Historical Homes

"West Street"

Turning now onto West Street there are a number of homes that are today privately owned but were built in the 1700s and 1800s. On the left, the 4th and 5th houses from the corner are homes that were built in 1779 and 1784 .The Canfield family lived in these homes. Abel Canfield was a Revolutionary War soldier. He married Mary Barlow from Stratford and in the back yard of the 5th home he had a shop where he manufactured brass and pewter buttons, buckles, and sleigh bells. 

Across the street lies the Daniel Davis homestead built in 1787. The one and a half story home originally had 4 fireplaces but they were removed a number of years ago during a renovation and the stones were used in the outside back wall. Throughout the house the ceilings appear low, not that the home was built that way but because there are as many as 5 layers of different floors. Years ago when the dirt cellar floor was being readied for a cement floor, coins dating back to 1788 were found buried in the dirt.

Two homes down from this property, sits a large white home nestled on the north hillside of the street. This is the George Matthies Homestead. Mr. Matthies married Annie Wooster, daughter of William Henry Harrison Wooster, who lived in a large 13 room mansion style home on the corner of Gilyard and North Streets on the other side of Seymour.

George and Annie Matthies had two children, Bernard and Katharine. Mr. Matthies was one of Seymour's most efficient and successful young businessmen. He is credited with bringing large industry to Seymour. Moving down the street, and back across once again, you will notice a small wooden home built in 1795 by Hiel Hine.

As you approach the stop sign, you will notice on your right a large gray sided home. Built in 1812 this was known as the Warren French House. He was the first to engage in the making of double twist screw augers in the country. By 1815 Mr. French was a leading businessman during the week and a licensed preacher on the weekend. He died at the age of 84 years still having a sharp mind and good memory.

At the stop sign, looking left you will see nestled under the tall trees, the home of Anna Stephens. Her father, John Winterbottom, moved the family here in 1817 when Anna was 8 years old. Anna loved literature and loved to write. As an adult she became known as a distinguished world-wide known writer of dime novels. Many of her stories used Humphreysville as the setting for her tales.

Continue to the very end of West Street to the intersection with Rt. 67.

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Canfield House

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Daniel Davis Homestead

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George Matthies Homestead

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Hine House

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Walter French House

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Anna Stephens Home

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