Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Ross Hill Road, Lisbon, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 11.29 acres (4.57 ha) |
| Built | 1761 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004370 |
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1982 |
The Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House is a very old house in Lisbon, Connecticut. It was built way back in 1761. This house is a great example of Georgian style architecture, which was popular when America was still a group of colonies.
It's special because it has been kept in such good condition. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 1982. This means it's recognized as an important historical building in the United States.
What Makes This House Special?
The Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House is located at 198 Ross Hill Road in Lisbon. It's a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides and two chimneys. The outside is covered with wooden boards called clapboard.
Inside, the house has a typical layout for its time. There's a main hallway in the middle. The staircase has pretty scrollwork, which is a fancy design. Many parts of the inside still look like they did when the house was first built. Some parts were updated during a big renovation in 1824.
Who Lived Here?
The first record of the house is from December 28, 1761. It was part of Ezra Lathrop's property.
In 1800, Jeffrey Mathewson bought the house. It stayed in the Mathewson and Ross families until 1958. These families kept detailed diaries and records. These old writings give us a great look into what life was like in the countryside back then. Two people from these families, Bucklin Mathewson and George Ross, even served in the state government.
Bringing History Back to Life
In 1958, Edward Peace Friedland and Joan W. Friedland bought the house. They owned it for 40 years. During this time, the Friedlands worked very hard to restore the house and its grounds. They wanted it to look exactly as it did in the 1700s.
The house became a meeting place for the Lisbon Historical Society. Many times, they would host dinners and gatherings there that felt just like they were in the 18th century.
Edward Peace Friedland was an expert on old colonial architecture. He even wrote a book called "Antique Houses." His wife, Joan W. Friedland, was the Registrar of the Connecticut Historical Society. She also helped write a book called "Connecticut Firsts."
The Friedlands were important in saving many historic buildings in New England. These include the Old State House in Hartford and the John Bishop Museum. Edward Friedland also used the Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House as a place to train people. He taught them how to use old tools and methods to fix or rebuild parts of historic homes.
The house was sold to a new owner on July 28, 2020.
