Litchfield enquirer., 1879-05-15
South Street in Litchfield.

field, it has occurred to me that by indiyidu- alizing the principal streets of our village, the historical importance of the place might be put in still stronger light Before the Revolu- tionary war, Governor Roger Wolcott, of Wind scr, had left by will tract of land in South street to his son Oliver who in 1757 built on it house which is still standing This Oliver was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and as a civilian aud soldier, was principal agent in that struggle. In this house he melted into bullets the leaden statue of George H., brought from the Bowling Green in the city of New York. Here also he entertained Washington, when he visited Connecticut with Gen. La Fayette; and here his son Oliver, the governor, and Frederick, | the handsomest and most accomplished gen. l tleman of the State were born. It is believed that no other house in New England has been the scene of such varied and stirring historical events. Opposite the Wolcett house, at little later date, Tapping Reeve, afterwards chief judge of Connecticut, built house that is still in good condition; there he established the law school which soon acquired national reputation. Here he entertained La Fayette while on the visit above alluded to and here he wrote his treatise on s'The Domestic Rela- tions" To this centre came the choice youth from all the states of the union for legal in- struction.
 About these two leading spirits, Wolcott and Reeve, clustered what was called the old aristocracy of Litchfeld. Next below the Wolcott house, was that of Reynolds Marvin, the kings attorney in the reign of George ILL His daughter Ruth married Col. Ephriam Kir- by, who lived here for some time; and, in little office north of the house, prepared Kirby's Reports, the first volume of law reports ever published in the United States. Owing to the thoughtful care of Mc. c. H. Hollister. the house has been preserved, and is still in excel lent condition. Crossing the street at this point we find the comparatively modern mansion erected by Oliver Wolcott, the third governor Welcott. He was mainly the protector of our pre- sent state constitution, and the first Governor under it, and secretary of the treasury of the United States under Washington. He was one of the boldest thinkers, and most far-sighted patriots of his day, and lived in this house in a style never before attempted in Connecticut.
 Northerly from this place, on the site of the Wolcott farm house, in a pleasant cottage lives Mr. c. H. Hollister,-who~ will be remember ed by every person of literary and historical knowledge as the author of most valuablehis- tory of Connecticut, which he is now engaged in revising and whose taste and industry have done SO much to preserve the beauty of the entire village.
 Next door to him is the site of the female seminary, established, and for many years ably kept up, by the enterprise of Miss Henrietta Jones, descendant of Governor Jones of New Haven colony; a lady celebrated for her wit and her energy of character. The house once occupied by her was destroyed by fire few years ago, and on it's site a new one has been erected, which is now the residence of the Hon. Charles B. Andrews the present govern or of the state; gentleman whose learning, ability and moral worth, have won for him a position which he is likely to maintain in the an nals of our Commonwealth.
 Still going north, the next house is that in which Gen. Morris Woodruff, the father of Judge Lewis B. and George O. Woodruff, spent the last years of his life. Here also liv- ed and died the Hon. John H. Hubbard the able lawyer who represented our district in Congress during the most critical period of the rebellion. We have now come round again to the Reeve house in which lived and died the Hon. Lewis B. Woodruff, the dlstin- gnsasa sd arlst who O lSng S1esd Sgfaeesdd
 brings us to the Harrison house, n5w, Shese many years, the home of our honored citizen, George c. Woodruff, sometime member of Congress the historian of Litchfeld, and long known for his legal ability and faithfulness in the discharge of many public duties.
 Historically we have now arrived at the site once occupied by Major Moses Seymour; valuable officer in the war of the Revolution who for some time held as prisoner, here, the rebel Mayor Matthews, of the city of New York. Major Seymour was famous for his repartee and humor and will be known in his- tory as the grandfather of the accomplished scholar and statesman, Horatio Seymour, late- ly governor of New York; and Origen $. Sey- mour, lately Chief Judge of Connecticut. The last named gentleman new lives on this place in the house built by Sheriff Seymour, his father, enjoying the universal esteem of the people of this state, and the love of neighborhood where old and young claim him for counsel Tor and friend. Still further north is the house of the late Dr. Josiah G. Beckwith, for some time president of cur state medical society. Nearly opposite the Seymour house is that once occupied by David Parme]ee, brilliant member of the old Litchtield Bar and after wards the home of Phineas Minor, an able lawyer and member of Congress.
 Into this street also came many years ago, Jabez W. Huntington and Truman Smith, af- terwards senators of the United States, where they bought and for a long time owned lots on the east side next to the old Welcott place.
 A chapter might be written upon the beau ty, learning, and public services of eminent women who have lived in this street among whom Sally Burr, sister of Aaron Burr, and wife of Judge Reeve; Amelia c. Ogden, the adopted daughter of the latter, and grand daughter of Jonathan Edwards; together with the ladies of both the Wolcott houses. the Kirby house and Mrs. Clarissa Marsh, should be honorably commemorated.
 In this street, scarcely half mile in length, originated the Law School, the plan of the existing Constitution of Connecticut and the histories of Connecticut and Litchfield. It can boast of three governors of the state, tive chief judges, one justice of the Circuit Court of the United States, six members of the House of Representatives in Congress, one signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and two of the first law writers on the continent. If any other street of equal length in the United States, in city or country, can show an equal record, we shall be proud to see it. !. CITIZEN,