Welles-Shipman-Ward House

The Welles-Shipman-Ward House is an 18th-century mansion house on 972 Main Street, South Glastonbury, Connecticut. It was built by Col. Thomas Welles as a wedding gift to his son John. George Welles, son of John then sold the house to shipbuilder, merchant trader, and storeowner, Stephen Shipman, Jr. in 1789. Shipman updated some of the architectural features and the house remained in his family for over 125 years. In 1929, Berdena Hart Ward purchased the property and redecorated the house in an English country style.^[1] In 1963, Ms. Ward donated the house and property to the Historical Society of Glastonbury along with $10,000 for its maintenance. Along with specialized historians, the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities and the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York were part of a committee formed to undertake the restoration of the house and ensure its authenticity.^[2]

During the restoration, records were found showing that the property once contained a schoolhouse which indicated that the main house may have served as a dormitory building. Further into the restoration process, carved initials and children’s drawings were found under layers of plaster and paint that contributed to speculation that schoolchildren were housed there.^[2]

Today the house and property is owned and maintained by the Historical Society of Glastonbury who run tours and a variety of historical events for the community there.^[1]

References