Zachariah Curtiss House
Encyclopedia
The Zachariah Curtiss Houses are located in New England
, and are Colonial America
n wooden post-and-beam timber frame farm houses. The older house of the two was built by Zachariah I around 1686 and the second house was built by his son Zachariah II around 1721 in the Georgian architectural style
. The houses are situated on the Farm Highway or Route 108
on the south side of Mischa Hill and are among the oldest houses in the village of Nichols
in Trumbull, Connecticut
.
The houses were built on separate sides of the Farm highway. The smaller house was moved alongside and attached to the larger house as an ell
around 1800. As the population of the village increased, the traffic, which traveled directly through the Curtiss farm, increased as well and the house was moved to improve safety and privacy. Building dwellings or farm buildings on opposite sides of the highway, or within the grassy median between the travel lanes, was very common in Stratford.
The houses also have the distinction of being located in four different townships
in their history, but have never been moved more than 50 feet; Stratford
(1686–1725), Unity (1725–1744), North Stratford (1744–1797) and Trumbull (1797-present). And, they have been owned by only three families surnames in their history; Curtiss, Cooper and the present owner.
, was laid out by the Stratford selectmen to the south side of Mischa Hill. The highway was 12 rods wide, or 198 feet, where Broadbridge Brook runs off the south side of Mischa Hill, at Zachariah Curtiss, his land, and at Captain's Farm. Broadbridge Brook runs off Mischa Hill west of the present-day intersection of Route 108 and the Merritt Parkway
and flows southwesterly to Broadbridge Avenue in Stratford.
The Captain the town recorder was referring to may have been Captain William Curtiss who was Captain of the first Train Band and owned a farm at Turkey Hill at this time. This hill was located two miles from the meeting house along the Farm Highway on the way north to Mischa Hill. The hill was also commonly called Second Hill, Good Hill and Grassy Hill.
The Captain could have also been John Hawley who owned the Ephraim Hawley House
at this time which bordered Zachariah Curtiss to the south. Hawley was Captain of the Second or North Train Band and was Justice of the Peace for Fairfield County
. In October 1725, when the Assembly of the Connecticut Colony approved the Parish of Unity, they referred to the Farm Highway as Nickol's Farm's Road.
The Nichols Avenue portion of Route 108 in Trumbull is considered to be the third-oldest documented highway
in Connecticut after the Mohegan Road, Connecticut Route 32 in Norwich
(1670) and the King's Highway
, or Boston Post Road
Route 1 (1673).
), south on Joseph Curtiss, north on Fairchild land and east on the Farm highway. The other parcel was on the east side of the Farm highway and contained 32 acre (0.12949952 km²) of land and a barn and was bounded west with the Farm highway and part west on Benjamin Beach, Ephraim and Joseph Curtiss, part south on Captain John Hawley, east with Benjamin Beach and north on Joseph Curtiss,
. The Fairfield Probate Court appraised the farm, which contained only 50 acre (0.202343 km²), at 1,050 pounds. The older house with 2 acre (0.00809372 km²), built by Zachariah I, was still inhabited by the elder Curtiss until 1748 and was not included in Zachariah II's inventory of his estate in 1746. Mitchell married Phoebe Peet, the daughter of Deacon Thomas Peet, in 1753 and subsequently gifted the larger Georgian house and fourteen acres to his son Zachariah III in 1776 when he married.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and are Colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
n wooden post-and-beam timber frame farm houses. The older house of the two was built by Zachariah I around 1686 and the second house was built by his son Zachariah II around 1721 in the Georgian architectural style
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
. The houses are situated on the Farm Highway or Route 108
Connecticut Route 108
Route 108 in the U.S. state of Connecticut, also called Huntington Turnpike and Nichols Avenue, is a two-lane state highway that runs northerly from US 1, Boston Post Road in Stratford, through Trumbull, to Route 110 in downtown Shelton...
on the south side of Mischa Hill and are among the oldest houses in the village of Nichols
Nichols, Connecticut
Nichols, a historic village in southeastern Trumbull on the Gold Coast of Fairfield County, was named after the family who maintained a large farm in its center for almost 300 years. The Nichols Farms Historic District, which encompasses part of the village, is listed on the National Register of...
in Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
.
The houses were built on separate sides of the Farm highway. The smaller house was moved alongside and attached to the larger house as an ell
Ell
An ell , is a unit of measurement, approximating the length of a man's arm.Several national forms existed, with different lengths, includingthe Scottish ell ,the Flemish ell ,the French ell...
around 1800. As the population of the village increased, the traffic, which traveled directly through the Curtiss farm, increased as well and the house was moved to improve safety and privacy. Building dwellings or farm buildings on opposite sides of the highway, or within the grassy median between the travel lanes, was very common in Stratford.
The houses also have the distinction of being located in four different townships
Township (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
in their history, but have never been moved more than 50 feet; Stratford
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
(1686–1725), Unity (1725–1744), North Stratford (1744–1797) and Trumbull (1797-present). And, they have been owned by only three families surnames in their history; Curtiss, Cooper and the present owner.
Farm Highway
On December 7 1696 the Farm Highway, present-day Nichols Avenue Connecticut Route 108Connecticut Route 108
Route 108 in the U.S. state of Connecticut, also called Huntington Turnpike and Nichols Avenue, is a two-lane state highway that runs northerly from US 1, Boston Post Road in Stratford, through Trumbull, to Route 110 in downtown Shelton...
, was laid out by the Stratford selectmen to the south side of Mischa Hill. The highway was 12 rods wide, or 198 feet, where Broadbridge Brook runs off the south side of Mischa Hill, at Zachariah Curtiss, his land, and at Captain's Farm. Broadbridge Brook runs off Mischa Hill west of the present-day intersection of Route 108 and the Merritt Parkway
Merritt Parkway
The Merritt Parkway is a historic limited-access parkway in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The parkway is known for its scenic layout, its uniquely styled signage, and the architecturally elaborate overpasses along the route. It is designated as a National Scenic Byway and is also listed in the...
and flows southwesterly to Broadbridge Avenue in Stratford.
The Captain the town recorder was referring to may have been Captain William Curtiss who was Captain of the first Train Band and owned a farm at Turkey Hill at this time. This hill was located two miles from the meeting house along the Farm Highway on the way north to Mischa Hill. The hill was also commonly called Second Hill, Good Hill and Grassy Hill.
The Captain could have also been John Hawley who owned the Ephraim Hawley House
Ephraim Hawley House
The Ephraim Hawley House, located in New England, is a Colonial American wooden post-and-beam timber-frame farm house built between 1670 and 1690...
at this time which bordered Zachariah Curtiss to the south. Hawley was Captain of the Second or North Train Band and was Justice of the Peace for Fairfield County
Fairfield County
Fairfield County is the name of three counties in the United States:* Fairfield County, Connecticut* Fairfield County, Ohio* Fairfield County, South Carolina...
. In October 1725, when the Assembly of the Connecticut Colony approved the Parish of Unity, they referred to the Farm Highway as Nickol's Farm's Road.
The Nichols Avenue portion of Route 108 in Trumbull is considered to be the third-oldest documented highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in Connecticut after the Mohegan Road, Connecticut Route 32 in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
(1670) and the King's Highway
King's Highway
King's Highway or Kings Highway may refer to:* King's Highway an ancient trade route from Egypt to Syria* Kings Highway , Australia* King's Highway , United States* King's Highway King's Highway or Kings Highway may refer to:* King's Highway (ancient) an ancient trade route from Egypt to Syria*...
, or Boston Post Road
Boston Post Road
The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts that evolved into the first major highways in the United States.The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York...
Route 1 (1673).
Zachariah II
On February 27 1721, Zachariah I transferred his entire farm with 52 acre (0.21043672 km²) of land to his son Zachariah II. The farm was described as containing two separate parcels. One parcel contained 20 acre (0.0809372 km²) with a dwelling house and was on the west side of the Farm highway and was bounded west on Daniel Hawley (Ehpraim Hawley's sonEphraim Hawley House
The Ephraim Hawley House, located in New England, is a Colonial American wooden post-and-beam timber-frame farm house built between 1670 and 1690...
), south on Joseph Curtiss, north on Fairchild land and east on the Farm highway. The other parcel was on the east side of the Farm highway and contained 32 acre (0.12949952 km²) of land and a barn and was bounded west with the Farm highway and part west on Benjamin Beach, Ephraim and Joseph Curtiss, part south on Captain John Hawley, east with Benjamin Beach and north on Joseph Curtiss,
Mitchell Curtiss
In 1746, Zachariah II left his new house, the old barn and whole homestead to his only son Mitchell when he died. Curtiss and his wife, who predeceased him, are buried in the Unity Burial GroundUnity Burial Ground
The Unity Burial Ground is a small graveyard located on the southeast end of White Plain in the Nichols section of Trumbull, Connecticut. It is located a few rods north of the site of the first meeting house that was built in the parish of Unity. The cemetery was laid out in 1730 and the first...
. The Fairfield Probate Court appraised the farm, which contained only 50 acre (0.202343 km²), at 1,050 pounds. The older house with 2 acre (0.00809372 km²), built by Zachariah I, was still inhabited by the elder Curtiss until 1748 and was not included in Zachariah II's inventory of his estate in 1746. Mitchell married Phoebe Peet, the daughter of Deacon Thomas Peet, in 1753 and subsequently gifted the larger Georgian house and fourteen acres to his son Zachariah III in 1776 when he married.
The house today
Over the last 325 years, the appearance of the houses have evolved very little as there have been only three families to own the Curtiss farm. Many original architectural details remain preserved including; dirt cellars, field stone foundations, oak post and beam frames, oak roof sheathing, pine flooring, clam shell plaster walls and ceilings over oak lath, original windows and frames.Images
See also- History of Trumbull, ConnecticutHistory of Trumbull, Connecticut-Introduction:Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, was settled owned and controlled by the town of Stratford from 1639 until May 1725 when the northwest farmer's of Stratford petitioned the Colony of Connecticut to establish their own...
- Nichols Farms Historic DistrictNichols Farms Historic DistrictAccording to Stratford land records, Abraham Nichols purchased several old farms and large parcels of land in 1696. Nichols exchanged his land for of Lt. Joseph Judsons old farm which had a barn on it, or half the land owned by Jeremiah Judson, and of land from Benjamin Curtiss...
- Stratford, ConnecticutStratford, ConnecticutStratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
- Trumbull, ConnecticutTrumbull, ConnecticutTrumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...