If These Walls Could Talk

The Williams House

by Agnes-Betty Trimpert

“Williams” Pond…”Williams” Road… it is only natural there should be a “Williams” House!

This sturdy two story home was built in the 1800’s and listed as occupied by “A. Lacey” on the 1867 map. It was sold to David S. Barnum and Mary Gilbert Barnum in 1869. After the property passed to various Barnum family members, it was deeded to Charles H. Williams in 1911. A farmer, his Tax List of 1919 itemized the value of his holdings to be: a House-$700, Cow and Horse Barn-$500, Shed and Silo-$175, acreage-$3,825, 3 Horses-$350, 11 Cows-$660, 1 Bull-$75, 3 two-year Old calves and 4 Yearlings-$220; for a total of $6,505.

Charles married Jennie Cullen, born in Patterson, New York in 1887, the daughter of Thomas and Caroline Satterlee Cullen. She attended Danbury Normal School (now Western CT ST University) and later taught in one of the little one room schools in New Fairfield. She claimed to be a direct descendant of John Quincy Adams.

After Charles’ death at age 75, Jennie continued to live at the house until she had a near fatal fall in February 1972. When it was noticed her mail and newspaper was undisturbed, young neighbors Steve Staples and Ray Lubus, members of New Fairfield BSA Troop 42, investigated. Peering in the window, they saw her lying on the cold stone floor, unable to move. They entered the house, used their first aid skills and made her comfortable until medical personnel moved her to the hospital. The boys received the BSA Medal of Merit and headlines in The News Times for their lifesaving efforts. Jenny recovered to live until the following September.

The Williams House was accessible from Barnum Road by only a short dirt road until the area was carved into developments and Williams Road was built and gradually extended to East Lake Road. The fields that Charles tilled and his cows grazed became populated with raised ranches, colonials, and capes. On close inspection, the old stone walls are still visible and may contain a tossed horseshoe or two.

Williams Pond was created as a safety water source for the town firefighters as the housing boom began in the area. The New Fairfield Community Service Club initiated landscaping the shoreline in 1996 to make it into a tranquil park and continue their efforts to make it a beautiful landmark in New Fairfield.

Information obtained from the files of the New Fairfield Historical Society, The News Times, and other sources.
 

For More Information Contact:

Preserve New Fairfield
P.O. Box 8047, New Fairfield, CT 06812
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