The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-14

than any in Norwich. probably nowhere
el.e in this country is 10 be found such a
Group of ancient dwellings rs that in this
old town. The famous stone house Of
Guilford. which was a fortress IN Indian
times aud the history Of which runs back
70 1899. is only twenty years older than
some Of this group They all stand IN
historic Norwich Town, which CEN
nIrv or more ago was the town proper,
and when the present site Of the city was
known as The Landing" Indians held
nosses-ion Of the river in those days. ana
kent the white settlers away. Here gem
Grafton after generation Of families have
been reared. and the houses remain now
almost as they did then. The people
here have cared more to keep their pos.
sessions intact than To have modern i'm
movements. until Norwich is pre-cmi-
ncntly the banner historical city Of New
England
TIE BLISS MANSION.
Passing up the two aris.0cratic thor
ourltfarcs of the city, Broadway aud
Washington street, to the plains and
ont upon the old road. the change Is
most remarkable Fashionable domicilcs
give way TO ancient looking rooScries.
whose weather beaten sides are marked
with time. Tie first and most famous
of these old dwellings j. the Bliss house.
a substantial two story mansion. which
stands squarely on ihe main road to the
old town II IS the oldest house In New
London county. having been built ~
1859 bv Thomas Bliss. one Of the original
settlers of Norwich 1t 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. 23O years ago.
the old house remained in the uninirr
ruptel ownership Of the Bliss family
until "a fcw years ago. when itwas sold
To- Mr. Angel Stead. Che present owner
A few rods south Of this OLD family
mansion stands another ancient build
ing. an odd. angular Imprinted. gam
brel rooted structure. which Is now used
as a dwelling by very old lady. This
li,tle buildiny was erected long before
the revolution for the purpose OF weav-
I'm, stockings in. Tine sign which for
years hung over '''' ''.", TT p. '''''''''' ',''
nnsvmmetrical leg clothed in % gaudy
stocking. but this industry was cei-
IDENTITY mpfoiab.e.and twas succeeded
10y "a newspaper Ut. ''' D., ''''''''''' w.t.
Separated ifom tiiii pli'''iii5 10y u '''
D a al
row lame o. ti' i,'l ii'l'7 nom, a'e'"' anu
above the front door are aerolied tHe iis
Gra 1863. representing lH' AeArin "i'icn
it was built. rms house mas remained
ln the Reynolds family since tine Nihd
was set aside for tnem' anu D. no" occu-
pied by the family OF i'e iaie Henry l.
REYNOLDS.
Diagonal; rrro-s iie street from ll'r
Bliss place. partially hidden Dy shrubs
AMI trees. ha brown two story dwelling
known us the Thomas Lei.ingWeil house.
20 is fully 200 years OLD. The OBJ stone
chimney, which h twelve lrei square "t
10, base. aad the stones OF which were
laid in clay instead oi mortar the ma
tcrial that is used Do the construction OF
walls today, aiil performs ii5ser'ice.
THE OLD DRUG STORE.
Above thls place is another bat more
uapretcniious house. also once ile prop
crty OF the Lelii"sw''is. 10 IT, u any
thing. q triils older Oman the former and
much smaller lla L.'ine"eili were
big family and ftry prominent ~ early
history. Col Christopher Leiiinsweiia
massive mansion IS n.At n order. liic
colonel was meihodir"lit correct anu '''r
house stands Que nofih ana s'i,l' '.e
angle of its frame pfoifliils partially
ont INTO ln' road Col. leiiiiS"el WAS
the first postmaster o' lie OH town,
operated the ilfal paper 'i.' ID eastern
Connecticut ana o'i.'e' on various o'''''
industries.
lhese 7iA l''''. "i- 400 "l..'l'i ID .'',.l''7
oi hlleeh rods "Aiith'''ie 'ii.t ioH, luI-
Their on another insoi ancient dwellings,
Is approached. fii'l comes lAe resi-
denre Of yrs Laura lh'ii'lon ANA Ir.
Henry McNe'iy' "ii''n was .'i' homo 90
IT. joshua i'''',''P ''''5 '-.o'5 '''s '''
oiu'ion' bii'c.if .f.'' Is ,, .,. owen
ing oI inc i"''i's "' '''- '''' W .''.''''' -
1"i'iaH' "'''" .. pap '0.Di'''.. ~ ~.
D''nici LA'"i"P ~ ''. '''''ir '''''S '''''
joshua oc'up'e' ''e o''''.' i'',''' % ON
ers Kept me INST uI"1 ''o'' " i'." "''
opened between iiiiiioii ana boston.
/ Their old store was ln existence until
two wears a..o and WAS popularity known
rs the "Baneiict Arnold drug store.
hocouao within H. Arnold was trained to
~ II, I'M at,., tho., two
..i...l
rooted venerable boxing two story