katherine and James would be proud of it for perhaps they nutured it.
Catherine and James had three daughters and one son. One daughter, Annie D., married Stephen E. Keeler and is the mother of Bishop Keeler, known to many in New Canaan. Pro- bably many of you heard Bishop Keeler deliver an historical address Sunday, May 13, 1934, in St. Mark's Church on the "Occasion of the Cen- tennial of the Consecration of the Present Church."
James T. Husted owned two boats in New York Harbor which were used to carry water from the Croton Waterworks to supply de- parting ships. He was a shareholder in the Croton Waterworks which still supplies New York City. The contemporaries of James' grandchildren remember him as retired, with considerable means and somewhat of a recluse in later life. Perhaps he desired seclusion or privacy in order to have the leisure to pursue his hobbies.
Mrs. Stanley Bartram recalls visiting this home with her father, as a young child, and being presented with a book bound by James. A nice gesture toward a child. Another friend was given a cane of polished apple wood by a daughter of James as a parting gift when he left for college. This friend recalls a dresser in the library filled with pipes, canes and other articles, all made by James.
Boss Tweed, of Tammany fame, was a fre- quent visitor to this home as he was to the homes of many prominent New Yorkers. How- ever, legend has is that the ladies of the family were not too charitable of this friendship. It must have been a great satisfaction to them, confirming their judgment, when he met the fate he "so richly deserved."
It was most appropriate to learn that Kath- arine was an enthusiastic supporter of the New Canaan Library; at that time known as a "read- ing room." New Canaan may be grateful to her and has recently approved the foresight of her early efforts with the successful fund-raising campaign.
468
Katharine Husted died on April 28, 1883. Her husband, James, died 14 years later, in 1897. However, it was not until 1904, with Kate Raymond acting as executrix for the estate of Catherine Husted, that the property was sold to Charles W. Hodges for $1 and other valuable considerations.
Charles Hodges parted with his newly ac- quired property but a short two years later, February 23, 1906, for the same stipulations. The buyer was Mary J. Lent of Mt. Kisco, New York. Mary Lent unfortunately enjoyed her home only for a brief time. Her will, dated January 28, 1909, bequeathed the property to her husband, Edward N. Lent and her two sons, Edward W. and Henry P. Lent.
On May 3, 1919, the property was obtained by Benjamin P. Vanderhoof and Elizabeth Mason Vanderhoof. In this title it is interesting to note the following bit: "situate in said New Canaan and bounded north by land of the Town of New Canaan, known as 'Mead Mem- orial Park.' " This is the first mention of the park in connection with this property which, from rather graphic descriptions, was until then, cranberry bog where our now beautiful pond is, and a gravel pit in lieu of our baseball field. Gravel was "gold" in those days.
A sister of Elizabeth Vanderhoof, Maud Mason, distinguished for still life paintings and also recognized for her work in ceramics, lived with the Vanderhoofs. Apparently Ben- jamin and Elizabeth Vanderhoof conveyed by deed a small portion of their property to Miss Mason. The present Perrier house was built on this land by Miss Mason, for a studio. I am told that under the expert and loving care of
Elizabeth Vanderhoof and her sister, Maud Mason, the gardens were of great beauty.
On March 31, 1923, the Vanderhoofs sold this property for the consideration of $14,000 and again subject to the covenants regarding the ditch or drain across the premises. The buyer was John A. Clark. His son owned the "Gazette," one of the few newspapers ever in competition with our Advertiser. Mrs. John Clark frequently visits New Canaan even now.
The Clarks kept the home for six years and on March 4, 1929, sold it to Charles H. and Gertrude Welling. Mrs. Welling was very fond of her former home and refers to it as "Fun House," indicating it was a home of warm and cheerful mien. She also said that it always seemed such a "receptive" house, appreciating all that was done for it.
The house remained in the indulgent care of Mr. and Mrs. Welling for 17 years. They have now built a charming home of what was formerly the guest house on the same property. The "Ditch" to which so many words were de- voted in the various deeds is now an artistic, ornamental brook, with a small pond, zealous- ly cared for by Mrs. Welling.
Mr. and Mrs. Welling sold their home on July 2, 1946, to Mrs. Annie S. Gilbert. The Gil- berts are now residents of Lambert Road, having parted with their home on Park Street on September 2, 1950.
Succeeding the Gilberts are the present owners, Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Baum. The Baums are vitally interested in the history of their new "old" home and are very happy with- in the circle of its warmth.
469
THE BEERS-AIKEN-BRISTOW HOUSE
MRS. LEO M. DAVIDOFF, Author
LEONARD J. ROBBINS, Artist
[June 28, 1951]
Houses, like people, grow in interest and char- acter as they adapt themselves to changing needs and times. The present Bristow house is not one of the very old houses in New Canaan, but it has accumulated in its 120 odd years a delightful array of experiences, ranging from housing a grocery store in its basement to a bird sanctuary on its garage roof, and has been lived in by cabinet maker, temperance leader, lady detective and the most devoted of volun- teer nurses.
In the "Silvermine district" of New Canaan it stands, facing west in the "New Canaan Road," east toward the river, built in 1833 in a
style unusual for New Canaan, the so-called Greek Colonial, influenced by the revival of classical architecture which had started about ten years before.
According to the Misses Todd and Ethel Wardwell, Ezekiel Beers, their grandfather, was the builder of this house on land which he had bought from Andrew and Sally Hayes. The seven acres-part of the "Hayes Farm"- in 1823 on the date of purchase, cost Ezekiel Beers $72, with a barn thrown in for good measure.
Fred Buttery, too, whose rich store of mem- ories yields up long forgotten treasures, al-
470
ways had heard that the builder was a mem- ber of the Beers family. Ezekiel Beers was a cabinet maker, but his health gave out and he was advised to do outdoor work, so he became a carpenter and built his own house and many others in the neighborhood.
He was the owner of a small burying ground near his home and, while it was originally a family burying ground, he later allowed friends to bury members of their family there and still later it became a public burying ground. The early land records show many transactions in connection with burial plots on this piece of land, prices ranging from $1 to $10.
Although at present less than an acre goes with the house, formerly it was part of a mod- erately large farm; at least four acres are re- ferred to in the deeds. The house directly north was once the barn of this farm, and the little tool house, now at the rear of the garden, was once close to the house, serving as a cowshed at that time. During World War II it became a "palace" for chickens.
Although a family with an ancient lineage dating far back in English history, it was not the Beers who left the deepest impress on this attractive old house, which passed from the estate of Maria A. Beers into the possession, in 1853, of one of its most colorful owners, known to the neighborhood as "Uncle Frank Aiken."
It remains a mystery why Francis A. Aiken, or Aken, strict advocate and moving spirit of the temperance group and founder of the Methodist Church in this section, should have been given such an affectionate title. Fred But- tery knew him by that name when he was a little boy.
As the "Worthy Patriarch" or head officer of the Sons of Temperance, he took his duties so seriously that, after much earnest endeavor, he persuaded one Seymour St. John, known to be particularly fond of potent liquids, to join the Sons. After about three weeks of self- restraint, Seymour lost his patience and shou- ted at Uncle Frank, "Can't I even have vinegar on my cabbage?"
Uncle Frank set up a grocery store in the
basement of the house where those within walking or driving distances, if they owned a horse, could enter by the back cellar door and buy their supplies. Mrs. P. W. Belward of Norwalk, who as Alice Buttery lived in this house and was married from it 35 years ago (the Bristows found her name scratched in the glass of the kitchen window) remembers rows and rows of shelves in the basement, relics of the shop days. However, Mr. Aiken also sought out his customers and "went round" with his own horse and wagon to sell his wares and produce, some of which, at least, was grown on his own farm.
After thirty-seven years in the Aiken family, Lydia B. Aiken, wife of Ezekiel, at her death willed two or more acres and buildings thereon to her niece and nephew, Charles and Lydia A. Ferris, who are shown, in one legal document, to have spent $2,800 for improvements, a not inconsiderable amount for the 1890's.
Among these additions were a front and side porch from which they could watch the goings- on in the neighborhood at a time when the world was not too much with us. These porches were removed by the present owners shortly after they bought the house in 1930; thus what was once considered a necessity for gracious living is considered undesirable, the horse and buggy era giving way to the motor age, when quiet and seclusion are at a premium. The original simple lines were also recaptured by this alteration.
It is not surprising, since this house is not far from the Buttery saw mill, to find one Alon- zo Buttery as the next owner in 1904. Here it was that Alice, daughter of Alonzo, as a little girl, found in the brick oven beside the fire- place, an ideal place to hide her dolls!
During the next fourteen years, the house changed hands three times, being bought in 1926 by Isabella Seaholm, lady detective, and Oscar Seaholm, singer, from Worth Brehm, who had purchased it from John B. Miller in 1917. The latter had owned the house but one year after Alonzo sold it to him.
Since Thanksgiving of 1930 the Misses Helen and Alice Bristow have made this spot a veri-
471
table bird sancutary; over 120 kinds of birds have been seen by them as the feathered visi- tors dined on the sun deck over the garage, or sought food in the swampy area below the house.
Ezekiel Beers had built the stairway to the second floor directly up from the front door. During the course of years-perhaps one of the Ferris "improvements"-this stairway was moved over to the extreme north end of what is now one part of the living room. This "L"- shaped room, papered in a copy of an old wall- paper, was formerly two small rooms.
The dominating feature of the gracious room, as it properly should be, is the large in- teresting fireplace. The simple paneling above the mantel continues around to the stairway. The fireplace is very large and was obviously utilitarian for many years. The Bristows found in it the original crane as well as a dozen or more hundreds of horseshoes!
Its most extraordinary feature, however, is the hearthstone which is one slab of granite, eight and one-half feet long, by two feet one inch wide. One is led to conjecture where it was found, how it was so skilfully smoothed, and by whom laid into place. The deep brick oven above and to the left of the fireplace was large enough for the week's baking. The iron door of this oven has an ingenious damper ar- rangement in the form of a fan. This part of the living room was the old kitchen, the present kitchen being an old addition.
Throughout the house one is impressed by the fine but simple paneling, which may have been the result of Ezekiel Beer's cabinet-mak- ing skill. Many of the old doors have six nar- row panels and old iron latches. The odd little hideaway places, wall cupboards, and especi- ally the unusual ceiling cupboard from the living room into the study, must have been created by hands skilled in fine carpentry. Of the many guesses as to the purpose of the long ceiling cupboard, the most likely seems that it was used for drying tobacco.
In the cellar there is still a well with very good water (to be used for emergencies). Herc, too, an example of Yankce ingenuity was found
in the wall near the washtubs. An opening through the wall into which a reel was set made it possible for the housewife to hang out her sheets and other laundry without ven- turing outside, a forerunner of our modern labor-saving devices.
Many of the windows, particularly those of the small study which leads from the east end of the living room, are of fine old glass with interesting irregularities. The low ceilings, the wide floor boards, the wooden and iron pegs, the back stairway are additional touches of the past. Both front and back stairs have doors on the second floor, a feature not often found.
Despite these evidences of the years gone by, the house is efficiently modern, the latest addition by the present owners being a pleas- ant dining room with a bay window to the west, the door leading into it retaining its frame of old glass. The upstairs now has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The whole house has been furnished with antiques belonging to the fam- ilies of the Misses Bristow.
The main part of the exterior of the house is chestnut; set on very large stones in the foundation, this is a house built to last. The front facade with flat columns in each corner is typically Greek Revival Colonial. The sev- eral changes and additions have not destroyed the pleasing proportions and balanced fene- stration of the original house.
The Misses Helen and Alice Bristow have reversed the trend of country folk leaving for the city. Like so many New Canaan residents, they were born in Brooklyn, N. Y., where their father was a prominent surgeon. Dr. A. T. Bristow was an Englishman by birth, but be- came an American citizen at the age of twenty- one. He was a pioneer in his chosen field-brain surgery, and his work is well recognized today by leading physicians. After his death the Bristows lived in several other localities before they bought their present house in 1930. Their mother was an Ashmead of Philadelphia and an early ancestor of that family owned a farm where John Wanamaker's store now stands. It took nine generations for the present des- cendants to return to a farm.
472
Perhaps the fates decreed that this house was to be destined to supply sustenance to God's creatures. For many years, Uncle Frank Aiken sold food from his basement store; to- day birds gather here from everywhere, know- ing they will not leave hungry for they are sure of the refreshments placed in abundance by
the two generous ladies whose volunteer min- istrations to the sick are equally well known and equally generous, in their capacity as nurses' aides at the Norwalk Hospital. Miss Helen Bristow is also well known as the editor of the popular column "The Round Robin" in the Advertiser.
Ceraux Raleigh
THE RAYMOND-GREGORY-ROHACIK HOUSE
DOROTHEA SHEDDEN, Author
ELEANOR RALEIGH, Artist
[July 5, 1951]
It is fascinating to delve into the records of this charming old house and attempt to trace the history of its land. Justus Hoyt, in 1801, bought ten acres with a house and grist mill from Cook St. John. This piece lay between Five Mile River and Millport Avenue and the
mill stood at the junction of Millport and the bridge. As most of this property lay south of the mill, it undoubtedly included the site of the Rohacik house.
In 1821, Timothy Elliott Raymond, a descend- ant of a prominent colonial family, came
473
over from Norwalk to marry Ruth Bouton. The family records indicate that he bought the pro- perty on Millport Avenue from Justus Hoyt and built a house for his bride. His purchase was probably small as land near a mill site was considered so desirable that it was sold only in small acreage.
The records show that Timothy was quite a trader in land, particularly around the mill. Finally, in 1851, he bought a quarter of an acre from our Justus Hoyt's son, Justus the blind miller, who was an expert mill wright. Timothy must have been very happy about this transaction, as it not only gave him the land between his house and Five Mile River, but "the unencumbered use of the river." He now had about an acre and a half of homestead land.
From this time on the records are perfectly clear. Timothy died in 1885 and his wife, Ruth, held the place until she died in 1892, at the ripe old age of 90. They are both buried in the cemetery across the river from their home.
By 1900, Sarah Pritchard Raymond, Ruth's daughter-in-law, had acquired the place, which in turn went to Andrew Jackson Greg- ory, who had wed her daughter, Jane Amelia Raymond. When Jane Raymond Gregory died, the property went to her six children. Over the years the sons have sold their shares to their two sisters, and now it is jointly owned by Clara Gregory and Ruth Gregory Rohacik.
This sturdy, well proportioned house stands close to Millport Avenue, and is guarded by four big hemlocks, with great swinging bran- ches, that are probably as old as the house. At the back, the land drops down to the Five Mile River and there is a beautiful view across the water into the wooded slopes of Lakeview Cemetery. To the south is an attractive flower garden, which the present owners tend with loving care, and beyond stands the old barn which proved to be a treasure house, as many interesting things were found there.
The house is a simple, restrained example of the Neo-Grecian style of that period. The story goes that the front door was reserved for the minister and special occasions. It was reached
by a white shell walk that led straight to the gate in the picket fence that used to run along Millport Avenue.
The side door which opens into the old kit- chen was used by the family and neighbors. The front porch was big enough to hold a couple of chairs and it is easy to imagine the Raymonds, and later the Gregorys sitting there to watch the wagons go by to the mill which was a very busy place. The small side porch was at some later time, closed in to make a vestibule.
An old photograph shows the original clap- boards and shutters as well as the grape arbor which led from the kitchen door to the well, a good deep one, never known to have gone dry. The small windows tucked up under the eaves, are interesting because of the unusual arrange- ment of the mullions. The original small paned, double hung windows are still in place in the gable ends of the upper story.
The house has a central chimney so typical of that period. The front door opens into a tiny hall. On the left is the parlor with a small, well proportioned fireplace, and on the right is the old kitchen with a huge fireplace designed for cooking large quantities of food. The fireplace is fitted for a crane and has a deep dutch oven, big enough for a generous weekly baking. The original large bricks are in perfect condition. Another room runs across the back of the house and the old powder cupboard can be found on that side of the chimney. It brings to mind the old saying, "Keep your powder dry."
The charm of the house grows on you as you wander through these friendly low ceil- inged rooms. Much of the old furniture is there. A fine drop-leaf table that belonged to a great aunt of the present owners, a quaint little basket and foot-warmer that belonged to Ruth Raymond, for whom Ruth Rohacik was named, old picture frames that have been used for mirrors, a fine steel engraving, and a beau- tiful hand-made quilt, to mention only a few. There is an atmosphere of peace and repose that comes to a home that has been loved and lived in.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.