The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-07-11

OF these old dwellings, Is the Bliss house,
q substantial two story mansion, which
stands squarely on the main road to the
old town. Il is the oldest house in New
London county, having been built In
1859 by Thomas Bliss, one Of the original
settlers Of Norwich. It was, without
doubt, the first dwelling built In eastern
Connecticut. The first town clerk had
his Office In this house for years. From
the time of its erection, $50 years ago,
the old house remained in the uninter-
rupted ownership of the Bliss family
until few years ago, when it was sold
to Mr.. Angel Stead, the present owner.
A few rods south OF this old family
mansion stands another ancient build
ing, an odd, angular, implanted, gam
brel rooted structure, which is now used
as a dwelling by very old lady. This
little building was erected long before
the revolution for the purpose Of weav-
ing stockings in. The sign which for
years hung over the door represented an
unsymmetrical leg clothed in a gaudy
stocking. But this industry was evil
IDENTIFY improbable, and it was succeeded
by newspaper, the first in Connecticut.
Separated from this building by mar
row lane is the Reynolds homestead, and
above the front door are scrolled the fig
ures 1859, representing the year in which
it was built. This house has remained
in the Reynolds family since the land
was set aside for them, and is now occu-
pied by the family of the late Henry L.
Reynolds.
Diagonally across the street from the
Bliss place, partially hidden by shrubs
and trees, is a brown two story dwelling
known as the Thomas Leffingwen house.
1t is fully 200 years old. The old stone
chimney, which is twelve feet square at
its base, and the stones of which were
laid In clay instead of mortar, the ma
terial that Is used in the construction of
walls today, still performs its service.
THE OLD DRUG STORE.
Above this place is another but more
unpretentious house, also once the prop
| erty of the Lef6ngwells. 1t is, if any
thing, trifle older than the former and
much smaller. The Leffingwells were a
big family and very prominent in early
history. Col. Christopher Lefingwell's
| massive mansion is next in order. The
| colonel was methodically correct, and the
house stands due north and south, one
angle of its frame protruding partially
out into the road. Col. Leffingwell was
/ the first postmaster of the old town,
operated the first paper mill in eastern
Connecticut, and carried on various Other
industries.
These six places are all within radius
of fifteen rods, while some fifty rods fur
Their on another line of ancient dwellings
is approached. First comes the resi-
dence of Mrs. Laura Thurston and Mr..
4 IL 4, H. ~
DIR. Joshua Lathrop long before the rev
olution. Directly opposite is the dwell
ing Of the family of the late William C
Gilman, which was occupied by DR.
Daniel Lathrop at the same time thai
Joshua occupied the other. These broth
ers kept the first drug store which was
opened between Hartford and Boston
Their old store was in existence unit
two years ago and was popularity known
as the Benedict Arnold drug store,
because within it Arnold was trained t.
be a druggist. Just above these two
places stands an immense, gambre
rooted, venerable looking two story
structure which was the residence Of
Gen. Jabez Huntington prior to and dur
} ing the revolution.
The house is ON land that was decides
to ancestors of Gen. Huntington by TIT
Indians, and the mansion has been in thu
hands of the Huntington family for tive
centuries. The general and all his son
were prominent in the revolutionary war
Nearly opposite the Huntington place i
another old house, built for Governo
Samuel Huntington.
Surrounding Norwich town green
an endless chain of these venerable man
vions, all 200 or more years old. One o
the most notable is the old Trott place
which was occupied by John Trott as
tavern prior to and during the revolu
tionary war, and where Gems. Washing
ton and Lafayette and others oftena5a
his famous cider clips" The Tracy
, house, too. is quite conspicuous and zults
well preserved, as are also the Syivsns1
Jones and the Lathrop places Cors eseS
York Time