Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-15

ford and was built in 1859 by Henry Whit
field. the first minister of that town. 1t is
known as the old stone house." because
of the material in it. and from time to time
during its history has been used a fort
for defense and refuge against the Indians.
Divine worship was formerly held there in
apartments that were not needed by the
minister's family. They must have been
somewhat crowded because there were Par
son Whitfield and his wife, nine children
and several servants. In September, 1900,
the Whitfield house. with about eight acres
of land, became the property of the state
of Connecticut, having been purchased by
an appropriation of the legislature and con-
tributions from the Connecticut Society of
Colonial Danes and others. The state APP
propriated money to restore 1t as nearly as
possible to its original condition, and placed
1t in charge of nine trustees. who ad
monished to establish and maintain in the
building q museum which shall embody
in various forms the history of this COM
monwealth and the story Of its people" A
large number of articles have already been
loaned and given, and such collection of
relics of early colonial days will doubtless
attract many visitors TO Guilford.
In the same town are three other ancient
residences. the Philo Bishop house, built
in 1875; the Grace Starr house, built In
1887; the Titus Hall house, built in 1896,
and the Collins house, built in 100.
The Van RENSSELAER, house in Albany and
the Whipple house in Salem said to be
older by a few years than the LOOMS
house, but they have changed ownership
and have been remodeled, while the Loomis
house remains almost exactly as it was
built and has never changed hands except
by legacy.
The Road to Windsor.
Windsor may be reached from Hartford
by a choice of trolley railroads. one run
ming on either side of the Connecticut river
as far nothward as Springfield, and both
are literally patronized by village people,
by the families of rich farmers along the
line and by hundreds Of persons engaged
In the city who have homes along the river
banks. Mr.. Harold Whitmore and his wife
formerly Miss Maria Pierce Of WASHINGTON.
ana MS brother were kind enough to take
me out In their automobile and were most
charming guides. The road to Windsor is
perfect. IL runs between continuous lines
or great white houses on either side shaded
by gigantic elms, NAPLES and other trees
whose foliage is more lustrous and luxurI
Gus than have ever seen before outside OF
England The depth of color in the leaves
is attributed to the late season. The
foliage was long time coming this wear
but II was all the better for the delay
The branches intertwine as they hang over
the roadway, and make a continuous arbor
or tunnel of green through which we ran
the entire distance, and they were alive
with boboltnks and other birds.
Nearly all the houses are painted white
and they are very large giving evidence Of
the size of the families who occupied them
and the long extended prosperity of the
people. The barns are two or three times
as large as the houses, and are connected
with them by passages generally contain
| ing a dairy, a shed for fuel, storehouse
| for supplies, a Toulouse and wagonhouse.
| through which the farmer may go on cold
winter mornings to milk his COWS and feed
| the pigs and horses without exposing him
| self TO the weather. Some of the houses
and barns are lighted by electricity and
! contain "al the modern conyeniences: :"
| others still retain their primitive austerity
| and simplicity. which influences, more or
| less, the character of their occupants. These
| houses have been handed down from gen.
| Grafton to generation in the same families
| There is very seldom sale or a transfer
| for any other reason then the settlement
of an estate, and they are filled with old