Stanley-Whitman House facts for kids
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Stanley-Whitman House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Stanley-Whitman House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 37 High Street, Farmington, Connecticut |
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| Built | c.1720 |
| Architectural style | Colonial saltbox; framed overhang |
| Part of | Farmington Historic District (ID72001331) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000882 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
| Designated CP | March 17, 1972 |
The Stanley-Whitman House is a special historic house museum located at 37 High Street in Farmington, Connecticut. It was built around 1720, making it one of the oldest homes in Farmington. This house is a great example of a saltbox style home, which is a type of house with a long, sloping roof.
Because it is so old and well-preserved, the Stanley-Whitman House was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Today, it helps visitors learn about life in early Connecticut.
Contents
What Does the Stanley-Whitman House Look Like?
The Stanley-Whitman House is the fourth-oldest building still standing in Farmington. It is also the oldest building from the 1700s. A large chimney made of stone sits in the middle of the house. This chimney divides the house into two equal parts.
Original Design of the House
When the house was first built around 1720, it had four rooms. There was also an attic space on the third floor. Families used the parlor and kitchen on the first floor for living, working, and entertaining guests. On the second floor, there was a parlor chamber and a kitchen chamber.
How the House Changed Over Time
The second owner, Solomon Whitman, added a "lean-to" section to the house in the mid-1700s. This addition made the house bigger for his family. It also extended the roof line, giving the house its famous saltbox shape.
The second floor of the house hangs over the first floor by about 18 inches. This is called a "framed overhang." Four carved pieces of wood, called drop pendants, decorate this overhang. Two of these are original, while the other two are new copies.
Who Lived in the Stanley-Whitman House?
The land where the Stanley-Whitman House stands was first bought by Captain John Stanley. This was in the early 1700s. Captain Stanley later gave the property to his son, Deacon John Stanley. Deacon John was a leader at Farmington's First Congregational Church.
Building the House (Early 1700s)
Deacon John Stanley asked for a "Dwelling house" to be built on his new land. This happened sometime between 1709 and 1719. It seems that Deacon John Stanley never actually lived in the house. He sold the partly finished house and six acres of land to Ebenezer Steele in December 1720.
The Steele and Smith Families (1720s-1730s)
Ebenezer Steele died a few years later. His daughter, Mary Steele, inherited the house. In 1725, Mary, who was 18, and her husband, Thomas Smith, moved in. They were the first people to live in the house.
Thomas Smith was a farmer and also a professional weaver. He made different types of fabrics. Thomas and Mary Smith had five of their 12 children while living in this house. In 1735, the Smiths sold the house to Reverend Samuel Whitman.
The Whitman Family (Mid-1700s to Early 1900s)
Reverend Whitman let his son, Solomon, and his new wife, Susannah Cole Whitman, live in the house. This was before he officially gave them ownership in 1746. Solomon Whitman was a farmer and a shoemaker. He also held many important jobs in Farmington. He was the town clerk, a justice of the peace, and a probate judge. He also helped start the town's first library.
In 1772, Solomon Whitman moved to Main Street. However, his family members continued to live in the house until 1922.
Restoring the House (Early 1900s)
Henry Farnam, a descendant of the Whitman family, inherited the house in 1886. He worked with his grandmother, Ann Sophia Whitman, to restore the house. They hired an architect named Leoni W. Robinson between 1900 and 1910. Robinson likely added a concrete section to the house during this time.
In 1922, Henry Farnam sold the house to Danford Newton Barney III. Barney was a generous person who had helped the town before. He wanted to turn the Stanley-Whitman House into a museum. The house officially became a museum by 1935.
Before it became a museum, Barney's son, Austin, and his wife, Katherine, moved into the house in 1924. They hired J. Frederick Kelly, a famous architectural historian, to help restore the house in 1934. Kelly made many changes to make the house look like it did in the 1600s. For a long time, people thought the house was built in 1660. This idea affected how it was restored. However, in the 1980s, researchers discovered the house was actually built around 1720.
Visiting the Stanley-Whitman House Museum
In September 1935, Austin Barney gave ownership of the Stanley-Whitman House to the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. They wanted the house to be used as a museum or for educational purposes. The Barney family also gave $35,000 to help support the museum. The museum first showed Native American artifacts and old colonial items.
Learning About the House's History
Starting in the 1970s, the museum began to look more closely at the house's history. A group of historians and museum experts studied the house's architecture. They found clues about its original parts and later changes. Researchers also looked at old documents to confirm or correct what they thought they knew about the house.
An archaeology team from Yale University dug around the house. They found animal bones, pipe pieces, coins, and hundreds of other objects. The museum decided to show the house as it looked during two time periods:
- From 1725 to 1735, when the Smith family lived there.
- From 1736 to 1772, when the first generation of Whitmans lived there.
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Today, the Stanley-Whitman House is called a "living history center and museum." It teaches people about the history and culture of early Farmington. The museum collects, protects, researches, and shares this history in exciting ways.
What Can You Do at the Museum?
The museum offers many activities for visitors of all ages. You can take tours of the historic house with a guide or explore on your own. They also have programs for adults and children, cooking demonstrations, and walking tours.
You can see art installations in the Speare Classroom. If you are interested in your family history or local history, you can do research in the Kenneth Johnson Research Library. Visitors can also walk around the grounds and enjoy the gardens. These gardens have flowers, plants, and herbs that would have been grown in the 1600s and 1700s.
See also
