The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-07-31
THE STORY

OF Guilford's Ancient Stone House
The ancient stone dwelling house at
Guilford known for the last 200 years
as the "Old Stone House" is situated
on what was formerly South Lane, now
known as Whitfield avenue. The house
stands on an elevated plot of ground
with spacious lawn in front of it,
faces the west and Is an object lesson
of seventeenth century architecture. 1t
has been said that 1t is the oldest house
in the United States but that is incor-
rect. 1t is certainly the oldest house in
Connecticut, and without a doubt, the
best preserved house of it's age in the
country.
1t was built in the fall of 1889 by the
Rev. Henry Whitfield, who was at the
head Of the company that settled in
Guilford. Mr. Whitfield was a distin-
guished preacher, and the first minister
at Guilford. AS soon as he arrived in
Guilford the erection of his house be-
gan In building 1. he intended to
make it home for his family, a place
for religious meeting, and suitable
fortification for the protection of his
people against the Indians, who were
then numerous in that vicinity. The
walls are made of stone and are three
feet thick, the material being brought
by the Indians, according to good au-
thority, across an ancient causeway
from Griswod's ledge of rocks, over
eighty rods away AS late as 1910 it
was said that this causeway could be
traced across the marsh northeast of the
Stone House. The walls at the front
G \
and the rafters lie upon them. The late
Walter H. Smith of Guilford, son of
the town historian, Judge r. D, Smith,
made a drawing Of the house in 1859,
and it was said at the time that there
was no question but that the main
building remained in its original state,
even to the oak beams, floors and win
dow sashes. Judge Smith said in 1859
that within the memory Of men then liv-
ing In Gui1ford. the panes Of glass in
the house We're diamond shaped.
The height of the first story is 2-3
feet, that of the second story ga. At
the southerly corner in the second story
there was originally an embrasure
about foot wide, with a stone flooring
which still remains On the north side
of a huge chimney and at the end of
the wing by the chimney is a recess
which was probably intended as a place
of concealmert. The interior wall has
the appearance of touching the chimney
like the wall at the northwest end, but
The removal of board shows two clos
cts which project beyond the lower part
of the building. The house was kept
in its original state until 1868, when
many improvements were made upon
It. changing it's general appearance and
the internal arrangements.
For four years after the settlement of
the town religious services were held
in the house, as the Congregational
church in Guilford was not established
until the summer of 1913 The first
marriage ceremony in the town of Gull
ford performed in that house, and was
that of the Rev. John Higginson to Dor
othy Whitfield, daughter Of the owner
The Rev. John Higginson was the an
cestor of Colonel Thomas Wentworth
Hgginson, the famous Boston author.
1t Is said that the 1uxures served to |
the guests on that occasion were pork
and peas. From that marriage are de-
scended many well known citizens of |
Massa chusetts, Robert Treat Paine and |
many prominent members of the Hig |
ginson, Lee, Lowell Charming, Putnam,
and Cabot families. Colonel Higginson I
saws no house north OF st. Augustine is /
so well worth preserving by reason of .
its age, it's fine condition and its his
toric associations.
For many years it remained in the
Whitfield family; that it was owned by
the Ellotts and for q long course of
years 1t had been the property of Mrs.
Sarah B. Coan of Stockbridge, Mass,
who sold it to the state.