A 300-year-old oak at the Wetmore mansion in Middletown was a victim of Tuesday’s storm.
By ERIK HESSELBERG Special to The Courant (Erik took the picture above as well)
MIDDLETOWN — A 300-year-old oak outside the landmark Georgian-style Wetmore mansion on Washington Street was a victim of Tuesday’s fast-moving thunderstorm, whose whipping winds toppled six other huge trees in the front yard, knocking out power to the 1743 house. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY
The Seth Wetmore House (1746)
June 3rd, 2008 Posted in Colonial, Houses, Middletown in Ct’s Historical Houses!
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Located on a hill, at the intersection of Washington Street Extension and Camp Street, the Seth Wetmore House is Middletown’s best example of Georgian architecture. The house was built by the prominent citizen, Judge Seth Wetmore, in 1746, the same year he married Hannah Edwards, the sister of Jonathan Edwards. Wetmore called his home, which was intended to surpass all others in Middletown at the time in size and ornamentation, “Staddle Hill” (it was later known as “Oak Hill”). It featured an elaborate “broken scroll” Connecticut River Valley doorway and originally had a large gambrel roof. The Wetmore House therefore served as a model for the homes built afterwards by the leading citizens of the Connecticut River Valley region.
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The influential Wetmore family is said to have received visits at the house from a number of important people, including Jonathan Edwards, Timothy Dwight, Aaron Burr and the Marquis de Lafayette. The house remained in the Wetmore family for over two centuries, but in recent years had fallen into disrepair.
In 1986, the Wadsworth Atheneum acquired the parlor of the Wetmore House and had it installed in the museum, where it can be visited today. More recently, efforts were undertaken to to save the house from potential demolition. In 2007, the house was purchased and therefore saved for restoration.
ELIZABETH WARNER’S PATCH ARTICLE: http://patch.com/connecticut/middletown-ct/majestic-wetmore-house
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