An Old House and Garden of Essex 
A REMODELED COLONIAL FARMHOUSE IN THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY THAT HAS BEEN ALTERED TO 
SUIT MODERN REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT SPOILING ITS OLD-TIME SIMPLICITY, IN BUILDING OR GARDEN 
by A. Raymond Ellis 
Photographs and plans by the author 
T HE term “Colonial” has been applied to all American archi¬ 
tecture prior to the nineteenth century; but in reality it 
was but a copy of the later Renaissance style of England, called 
“Georgian,” simplified to 
meet the poorer conditions 
that prevailed in the colo¬ 
nies. Strictly speaking, 
few examples of Georgian 
are found in New England. 
There a type was de¬ 
veloped that is truly 
Colonial, and distinctive 
from the work found in 
Maryland and Pennsyl¬ 
vania. It is this distinct¬ 
ive Colonial style that 
claims the little remodeled 
farmhouse herewith illus¬ 
trated and described. 
The beautiful Connec¬ 
ticut Valley, undulating 
and fertile, nestling be¬ 
tween two low ranges of 
mountains, possesses a 
wealth of just such com¬ 
fortable houses, in some 
cases going to rack and 
ruin for want of a tenant, 
surrounded by the r m- 
nants of a garden setting, 
still struggling to rise above 
the weeds. 
These homes, erected when 
Essex was a thrifty ship-build¬ 
ing town, were built by skilled 
craftsmen, of hewn timber used 
in building ships. So well was 
their creative genius developed 
that their works still serve as 
models for modern homes, 
copied by architects for their 
clients to use as country seats. 
Many of these old homesteads 
have been bought cheaply and 
remodeled, the timbers being 
so well preserved that much of 
the material could be used 
again. 
The Rogers estate, which is 
shown in the accompanying 
photographs and plans, is one 
of this type. It comprises 
several acres of land, house, 
outbuildings, an old-fashioned 
garden and a group of stately 
old maples. The place is 
capable of greater possibilities 
A view over the old-fashioned garden towards the back of the house 
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The living-room and dining-room were each remodeled from two rooms 
than have been realized in the remodeling, but it may serve as a 
stimulating example of what may be accomplished with a limited 
amount of money, both in the immediate outlay and in the cost 
of maintenance. 
The house is quaintly 
set about twenty-five feet 
from the highway and, 
almost hidden by its mag¬ 
nificent maples, is passed 
unnoticed. Upon passing 
through the house to the 
living-room on the south, 
however, the aspect is 
changed. From the rear, 
the land falls gradually to 
a little stream fiye hun¬ 
dred feet away, and in this 
vista the charming old- 
fashioned garden lends its 
color to the solid green of 
the arbors, sunny and in¬ 
viting, blending harmoni¬ 
ously with the rich purple 
shadows cast on the white 
walls of the house. The 
east lawn, smooth as a 
piece of green velvet, is 
used for a croquet ground, 
where the old-time game 
is played in the cool shade 
of the big maples. 
The only changes were made 
in the living-room and the 
dining-room. There had been 
a partition dividing the former 
into two rooms, with an old 
chimney. This partition was 
knocked out and the fireplace 
added; then two heavy girders 
to support the second floor were 
put in, repainted, and the room 
was complete. The dining¬ 
room was made also by throw¬ 
ing two rooms into one. An 
interior trim of simple white- 
painted woodwork is found in 
the main portion. The kitchen, 
pantry and entry are painted 
a light brown. In most cases 
the floors needed only smooth¬ 
ing up and painting. The 
second floor contains good 
chambers, a trifle low, but well 
lighted and ventilated, and 
fully as comfortable as some 1 
have seen where unlimited 
means were available. 
FIRST FLOOR 
VEGETAOLE qAK-DEAJ 
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