Above you see one of those feature articles. It ran in the paper on October 23, 1951 and shines the spotlight on one of the oldest houses in Wellington at that time.
"Watching over speeding automobiles on N. Main-st here is an old house which in bygone years has watched Indians, hunters and pioneers pass over a muddy trail in the same place.
"The house is known as the old Adams place and is one of Wellington's oldest structures. Undoubtedly, it is the oldest still in existence which housed one family for more than 100 years.
"The solid brick structure, now painted white, replaced an old log cabin which had been erected on the same site by one of the pioneer Wellington families.
"This was the Adams family, headed by Deacon Amos Adams. The deacon was seventh in descent of John Adams of Plymouth, Mass, who came to America in 1661 aboard the tiny vessel "Fortune."
" The deacon's two sons, Amos Jr. and Milton, came to Wellington in 1821 when this was known as the Western Reserve country. With the two men came their sisters, Altamira and Julia.
"Just one half mile from the center of the village, they erected a log cabin. Two years later the cabin received several more occupants, the elder Adams, his wife and five children.
"The family lived in the log cabin until sometime around 1833 when the present brick home was erected. From that time until the 1930's, descendants of the Adams family lived in the brick house. Last of the family to live there was Mrs. E. W. Adams who was still there when the house reached the century mark in age.
"Pioneer history was made in the building. Here Mrs. Adams spun and wove garments for her big brood, using flax and wool. She wanted her children to have the advantages of a religious background, so she and her husband, along with eight others, organized the First Congregational church here."
The article goes on in much detail about the Adams family, including a great story about Milton's wife and her encounter with a donut-loving Indian. There's also the tale of Wellington's first Fourth of July celebration.
"Altho it is past the century mark in age, having stood in rugged splendor on the same spot for the past 118 years, the Adams house apparently is due to remain for many more years, " notes the article.
"It, like the country itself, was made by honest workmen who put their hearts, souls and sound American resources into its construction."
Alas, while researching the location of the house so I could go over and get my "now" photograph, I learned from the 19th-Century Wellington blog that the house was demolished back in 2012. The house was on State Route 58 opposite the entrance to the Wellington schools campus.
Be sure to visit the 19th-Century Wellington blog. It's a great, well-researched website. I really like its "When Was It Built?" pages, which provide a wealth of information on the age of various churches, houses and commercial structures.
 |
| A Google Maps comparison showing the Adams house in 2009 and its location today |
No comments:
Post a Comment