The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-07-24
Colonial Spirit Is
Regained AS Town
Joins Precautionary
Full Week of Observance Manifest in Towns Gala
Dress Respondent Mansions Of BygOne Days-TIis-
tory of State, Nation Recalled BY Beautiful Homes

Serenity ana HlnnplcIJy OF exlSC-
ence Is Litchfield, the third Oldest
town in the county seat Of the
Same name. AS towns go in
Connecticut Litchfield Is not so old.
She celebrated her 200th birthday
lin 1890 and ranks 50th in q list of
169 towns as regards settlement.
But few towns In the state can
Erace M much history back
through their more than 200 years
Of life as can Litchfeld. The
early history of the state was
closely linked with the progress
BIZ this town, for from it came cul-
lure, the arts. the sciences, and
the men who exemplif1ed them.
Il has q long list Of virtues. They
Are paraded before the state this
week, as Litchfield participates in
The Connecticut Tercentenary. It
Is an easy matter to point to
Litchfield and strike off on a list
her many attractions, whether they
be- those of sheer beauty or the
beautiful as expressed in history's
pages.
In addition to boasting the first
aw school in America in Litch-
held were compiled the first law
reports. The first school for young
aides was conducted in Litchf1eld.
Lafayette visited the town and is
ecorded as sleeping both in
Phelps Tavern, built in 1897 by
David Buel and said to be the old
st hosiery in point Of continuous
5ervice in Connecticut, and also in
oliver Wolcott's house, the Oldest
n the town, built in 1853. on the
asst side Of South street.
To quote the pages Of "The
Connecticut Guide" "Going
Town the west side of the street
North) a covered we'll and large
I'm mark the home site of the Rev.
lyman Beecher one of the
reat preachers and reformers Of
is day. His two most distin-
uished children were born here:
Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry
Ward Beecher. In the next block
he Lynde Lord house, built in
I'll, has !chimneys and gambrel
|oof with dormer windows. Be-
oud this is the site Of Miss
Piorce.s Academy opened by Sarah
Pierce in 1892, probably the first
FINALE seminary in America. Dur
hg the next 40 years about 5000
Dung women from all parts of
he country attended here. Fur
her south we pass Sheldon's Tav-
I'm (this IL described elsewhere) !.
he Tallmadge house with gam
rel roof and 2-story porticos on
he wings was built by Thomas
heldon in 1875 and owned later
Col. Benjamin Tallmadge. He
ad been classmate of Nathan
Tale and during the Revolution
ecame chief of the Intelligence
ervice; he was the first to dis
over the identity Of Major Andre
whom he had charge until tho
xecution. Tallmadge had studied
/ the Law School and settled in
itchfield in 1882, becoming one
the leading merchants.
ION the east side Of North
treet, opposite the Tallmadge
ouse is the julius Deming house
nown as The Lindens, from the
Fees planted by his daughter Lu-
retia in 1888. 1t is the most pre-
entious house in Litchfleld. The
ouse completed in 1913 took two
ears to build. .....
"At the. Corner Of West Street
front Of the dignified brick jail,
rected in 1912, Is the Whipping
ost Elm, the largest tree in
itchfield with q circumference of
yer $50 inches. -. Across North
treet stands the attractive Corner
louise. built by Charles Butler In
F92. ). Continuing on the north
de of East Street. opposite the
reen we have the Collins House,
uilt as an inn by John Collins,
bn of the first minister. Next to
his Is the small building put up
Dr.. Reuben Smith in 1881 as
h apothecary shop and known as
he Old Curiosity Shop. 80. The
congregational Church, the third
Meeting house, built in 1929, was
eplaced for a time by Gothic
Experiment., but has been restored
its original place of service and
eauty. !. AT the foot of the hill
h East Street, along Bantam Riv-
lies the Old East Cemetery,
here most of the prominent
aders in Litchfield are buried.
"On the Green opposite South
treet, is the Beecher Memorial on
he site of the second meeting
ouse where Lyman Beecher
reached; there is g. medallion OF
Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry
yard Beecher. At the southeast
brner, in the east wing of the
library we find the Historical So
ety with an interesting collection
portraits and local antiquities.
here is an Indian collection with
aterial from an 11-grave burial
round near Litchfield. Going
own the east side of South Street
e pass the large double house, at
ne time used as an inn, built IN
ESQ by Benjamin Hanks. one of
onnecticut's famous clockmak-
IS, Further south in front of st.
nthony's R. c. Church is the
onnecticut sycamore. the last of
trees set out by oliver Wolcott,
:, after the Revolution to repre-
mt the original States. The Oil
er Wolcott House, the Oldest in
he borough, dates from 1853.
liver Wolcott was born at Wind
,r. His father, Gov. Roger VOL
BIT, was one of the original pro-
rietors of Litchfield. Oliver, after
irving in the French war, where
reached the rank Of major
sneral, studied medicine under
is brother Alexander. and began
ractice in Goshen. He was APP
,inted sheriff of the new Itch
I'D county In 1851 and moved to
itchfield. He was o signer OF the
declaration of Independence, took
leading part IN the Revolution
I'd served a. Governor from
fse until his death. The house
As q central chimney. q slight
yerhang In the attic story. and
graceful porch with . slender
blnmns supporting an open gabio.
washington and Lafayette
ere entertained here. In tho or
iard 20 the rear the icaQen statue
King George III, torn down
ON bowling Green IN New York
f979 and brought 20 Lltehfieid
.4a.E MaaA A..Is.a..