Monroe Historical Society, Monroe, CT

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Monroe Historical Society
Box 212
Monroe, CT 06468

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Contents

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Information

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Hands-on-
History

Some of Monroe's Historic Homes

Monroe Center

This red brick Georgian residence was built about 1823 by Hall Beardslee for his son, Cyrus H. Beardslee, a noted lawyer and state legislator. Austin Lum, an accomplished brickmason, was responsible for many of the fine details in construction. In 1856 Dr. Roger M. Gray purchased the property and conducted a boys' academy until 1865, when he sold the home to the Episcopal Society for $2500. The home served as the Episcopal Rectory until 1975 when it became the St. Jude's Rectory.
This home, built by John Clark around 1837, is an example of half-house architecture. The house has a stone foundation and steps containing stones up to eight feet long which were put in place by oxen. During the 1800s, a girls' school was housed in a large wing on the back of the house; this wing is no longer standing. The sun porch was added in the 1930s and the left wing in 1966. This site also contained the 18th century store of Captain Joseph Moss.
This 2 1/2 story wood frame Georgian home was built in 1785 by Issac Moss. Shortly thereafter, a structure was built adjacent to the main house which functioned as a general store, and which was known at the time as the Moss-Clark General Store. In 1896, the home was renovated, and the two buildings were combined. After 160 years of use in this dual capacity, the then-called Marshall-Beach General Store closed in the late 1940s. An original post office box still remains in the home, which once served as one of Monroe's first postal stations.
This typical center-chimney Connecticut Cape was built about 1789 by Heber Smith. The original home contained a "borning room" for childbirth. In the 19th century, it was purchased by the Congregational Society and was used as a parsonage until about the Civil War era. The Rev. Thomas T. Waterton added the east addition as a study in the mid-19th century. Dormers were added on the second floor and a large music room was added on the east side in 1977.
About 1789, thie Cape/Lean-To style house was built by Hezekiah Bailey, whose tannery gave name to the street on which this house stands. The tannery remained in operation until the late 19th century. West of the house lies the original burial ground leased to the New Stratford Society in March 1765; it was abandoned shortly after 1800 in favor of a new location.
This 1750 Saltbox, which contains a borning room used for births and wakes, is depicted in David Merrill's mural at Masuk High School.
This fine example of a pre-Revolutionary Saltbox was built about 1756. One of its early owners was Robert Lewis, who died serving the American Cause during the Revolution. In the 19th century an ell was added at the north rear from which Hazel Hall, a select co-educational academy, was conducted. The Burr sisters of Elm Street attended Hazel Hall. They were among the first women graduates and later taught at Yale Art School.
This typical pre-Revolutionary Saltvox, which dates from around 1750, is thought to be one of the oldest homes in the Center area. It was the homestead of Ichabod and Enoch Lewis, whose family was noted for their support of the Revolutionary cause.
This 2 1/2 story frame house was built about 1815 by Levi Judson. The front entry, a bonnet-type molding, is unique in Monroe.
This example of half-house architecture was built around 1804 by Wheeler Judson. For many years it was the town blacksmith and carriage shop.
This home was built circa 1800 in a half-house style. The south ell was added in the early 1900s and the west side family room in 1976. The house has a center chimney with three Rumford fireplaces and an outside stone root cellar. Ezekiel Lewis, the first resident, was the son of Squire Samuel Lewis, who was one of the first settlers of Monroe.
This 2 1/2 story center-chimney Colonial was built around 1802 by Samuel Wheeler, who was a prominent business and civic leader in New Stratford, now Monroe. The 1985 restoration retained the original wide floorboards throughout and three fireplaces, including one in the kitchen.

Monroe Turnpike

This Georgian-style home was built circa 1775. The rear saltbox ell predates the main house and is circa 1730. Daniel Bassett, the original resident, is an ancestor of the present owner. The home contains eight fireplaces and a second floor ballroom, which hosted General Duc de Lauzun in July 1781. The original Masonic Washington Lodge #19 AF & AM was organized in this ballroom in 1791.
This circa 1820 Greek Revival home was built on the site of an earlier house, as was customary at the time. In 1866 it was purchased by Frederick D. Hollister, who operated a private academy known as Hollister's School for Fashionable Females.
Sugar Maple Hill, so named because of the abundant and gigantic old maple trees, is a Federal-style home built circa 1790. It was the Bostwick family homestead. A breezeway and studio were added in the 1940s by artist George Erban. Details include five fireplaces, including one in the cellar, which was used as a summer kitchen. Years ago when the property was used for farming and grazing cattle, Long Island Sound was visible from the hilltop behind the house.
Barn Hill

In 1827 David Gray built this Federal Colonial, which, at one time, was also the residence of Henry Hurd. A kitchen and two small rooms were added around 1865. The home was once part of a farm whose crops included strawberries.
The Blakemans were the original residents of this circa 1805 farmhouse, which has since undergone the addition of a kitchen and a screened-in porch.
East Village

This interesting Colonial was built in 1789. The area which is now a living room was originally a barn. The walls which had divided this area into four individual rooms with a central fireplace were removed in 1920 to allow freer access to a wheelchairbound child. This home was once a summer home for the Bamburger family.
Built in approximately 1810, this Federal Colonial was conveniently located near the thriving industries of the period - a blacksmith shop, mill and hoopskirt factory.

Elm Street

This New England farmhouse, built in the late 1700s, was once part of a 100-plus acre homestead. The present kitchen area was added about 100 years ago. On the premises is a large carriage house with three stalls and an upper level.
This Colonial home was built circa 1805 on the site of a previous pre-Revolutionary residence. A portion of the previous home may have been incorporated into the current structure, as was customary. This property is located on Fool's Hatch, as Elm Street was known until the Victorian era, so called because people in Stratford thought Monroe residents were fools to hatch (settle) in such a far-removed area. The property passed through several owners until Lucy Shelton inherited it in 1803. She then married Agur Beardsley and with her dowry constructed this sizeable residence. Exterior details include a fan light over the main entrance and locally quarried granite used to finish the fieldstone foundation. There is also evidence of stenciling on some of the interior walls. Agur ran a grist and saw mill on the property, which also included a smokehouse and washhouse. The one son born to the couple apparently did not survive infancy. Stepney Green cemetery contains a gravestone reading "Agur Beardsley, Born 1810, Died." The propery, including the cider mill, passed through several varied members of the Beardsley family for over a century.
This Queen Anne Victorian was originally the residence of the Johnson family and was built in 1896, possible from a Sears prefab kit. It has been painstakingly restored after a devastating fire left it completely gutted in 1979. All details, inside and out, have kept this home as authentic as possible.
This home was built in the 1780s and was constructed of native brick around a post and beam superstructure. The original owner was Lucius Lane. Also on the premises are an outhouse and a detached saltbox garage.
This home was built around 1700, and its original resident is assumed to have been named Sherman. A nearby cow barn was raised and attached to the structure around 1940.

Stepney Area

During remodeling, the current owners have observed construction details such as hand-hewn timbers which indicate that the original portion of this early New England farmhouse was built in the early to middle 1800s. Initially, the house consisted of one room with a sleeping loft and cellar built into the hillside with an exterior entrance. The remainder of the house, which was built with pit sawn timbers, was added around the late 1800s. The barn is typical of New England, with an attached cow shed.
This 6000-sqare-foot American Renaissance residence was built around 1890 by Andrew Curtiss, a businessman, who dubbed his home "Times Square", as he used to take the train rom New York to the nearby Stepney Depot on weekends. The house next door was the telegraph office and general store for the depot. In later years, the name "Times Square" acquired another meaning, because the property allegedly housed a brothel.
This Greek Revival home was built around 1838. The bay window was added around 1905 and the two-story wing in 1976.
Bion and Edna Tingley were the first residents of this historic home. The house was built around 1739 and still has the root cellar that was added in 1742. More recent additions of a garage and some living space were made in 1980-1981.