Page 10 - North Haven Magazine Issue 14 Summer 2020

A Visit To The By Susan A. Iverson

hen I heard that the Hemingway House was for sale a few 1790. Instead, an older, “less grand” house was located there – it
Wyears ago, my first reaction was to book a showing – but was probably taken down and replaced with the present colonial,
just could not do it because I had no intention of buying it. (I as the Hemingway genealogy records show. Augustus Hemingway,
already own an historic home, and owning one is quite enough!) Samuel’s son, is credited with building the stately home now on
Imagine my delight when a few this site. Several generations of
months later the CT Trust for Hemingways subsequently lived
Historic Preservation offered there, and so the house is now
a “House Talk” there! My hus- simply called the Hemingway
band and I had been to several House.
of these talks – one gets to tour
a unique, usually historic, prop- Many of the details of this old
erty and learn a bit about its home are original to its first
significance. These house talks occupants – the little roofs, or
promote the sale or preservation “hoods” over the front and side
of properties and provide a great doors, the Dutch kick roof form
opportunity to learn about the (a slight “flip” upward at the
efforts of the CT Trust and some roof eaves), the very large center
local history. (If you ever have chimney with great room and
the chance to attend one, do it hearth across the back of the
– they are terrific!) Of course, house, and wide board flooring.
I registered for the event, and Many of the windows have their
was even asked to represent the original 12 over 12 glass pane
historical society and say a few sashes. And that “attic smoke
words about the town’s history. The best part was being invited house” was amazing – it looked like a closet built next to the cen-
to join the owners for a “sneak preview” of this great old property ter chimney as it ascended through the attic space, and holes in
and wander throughout the house with them while becoming ac- the chimney allowed smoke to enter the closet and smoke meats
quainted. We even got to inspect the “attic smoke house”! Right to preserve them. How cool is that? Though a modern kitchen,
about now I probably sound like a real history nerd… here is what bathrooms, and other amenities have been incorporated, the home
I learned: feels unmistakably like one has stepped back into a much earlier
time. Its setting at the foot of Peter’s Rock is especially charming
– it feels like it is snuggled up to a nature preserve – protected and
private even though it is on a busy thoroughfare. Do I sound like I
fell in love? I kind of did! Thankfully, new owners now live in the
Hemingway House, and yet another generation of history lovers
can continue to care for this venerable abode.

The Hemingway House is a Georgian Colonial located just a few
yards from the New Haven line in Montowese. As with most old
properties, it is almost impossible to talk about a building’s details
without learning something about the first families to occupy the
home. Apparently, the property was first owned by Coopers - it
was forfeited by Caleb Cooper, Jr. as payment for property tax
owed. Samuel Hemingway then bought it, probably around 1790.
Based on this bit of history the Historical Society referred to it as
the Samuel Hemingway House, but when a title search was done With thanks to the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation
in the late 1980s more was revealed. The house on the property History based on information found in the North Haven Historical
now probably was not there when Caleb Cooper quitclaimed it in Society Archives
10 North Haven Magazine - Summer Issue 2020