Elmwood

Early photograph of Elmwood

Elmwood is the homestead of Founding Father Oliver Ellsworth, in Windsor, Connecticut.^[1]

Elmwood has been visited by two other Founding Fathers: George Washington (on October 21st, 1789) and John Adams (on October 3, 1799).^[2]

The house is a 2 1/2 story clapboarded house on 12.6 acres, sporting a portico with Tuscan columns.^[3] Additionally, the house has dual fireplaces as can be seen by the two chimneys. The home underwent significant restoration during the late 1980's and early 1990's to return it to the historically correct time period for when Oliver Ellsworth lived there. The house is now a museum.^[2]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and made a National Historic Landmark in 1989.^[4]

Background[edit]

Early sketch of Elmwood, 1836

Elmwood was built around 1740 by David Ellsworth, on land owned by the Ellsworth family dating back to 1665.^[5][6] In 1903, the home was transferred to the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution.^[2] Oliver Ellsworth moved into the home around 1782, and lived there until his passing in 1807.^[7]

The house derives its name from the thirteen Elm Trees that Oliver Ellsworth planted there, in honor of the 13 original colonies. The last remaining of the trees he had planted was removed by a hurricane in 1938.^[8]

Oliver Ellsworth[edit]

Oliver, the most well known resident of the home from the Ellsworth Family, lived in the house for 25 years. He was a Founding Father, having helped draft the Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. He also served as a Senator for the state of Connecticut, and was the third Chief Justice of the United States.

References[edit]

1. ↑ 747 Palisado Avenue
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} The Oliver Ellsworth Homestead
3. ↑ Oliver Ellsworth Homestead, PDF
4. ↑ National Historic Landmark summary listing
5. ↑ Old houses of New England
6. ↑ Historic and memorial buildings of the Daughters of the American Revolution
7. ↑ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, Volume 8
8. ↑ National historical magazine, Volume 74

External links[edit]

• Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution