1760 House (1760 - Present)

Welcome back, Monroe history lovers. As you’ll see in our first supporting image, this week’s history takes us along country roads in Stepney, Conn. I love it when a new early Fred Sherman photograph of our town emerges and I saw this one for the very first time several months ago. But where exactly is this scene in Stepney? A formal address would have been greatly appreciated, Mr. Sherman. Yes, I know, formal addresses in Monroe wouldn’t be common until some 60 years after this photograph was taken. Well, I guess I’d just have to use my experience and other technological means to attempt to identify the location.

Could this have been somewhere along Old Newtown Road or on Crescent Place? Perhaps it was on Pepper Street or Purdy Hill Road. Is the house extant today, or had it disappeared long ago, never to leave a trace of its existence on our modern landscape. This one was a real mystery, a unique blend of challenge and frustration. None of the aforementioned locations proved to be a match to the original photograph. I was aware of a colonial-era house with a similar look at 181 Hattertown Road, but with the details of the house in the photograph mostly obscured by trees, how could it be 100% verified as a match?

There’s an old idiom that says God is in the details. The next step was to apply some of our modern digital tools to have a closer look. Our second supporting image is a bit grainy in texture, but it was necessary to enlarge and brighten the image to look for details in the landscape. On rare occasions, even a unique stone seen in a roadside wall can crack the case. Just at the foot of the trees at the center of the image you’ll see a rather pronounced rock. I’ve highlighted it in translucent yellow to draw your eye. That’s a pretty big rock right there. If Fred Sherman has taken this photograph at the Hattertown address, what are the chances that this rock might still be there today, nearly 120 years after the photograph was taken?

Our third supporting image answers that question definitively. Yes, the rock is still there today! See for yourself. Every contour is a match to the rock seen in the original photograph. Sometimes, that Google Street View proves pretty handy. In just a few clicks I’m scouring the roadside in Upper Stepney for details, and all from the comfort of my home office. Amazing! Now that the location of Fred Sherman’s photograph had been confirmed, it was time to contact the property owner, Mike Sandone. Mike had never seen an early photograph of his house and was very excited upon seeing this one. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a historian, connecting our history with those it directly affects.

What can I say about Mike Sandone? He’s really quite an amazing man. His thirst for history is insatiable and he’s always on the go, exploring old mines, mills, caves, rivers… I certainly can’t keep up with him. I wouldn’t even try. Mike saved this old house from demolition and restored it and the outbuildings on the property to their current glory, and all with his bare hands. Among his boundless talents and interests is videography, and thankfully he documented the historic restoration of his house for all of us Monroe history fans to appreciate. I’ve provided a link down below to one of his many YouTube videos. Mike can tell the story better than I. I know you’ll enjoy the video and it will certainly inspire your appreciation for the house and its history each time you drive past.

I hope you enjoy this week’s historic spotlight on this newly identified Fred Sherman photograph, our process of investigation, and Mike Sandone’s preservation of his 1760 house. If you would, please share this post with your family and friends and thank you for your continued support and interest in Monroe’s rich history. Until next time. Heading up Hattertown way any time soon? Slow down and take a closer look at one of the finest preservations of a colonial-era house in our town, something to be very proud of. Three cheers for Mike Sandone!

Regards,

Kevin Daly
Historian, Monroe Historical Society
www.monroecthistory.org
Our Past is Always Present