478 Harbor Road, Southport, Connecticut The origin of the estate now known as “Rose Hill” is one that is intertwined with the histories of two of the area’s prominent founding families, the Wakeman and Sturges families, dating back 200 years. The name “Rose Hill” was originally given to two houses (a cottage and this Greek Revival), as well as, the surrounding land west of Southport Harbor. The tale of this home begins with the history of the establishment of Southport. In 1680 the leaders of the Sasqua, Poqounock, Unquowa and Aspetuck Indians deeded a large parcel of land to the Town of Fairfield Colonial Freeholders. These farmers and merchants established this as the Mill River Plantation – which is the area now called Southport. The two parcels of land that make up the current “Rose Hill” Estate (137 Rose Hill Road, .55 Acre and 478 Harbor Road, 1.07) were originally part of a larger plantation known as “Ram Pasture”. The title to this area was held by John Sturges and passed to his sons, Lewis B. and Jeremiah in the early 1700’s. “Ram Pasture” originally included most of the land on the upper west end of the harbor, between what is now River Street and Main Street. In the 1700’s, this area was cleared and used as a sheep pasture, bordered by fences and stonewalls. These stonewalls ran along what is now Harbor Road. They became richly overgrown with Rambler Rose bramble bushes. They provided a gorgeous backdrop of small red and pink roses throughout the summer months. Legend holds that the abundance of fragrant colorful blooms led to the area becoming known as ““Rose Hill”. Interestingly, these Rambler roses can still be easily cultivated in this part of Southport if you allow them to naturally appear in a season or two. “Ram Pasture” was subdivided in the 1750’s by the Robinson and Thorp families; nearly all the pasture acreage was acquired by Jesup Wakeman in 1828. Jesup Wakeman was a shrewd businessman with many civic positions including a directorship of a bank in Bridgeport and Collector of Internal Revenue. He invested heavily in real estate, acquiring many properties in different areas of the country, after the Revolutionary War. As his fortune grew, he worked together with his son William Webb to develop a cargo shipping business along the Atlantic coast. The shipping business prospered and they were soon well known and respected in the business and social worlds of both New York and Southport. In 1831, Jesup sold the central portion of the Ram Pasture to one of his sea captains, Ward Bulkley, who, with his wife Mary, built the cottage on “Rose Hill”. In the 1830’s, on the southern most portion of the Ram Pasture, he built the Greek Revival main house now known as “Rose Hill”. While there were many Greek Revivals built during this time, and remain in existence today in Southport Village, this one is unique. ““Rose Hill’s” façade has a two-story portico that stretches thirty feet across its front and is supported by four fluted Corinthian columns with carved acanthus leaves and rosettes. “Rose Hill” became Wakeman’s weekend and later permanent residence. By Mid 1850’s the family shipping enterprise moved to New York City. It had taken on a partner, Frederick Dimon, and expanded into the international shipping business. Of historic interest, it is noted that at the outbreak of the Civil War, all the vessels for the Wakeman lines: Wakeman, Dimon & Company, Gookin and Dickinson, and the Star Line, were commissioned by the federal government to transport troops and equipment for the Union Army. The Wakeman family prospered, with shipping interests so diverse that they constituted a near monopoly along the Atlantic Coast. When William Webb Wakeman died, the “Rose Hill” mansion passed to his widow and later to a descendant, Charles M. Taintor, who developed a small farm on the surrounding property. Successive owners have restored and expanded the main house to its present appearance.
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