Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-06-01
STRIP ARNOLD HOME.
RELIC HUNTERS RAID MANSION
OF FAMOUS AMERICAN.
Was One Of the Oldest Landmarks Of
New Haven, Conn.-Interest-
ing History Of Famous
Building.

Relic hunters have attacked the Bene-
diet Arnold mansion, one Of the Oldest
landmarks In New Haven, Conn, and
are carrying away pieces Of the old man
sion for historical treasures. The fate
Of the old house was sealed a few days
ago BY the present owners, a wholesale
lumber concern, which felt the impera-
tive need of more room for its stacks OF
lumber. The Arnold mansion stood upon
the space Of land that was required, and
the owners ordered the building torn
down.
From everywhere treasure hunters
have iOcked to the building, taking
away pieces Of oak timber and other ma
terial that made up the old house. Some
OF the valuable pieces, such as the
ancient mantelpiece, the door, and PANEL
ings, have been bought by collectors Of
antiques, while the owners have pre-
scented to the New Haven Colony His
torical society the front door OF the
building and an old transom. Others IN
quest Of souvenirs have been content
with pieces Of the timber. hand wrought
nails, and whatever could be most con-
veniently carried away.
This is the second raid that has been
made on the Arnold mansion within
seven years. When its present owners
first came iRto possession Of the prop
erty alterations we're made upon the
building In order to make It adapted for
the storage Of lumber. While these
changes were going on a gfeatemany
pieces OF the choicest materials In the
house were taken away, but many re-
mained to be removed now. Even the
bricks Of the old fireplace and those Of a
s~ubterranean tunnel in the house, which,
It Is related. was built by the traitor Ia
furnish a secret exit from the house, are
being carted away by the truck load by
persons for speculative purposes. Out
Of the old house dealers in antiques
hope to ave enough to pay them well for
their efforts.
The Arnold house was in many re-
spects the most famous house in New
Haven. 1t has long been in a state OF
d%ilapidation, and although for several
years it was used only for a ~woodshed, Il
remained intact, and its general appear
anee was the same as IN its palmiest days
in 1774-1SOO. The house was built BY
Benedict Arnold In 1771.
Arnold was a native of Norwich
Conn, but came to New Haven to en-.
gage in the drug trade in 1861. He first
resided in George street and kept
drug shop. When he removed to the
Water street house he was a merchant.
man and had three vessels sailing from
the West Indies. 1777 the Arnold house
was n Of the handsomest in the town.
and It was the scene Of much gayety. al
though Arnold was not admitted to the
best society. It stood in a row Of fine
mansions with French roofs, mullioned
windows, and carved gables. In the At
tic was a secret vault, where, it is alleged,
Arnold stored the goods he smuggled.
In the cellar was a massive chimney
place and wine cellar.
Arnold lived there until ITS, when he
left for the front at the head Of a local
militia company. When Arnold COM
mitted his act Of treachery at West
Point the town was ablaze with wrath
and an efigy Of Arnold was burned in
public. The mansion was ~conhscated
by the United States government in 1881
and sold to John Prout Sloan. Noah
Webster, the photographer, bought the
house in 1888 and resided there until
1907. He began his dictionary in the
southwest room on the first floor. The
house changed hands many times after
ward and was at one time known as the
Hunt house.
NuIcAcO uEAT rlv