For Sale: Elkanah Mead House (circa 1838) on North Street, Greenwich

We were perusing the Greenwich, Connecticut real estate advertisements the other day. Round Hill Partners has a listing for one of the old family homes, apparently just listed recently. It was built in 1838.

The property is shown on an 1867 map of the town as belonging to Elkanah Mead (there is another home of the same ancestor at the intersection of Stanwich and Guinea roads that is not for sale).

The text of the listing, which we copy and paste here from the Round Hill Partners web site, states:

Poised among the great estates of Greenwich's prime mid-country, this unrestricted landmarked residence is a neo-classic Federal masterpiece. Rich in history, the sophisticated six-bedroom estate with a charming guest cottage has been skillfully delivered into the twenty-first century, blending today's modern amenities with all the stature of its c.1838 origins meticulously preserved. The quintessential Old New England home on 1.59 sculpted, level acres has been exquisitely renovated and expanded into an eclectic experience of grand luxury on a manageable scale.

Enter the stately residence through a columned front porch, introducing the unmistakable period ambiance which continues throughout. Original detail including leaded-glass windows, lavish wood paneling, eight fireplaces, hand-painted walls and wide-board hardwood floors enhances the elegant public rooms and beyond. Each with its own epoch character and handsome detail, the main floor features living room, formal dining room, children's and adults' family rooms, billiard room and paneled library with camouflaged bathroom.

Bathed in natural light, the gourmet kitchen with butler's pantry and oversized breakfast alcove opens through French doors to the rear grounds. White marble on the kitchen floor and counters originated from the old Yale University library, adding yet more intrigue to the home.

The second floor features three beautifully appointed double bedrooms, a laundry room and the master bedroom suite with dual dressing areas, sitting room and fireplace. Perfect for guests or au pair, the third floor is a double bedroom suite with sitting room and bathroom.

Additional amenities include central air-conditioning, in-ground irrigation and security system.

The spectacular property with grand old trees, sweeping lawns, artful stone masonry, flagstone terraces and a heated gunite swimming pool/spa is a magical oasis for memorable entertaining in a year-round naturally private setting. Featured on Greenwich Historical Society's Antiquarius house tour and in House and Garden, this distinguished residence enjoys a perfect location, minutes to town and all transportation.

Photos of Lot and Drake's Corner Cemetery in Greenwich Updated

The Association's online photos of the cemetery at Lot & Drake's Corner (North Street and Taconic Road in Greenwich) has been updated with all gravestones individually featured. Please go to this link to see more.

Update: Who Owned This (Mead?) House

(Photo courtesy of Connecticut State Library Digital Collections)

Last November we posed a question about a house featured in a painting. We were contacted by Pitts Yandell whose family owned this home for a number of years. With the help of Greenwich Historical Society researcher Nola Taylor and Anne Young, archivist of the Society's archives, plus a survey using Google Earth the pieces of this puzzle came into place.

Pitts originally thought the house was at the intersection of Stanwich and Taconic roads in backcountry Greenwich. It turns out this house is located at the intersection of Stanwich and Guinea roads south of the Merritt Parkway overpass.

As Nola Taylor wrote:

I looked at 1938 Franklin Map. The road you refer to as “craggy crest road” was called Rocky Craig Road and Guinea Road in Stamford. The name was later changed to Guinea Road. This map shows your family property on Stanwich Road north of Cognewaugh where Rocky Craig/Guinea Road intersects with Stanwich and continues north along Stanwich Road.

The deed research that was done in on the Elkanah Mead House, 411 Stanwich Road when the house was plaqued by HSTG in 1996 as a Signs of the Times house shows that the property was in the Yandell family from 1918 until 1950.

A mystery solved! The painting is of the Elkanah Mead House. Thank you Nola and Pitts!

Who Owned This (Mead?) House

We were contacted today by Pitts Yandell with the attached image to his e-mail. He wrote:

"My great grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. L. P. Yandell lived in a house that I believe was a Mead's house. The house was at the corner of Stanwich and Taconic in Greenwich. They moved in around 1917. Included is a painting of the house which was most accessible at the moment but I have more photos and historical documents archived. Anyway I was wondering it the place was familiar to you, if it still stands and which Mead resided there."

If you can answer his question please contact us at meadburyinggrounds@gmail.com.

Bill Mead Oak Tree, by Whitman Bailey

A long time ago a massive oak tree once graced the landscape in front of the Mead home located where Cos Cob Elementary School is today. The drawing featured here is by Whitman Bailey of the "Bill Mead Oak." No one recalls when the tree came down, though it reputedly happened during a hurricane. The tree was so large that a large section of the trunk was hollow, allowing people to actually go inside. The date of this drawing, allegedly from a photograph, is 1930.

William H. Mead is interred in the family cemetery off Relay Place and the Cos Cob Mill Pond.

Removed Plots: Mead Burying Ground Lafayette Place, Greenwich

In Greenwich's Town Clerk Records there are additional records of further disinterments from isolated family plots to other localities. There is still such a plot for the Lewis Family, long associated with the Second Congregational Church (it's next to the offices of the Presbyterian Church off Lafayette Place).

Yet another small family plot associated with the Mead's was located near the corner of Lafayette Place and William Street, within sight of Greenwich Hospital and nearby condominiums. The graves were apparently removed from this location to Putnam Cemetery in 1936. Pictured is the sexton records and listing of those transferred.

When the graves were transferred to Putnam we were intrigued to discover that the remains were apparently combined and a single monument stone will all names listed in common.

A Signed Document by Revolutionary War Patriot Dr. Amos Mead

Today’s mail brings news of a relic from the American Revolution involving Dr. Amos Mead. He is interred in the New Burial Grounds Association Cemetery next to the Second Congregational Church off East Putnam Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Scott Winslow, a dealer in historical documents in New Hampshire writes, “I am a dealer in historical documents from New Hampshire. I'm forwarding a scan of a document signed by Dr. Amos Mead during the American Revolution which I thought you might have an interest in. I recently sold an early Connecticut pay order issued to (not signed by) Dr. Amos Mead but frankly, can't remember who I sold it to and thought it might be someone in your family.” The document image is provided here.

Historian Spencer P. Mead provides some interesting information found in the family genealogy book. On page 59:

“Dr. Amos Mead, of Greenwich, Connecticut, who was ye Surgeon of ye 3^rd Connecticut Regiment in the expedition against Crown Point and Ticonderoga in 1759, and also one of the committee of Safety, was so chased and hunted by these men as to be obliged to travel about back in the country for a whole winter. He retraced by night the tracks he had made by day, and then moving off a short distance in another direction, spent the night in the first sheltered place that could be found. In the early spring following the winter of 1780, he came down to look at a field of wheat growing some distance back of his house, but, on arriving at a certain point in the road, he turned back, for he was impressed with the idea that he must not go any farther, but how to account for the impression he knew not. A few days after a neighbor met him and told him that five men bent on taking his life were in that very wheat field with their loaded muskets aimed at a certain point in the road where he must have passed had he proceeded. Dr. Mead, wisely acting on this timely warning, retired again into the country.”

This text is also found on page 145 of Ye Historie of Ye Town of Greenwich, also authored by Spencer P. Mead, published in 1911. Both the town history and Mead family genealogy book feature more interesting background on Dr. Mead.

If you are interested in acquiring this wonderful piece of family history please contact Mr. Winslow at 800-225-6233, or e-mail him at Scott@scottwinslow.com.