Amos Eno House facts for kids
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Amos Eno House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 731 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, Connecticut |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1820 |
| Part of | Simsbury Center Historic District (ID96000356) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001935 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1975 |
| Designated CP | April 12, 1996 |
The Amos Eno House, also known as the Simsbury 1820 House, is a historic home located at 731 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, Connecticut. It's a beautiful old building with a rich history.
Contents
The House's Early Days
This house was built in 1822 by a man named Elisha Phelps. His father, Noah, gave him the land. Noah Phelps was a smart person who went to Yale University. He became a lawyer (someone who helps people with legal problems) and a judge (someone who decides cases in court).
The first floor of the house has a main hallway in the middle. On this floor, you'd find a kitchen, a small area for breakfast, and a living room called a parlor. The second floor also has a center hall with two rooms on each side. The house is decorated with fancy wood carvings and special glass. These details show that the first people who lived there were quite wealthy.
Elisha Phelps and his wife had three children: Mary, John, and Lucy. John grew up to be very important. He became the Governor of Missouri and a United States Senator. Mary married John Allen, and their son also became a representative in the United States Congress. This means the family had many important people!
The Eno Family's Summer Home
Lucy Phelps, Elisha's daughter, married Amos Richards Eno from Simsbury. They moved to New York City. There, Amos and his cousin started a very successful business selling dry goods (like fabrics and clothing). Amos used the money he earned to buy lots of land and buildings in Manhattan, New York.
Between 1856 and 1859, he built a famous building called the Fifth Avenue Hotel. It was a very grand hotel. Amos and his relatives also started the Second National Bank of New York there. Even though they lived in New York City, the Eno family would visit the house in Simsbury every summer. It was their special summer getaway.
One of Amos Eno's grandchildren was Gifford Pinchot. He was born in this very house! Gifford Pinchot later became a famous conservationist (someone who works to protect nature) and the Governor of Pennsylvania.
In 1884, Amos Eno faced a difficult time. His son, John Chester, misused money from the family bank. To help his son, Amos paid back the money. After this, Amos spent more time at his summer home in Simsbury. He added more rooms to the house so his large family could visit. He built many new bedrooms and a whole new section. When the house was finished, it had more than thirty rooms! It was a huge place.
Amos's daughter, Antoinette Eno Wood, helped her brother during this tough time. She lived in the house and took care of her father. After her father passed away, she wanted to stay in the home. She paid her brother, Amos, to let her live there for the rest of her life. She made the house even more beautiful. She renamed it Eaglewood, which was a nod to her last name and her family's love for their country.
Antoinette also hired the famous Frederick Olmsted firm to design the gardens. This is the same firm that designed Central Park in New York City! The house became a very important place for social events in Simsbury during the summers. It was often full of guests, so much so that they sometimes had to use the guest house too. Antoinette also hosted fun ice cream parties on the Fourth of July. She even hosted a meeting for the Connecticut Woman's Suffrage League at the house. This group worked to get women the right to vote. Katharine Houghton Hepburn, the mother of the famous actress Katharine Hepburn, was at this meeting.
After the Eno Family
After Antoinette Eno Wood passed away, the house was given to her young nephew through her brother Amos Frederick's will. Eventually, the nephew sold the house. It became a restaurant for a while. Then, it was sold to a developer who built a community on the land around it.
The town of Simsbury bought the house in 1960. However, they didn't do much to keep it in good shape, except for painting it in 1976 for the country's 200th birthday. Finally, in 1985, a lot of work was done to fix up the inside and outside of the house. It was a big restoration project!
Current Use
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Today, the Amos Eno House is used as an inn, a cafe, and a place for events. It can host wedding parties with up to 120 people. It's a popular spot for special occasions.
Eno Family Legacy in Simsbury
The Eno family gave many wonderful things to the town of Simsbury. Here are some of their contributions:
- The Simsbury Free Library was started with money from a special fund set up by Amos Eno.
- Eno Memorial Hall was built with money given by Antoinette Eno Wood. It was a way to remember her parents. This building used to be the town hall. Now, it's home to the Social Services Department, a local group called the Daughters of the American Revolution, Simsbury Community Television, and the Simsbury Senior Center.
- The Capt. Elisha Phelps House was owned by Elisha Phelps, who was Noah Phelps's brother. This house was a tavern (a type of inn) and a museum from 1786 to 1849. Today, it is known as the Phelps Tavern Museum.
- The Town Farm Dairy of Simsbury was given by Amos R. Eno. It was meant to be a poor farm for people in the community who needed help. The farm originally grew vegetables, raised dairy cows and chickens, and grew tobacco. Now, it's still a dairy farm, and the old residence is used for affordable housing.
