The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-16
HOUSE CLARK BUILT
1t Is Over Two Hundred Years
Old and Stin Standing.
The first House Builr IN the Settlements
Of Milford. Conn., - Some of tho
Curious and Historic Relics
That 1t Contains.

There sands on the road to Bridge
bort, about mile from the depot, in
The historic old town Of Milford an old
yellow house that was built by Ensign
George Clark in 1854. and was the first
house built outside OF the row of logs,
stood on end. that encircled the settle
rnent of Milford, says the New Haven
Rerister. These logs or palisades,
ms they called them then, were TO keep
Indians from their homes and when
ENSIGN Clark started to build his home
five rods away from the palisades he
was ieered at, and predictions were
Ananv that his house would not stand a
wear. But there IL stands as sound as
the day it was built, its bag oak tim
hers surrounding a chimney built of
stone twenty-five by twenty-five feet at
its base and tapering to ten feet square
at its top In this chimney, as 1t pushes
its massive self through the ground or
first floor. are two Of the rarest fire
places In New Haven county.
In the south room is d fireplace big
enough to hold n dozen men, though
some vears ago it was partly bricled
lup. This room, with its lor 2, low cell
ing of oak, has eight doors: running
along the ceiling Is d big oaken beam
called the husband" for it supports
the house. In the fireplace IS huge
Tor. too heavy for two men to lift, and
banging from a hook Is the iron flip
dog, used to heat the flip at Gov.
Treats wedding in 1647. At one side
is the old brick Dutch oven that is used
on large occasions at the present day.
Over the fireplace hang several his
7orical fint1oclss. One is seven feet in
length and was used by one of Mr..
Ponds ancestors in the Queen Anne
war. Under it hangs a sword carried
sn the war of 1912.
At one side of this room hangs a little
frame inclosing rare piece OF news
paper lore. 1t is an original copy of
the Boston Post Boy OF Monday, Feb
ruarv 6. ia On the first page is
letter dated London, October 20, 1913,
and among the news items are: THE
marriage Of the Infanta Maria Theresa
with the dauphin will be declared on
the queens birthday" The Same letter
asserts that his royal highness viii
pass the winter at Paris; all the diff
..ulties TO the ceremony being adjusted,
particularly with regard Ia She duke
of Orleans; on his account it has been
hitherto delayed" Among the lads"
IS the following:
"Any tavernl1eepers, innholders or
others that want any choice good
sacked cyder the ensuing spring may
be supplied 10y giving their names and
quantity they need at the post Office at
6orty shilliugs per barrel they finding
casks"
/ In the front room, the parlor, is
mate to the fireplace in the south room.
This, while not larger, IS much more
elegant. The woodwork about it is
paneled IN elaborate pattern and has
what the other lacks, a cupboard, the
only one in the house. In this cupboard
js stored a rare and beautiful individual
tea set made from Mr.. Ponds design.
Each piece has burned in its beautiful
surface picture of houses and memo
rials in which he was interested. On
the big tray is the Milford memorial
bridge, that he was instrumental in
producing, encircled with a ribbon de-
sign on which is the motto of the
bridge. 90 the teapot are hkenesses OF
Sir Charles Hobby, Mr.. Ponds ancestor,
and of the Strong and Pond houses.
The province house and the Peter Prud
den stone are on either side OF the sugar
bowl; on the milk jar is the coat of
arms Of the Hobby family, and on the
two cups are the insignia of the soci-
eties of Cincinnati and Colonial wars.