We went to the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden in Bethlehem CT this weekend. We tied it in with the local Garlic and Harvest festival. This house had been on the list for a while. It is owned by the Connecticut Landmarks Association. They do not allow photos inside the house which was interesting.

The original owner of the house was Reverand Reverend Joseph Bellamy. The frist phase of the house was completed in 1754 and the larger section completed in 1767. A Yale educated minister and a well-known evangelist of the the First Great Awakening. Over time the property grew to over 100 acres. He had both tenant farmers and slaves.

Around 100 years later in 1912 affluent New Yorkers Henry and Eliza Ferriday were driving past the house and saw the for sale sign. Henry had the idea to become a “gentleman farmer” and wanted a getaway from New York City during the summer. The guide told us they also owned homes in New York City, the Hamptons and in Paris. Their only daugher Caroline loved the house and spent every summer in the house.

The Ferriday’s updated the house with modern amenities such as heat, electricity, and plumbing. Caroline designed the formal garden with all of her favorite frafrant flowers and trees. Being an avid antique collector from her travels, teh house is full of antiques in cluding many from the Bellamy’s time in the house.

There is a formal library and study filled wtih old books on religion, world wars, religion and gardening.

As it was fall when we visited the garden was not at its best. Photos in the gift shop showed with the roses and lillacs it is transformed into full color.

Interesting Facts:

Pledge of Allegience – Reverand Belamy’s son Friancis Belamy wrote a pown for a patriotic magazine that most American’s can recite. It went on to become the pledge of allegience. I had no idea that what was part of a marketing campaign to sell flags and magazine subscripotions for patriotic youth woud become a key part of American life. Even more intersting, they were alo leveraging the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery as the main focus to gain support.
Iteresting, that Francis was a Christian Socialist who championed for equal distribution of wealth and prosperity for all and advocated for a strict seperation of church and state advocate never included the metion of God in the pledge. That was add later in 1954 by the Eisenhower Administration to counter coommunism.

French Resistance & Ravensbruck – Our guide mentioned that Caroline Ferriday supported many social justice and human rights causes. Being fluent in French, she worked at the French Consulate in New York. Her co-worker and best friend was the Niece of French General Charles de Gaulle and was a big supporter of the Free France Movement and Resistance efforts during World War II. Learning of the horrific treatment of women in the Ravensbruck concentration camp where they were used for many medical treatments she worked with PanAm airlines to bring them to the US for medical treaments. A few of the women lived at the farm. She was awarded multiple medals and awards from France for her philantropic efforts.

Lilac Girls Book – It seems the biggest draw to the house is from those who haver read the best selling book The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelley. The book is a fictionalized account of Caroline’s life, focusing on her work with the women of Ravensbrück. It apparantly makes the house an additional character in the book.

The Pardee-Morris House in New Haven, Connecticut, is recognized as one of New Haven’s oldest surviving buildings and a prime example of First Period colonial architecture. It stands as a public museum, open seasonally for tours and community events, providing powerful insight into the area’s colonial past and continuous transformation.

Not as well maintained as other houses in the state nor does it have many period-specific items but is worth a visit to hear the story. The house has as total of sixteen rooms, including parlors, kitchens, bedrooms, and more, stylized to reflect its centuries-old heritage. There is a ballroom on the 2nd floor but due to structural issues no visotors are allowed on the 2nd floor.

Built originally by Thomas Morris in the late 17th century and represents a typical “stone ender” style house featuring a massive stone chimney that forms one entire end wall of the timber-framed home. There are large beams to create the main support structure. Many of these are exposed showing their size and how they were cut. In a few places you can see the burn scars from when it was burned by the British in 1779 during the raid of New Haven.

This fireplace was massivy ineffecient being so large and women ran the risk of burns due to the bakeing box being past the main burn area. The guide told us they covered by a later owner but was opened when they decided to make it a more period correct house. This was one of 3 fireplaces.

Amos Morris rebuilt it using surviving materials, creating the building as it stands today. As typical of houses of the era and growing family’s you can see all the add on elements of the house.

Fun Fact: The house was burned by the British during their raid in 1779. Mr Morris petitioned for compensation from the Continental Congress. The Decent told us he received 4,000 acres of land in Ohio as compensation. As we have learned on other tours land was rarely granted nor much of any compensation offered other than a thank you due to no money to pay. If he were granted this land, it would have been for his military service. There were many Officers who did receive between 500 to 2,000 acres of land in the West as compensation for their service and sacrifices.

They have small medallions recognizing the enslaved. residents of the family. In the house is a family tree of their decendants.

Currently owned and operated by the New Haven Museum. They have free guided tours on Sunday’s during the summer often aligned with period-specific events.

We visited during the summer Family day where there were multiple displays from the Connecticut Horse Guard, Connecticut VI Revolutionary ware rein-actors including the surgeon’s display and a replica of a trading post.

Roseland Cottage, located in charming Woodstock, Connecticut is also known as the “Pink House.” More like salmon color to me but the current color is apparently one of 14 shades used since it was constructed.
It was built in 1846 as the summer home of Henry Chandler Bowen and his family, it stands out for its vibrant coral-pink exterior, steep gables, decorative trim, and exquisite stained glass windows.

Roseland Cottage is listed as a National Historic Landmark and is managed by Historic New England.

Built in Gothic Revival architecture style and our guide told us this was desired to preject the image of the owners and their children as being a good christian family. My Bowen was a strong advocate of temperance and did not allow drinking or smoking in the house. When President Grant visited and bowled a strike in the boling alley he pulled out his trademark cigar to celibrate only to be told my Mr Bown he would need to go outside to enjoy it.

The estate includes beautifully maintained gardens featuring original parterre designs, an icehouse, carriage barn, and the nation’s oldest surviving indoor bowling alley. The interiors are remarkably preserved, showcasing embossed wall coverings, colorful carpets, and ornate furniture from the Victorian era.

Roseland Cottage was legendary for hosting elaborate Fourth of July celebrations attended by four U.S. Presidents and many distinguished guests. Today, the cottage continues amaze visitors with its rich history, vibrant architecture, and picturesque grounds, offering tours and seasonal events.

An intersting querk of the house was the safe in the pink bathroom. It seems befoe running water was added to the house, this was Henry’s office. The builder doing the modification did nto want to move the safe so built around it converting the top to a vanity.

Official Website: https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/roseland-cottage/