First Joseph Clark House
Welcome back to Thursday Doors! After a three-week hiatus, Norm Frampton has opened the door to his wonderful blog for links to our posts. This is how we share our photos of doors that we have discovered. Who are we? We are bloggers and door aficionados from all over the world.
As you might expect, I spent our three-week break gathering doors. I snapped doors while running several errands and I went on one legitimate doorcursion. Still, yesterday morning, I had a surprise encounter with some interesting doors. I was early for a routine car maintenance appointment, so I took the long way to the dealer. I stumbled upon Martin Park in East Hartford and, I noticed three historic buildings. I think surprises should be shared, so I’m going to feature these doors today.
The Huguenot House is an interesting home. It is currently owned by the East Hartford Historical Society and has been moved into Martin Park. It is said to be haunted by Benny and the Blue Lady. The Blue Lady is thought to be the wife of the Makens Bemont, the son of the Edmund Bemont, who built the house in 1761. Benny is thought to be the son of Makers Bemont. Investigators have tried, unsuccessfully, to detect the spirits, but several people have said they have seen the spirits. The history around why this house is called the Huguenot House is less clear. The house was added to the National Registry of Historic Buildings in 1982. According to the nomination form:
The Makens Bemont House, or Huguenot House, is a small 1-story gambrel roofed house dating £rom 1761. It sits far back from the road and, with a war memorial and an 1821 schoolhouse brought to the site, marks the entrance to Martin Park. The house was moved to the site in 1971 from its original location on the opposite side of Burnside Avenue, some 2,500’ to the west. A new underpinning was poured, but the original brownstone-block foundation and steps were repositioned on top of it. The house has a narrow brick walkway in front and a few closely trimmed shrubs along its foundation. Though still undergoing restoration, the house serves as a museum for the East Hartford Historical; Society.
Behind the Huguenot House is the Goodwin one room schoolhouse. In this case, I am including an excerpt from historicbuidingsct.com
The Goodwin Schoolhouse in East Hartford was built in 1821 by George Goodwin, Jr., a paper manufacturer. He built the school on his own property on Burnside Avenue and hired a teacher to teach his own children and those of his neighbors. A one room schoolhouse, the building was used as a school until 1855, when the students started attending town schools. The former school was moved to Martin Park in 1975 as a gift to the town from George Goodwin, grandson of the original builder.
Behind the Huguenot House on the other side is the Burnham Blacksmith Shop, built c. 1850. The building contains a collection of nineteenth and early twentieth century tools and equipment used in the East Hartford area.
Unfortunately, due to – everybody sing along – the coronavirus, none of the buildings are open.
Heading from the park to the dealer, I passed two similar houses on adjacent lots. It turns out, they are linked – build by the same person. I found some information about these houses on a Connecticut historic site. Below are two excerpts:
First Joseph Clark House (1872)
At 66 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford is a beautifully preserved Italianate house. The exterior has recently been repainted. It was built in 1872 by Joseph Clark, a builder who constructed a number of houses in East Hartford.
Second Joseph Clark House (1877)
Joseph Clark, a carpenter who built many houses in East Hartford, erected the house at 74 Burnside Avenue circa 1877, a few years later than another Italianate house he built at 66 Burnside Avenue. Unlike its neighbor, the house at no. 74 lacks a cupola, but has an Eastlake-style front porch. It is adjacent to Clark Street, which was named for Joseph Clark.
All in all, I think being early for my appointment was a stroke of good fortune. There are a few more images in the gallery today because I’ve included several from the NRHB Nomination Form.
Makers Bemont house.
Back door of the Markers Bemont house.
Makers Bemont house – side view and the Goodwin One Room School in the distance.
The Huguenot House or the Makens Bemont house. It’s currently being restored.
Front door of Makers Bemont house
The Blacksmith Shop.
The Blacksmith Shop – side view.
Goodwin One Room School
Goodwin One Room School
Goodwin One Room School
Plaque at the Makers Bemont house.
First Joseph Clark House
Makens Bemont house – kitchen from NHRP nomination form.
Makens Bemont house – from NHRP nomination form. They described the staircase as being narrow.
Makens Bemont house – dormer from NHRP nomination form.
Makens Bemont house – exterior in winter from NHRP nomination form.