Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-09

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fNtw Haven Palladium. July n.
The fact that Thomas Ailing q Co. re.
moved some Of the attic-noor boards Of the
old Benedict Arnold house on Water street
has given currency 10 thu r,isnor that the
old house was 10 DC torn down. This Is a
mistake. A visitor 10 the ancient house
yesterday found two families occupying the
building in weil-appointed. comfortable
homes. The house has boon well kept. and
view OF the spacious balls and rooms
would hardly suggest that !, Is over one
hundred years old, and that there clustered
about u so maay historical associations.
Mrs. Nichols. the present lessee, Is an M
teiiigcnt lady, and shows much interest in
the history connected with the house. IL
leased the honse,n she said, Z" Eve years ago,
Just before the celebration OF the INVASION
by the British. AZ that time to ever since
have Ind great many people come and
look over the house. I think I have had
people from every State in the linton. A
great many Ohio people have been here. aud
they seem 10 take more interest in the hsto-
ricai incidents connected with the house
than any other class. Soon after we came
here. 1--WE years ago, my son. In digging In the
front yard, found a silver spoon. II had
the lciters j. and I. on IT, Thomas Il.
Trowbr dge claimed that the spoon belong
ed 10 his ancestors, as Joseph Trowbridge
once lived here: but a family by the name
OF Thomson lived here later. and Il may
be that the spoon belonged 10 that family,
Mr.. Trowbridge wanted the spoon, and
promised my sou good position II he
should ever wasn't one, and my son gave it
TO him. Soon after that an agent OF the
Philadelphia Historical Society was here,
aud said that he would gladly have given
800 for The old spoon. az he thought IL be-
longed 10 Arnolds family"
The house has been owned and occupied
by some distinguished people. Benedict
Arnold built II in iT7i. After Il was con-
fscstod ON Accent Of his treachcry II was
bought by Mr.. Sloan. aud Noah Webster
bought II OF him. webster lived there
about ten years, and the west parlOr was
used as the great photographers study.
Mr.. Sloan had daughter who married in
Philadelphia, and she visited the house q
year or so ago, she stated for the first time
In thirty-three years. Noah Webster had
n daughter Emma, who married Professor
Fowler, Of Durham. and Miss Sloan was
quite intimate with her.
Mr.. Sloan's daughter and her husband.
ut the time 81 their recent visit, wanted 10
see the parior where they did thair cdu.t-
ing many years ago. They sat down in the
window-seat and remained nearly two
hours, during which the lady alternately
laughed and cried. She inquired who her
Mrs. Nichols had seen in the hall chamber
pane Of glass upon which Miss Webster's
name had been cut with diamond ring.
The windows had been changed about, but
the glass with " Emma Webster" on II was
found In tiie east parlor. Mrs. Nichols yes
terday pointed 10 the glass. which had been
recently broken directly across the name.
- am very sorry il Is broken" she said,
"for had promised it to Professor fow-
leT's son."
Mrs. Nicbols's visitor made brief in
spection Of the house. The main hall Is
divided iuto front and rear balls, each one
broad aud spacious enough for room. In
the parl0rs. one on each side OF the hall.
are deep window-seats, so frequent in we'll
appointed houses OF century ago. In the
kitchen was broad fireplace which might |
take In half a cord OF wood. On opening
the attic door, by turning bic key which
certainly is suggestive of secreSy aud eX-
clusiyeness. the hardwood stairs were
asccadcd. The attic L. Of the same SIZE |
rs the whole ground surface Of the !
house. two immense chmneys Being the |
only breaks. Here aud there In four |
different PLACES the floor timbers were WISH |
bic where the boards had been removed. !
The flooring OF the attic. As well as that in |
all the other rooms Of the house, are Of oak. |
Near the east chimney, on the west side, |
two vaults, formed by the projection OF |
the fireplace, were discovered few days |
$50 on removal Of the flooring. They are
partially filed with straw and broken |
glass, and upon close inspection seemed to
have had some special purpose. Some
people have suggested that they were built |
by Arnold for the purpose OF secreting |
himself when u traitor 10 his country, but
the house was built many years before the
treacheIy Of the builder.
Several people who have visited the
house before these places were found
claimed that struggled goods were stored
there" Mrs. Nichols explained, adding,
"Mrs. Moulthrop. who lives near here, and
whose ancestors lived in this vicinity for
several generations, has told me that her
father and grandfather told her that snug
gled goods were stored in the Hoadly
place. but that she had never been told any
were stored here"
still Il would bs fair TO presume that tho
mysterious vaults in the old Benedict Al
mold house have been used for the safe
keeping Of goods that had not paid an en-
10 the country. The big key IN
the attic door, which would serve well for
an ancient Jail, would seem to indicate that
unusual occurred in the dim aud
dusky attic above II.