Photo Archivist's Selection of the Month: January 2003

Three Wardwell Homes on Elm Street

Wardwell Family Photos

Isaac Wardwell

Dr. Claison Wardwell

We have photos of three Victorian homes on Elm Street. One, at 566 Elm Street, is in the Italianate style, built around 1860 by Isaac Wardwell. It is now the rectory of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. After it was purchased from the Wardwell Estate in 1915, it was moved about one hundred feet South.

There was a house owned by Isaac's son Dr. Claison Wardwell, which was located at 484 Elm Street and which was designed by himself. The only other information we have is a photo in the book Picturesque Stamford, 1892.

The house owned by another son, Dr. Franklin Wardwell, was at 585 Elm, across the street. Originally built around 1850 by Silas Scofield, it was designed in the Mansard style. It is this house and property of which there are a number of interesting photos, shown below, mostly dating from 1900. The house was torn down in 1957, and part or all of the property became a shopping center.

The Isaac Wardwell Home at 566 Elm Street

This house is a notable and well preserved Italianate villa. A full description of the house, now the Rectory of St. Mary's, can be found in the Marcus Research Library, in the Historic Resources Inventory put together in 1977 by the Stamford Community Development Program under Renee Kahn. Isaac Wardwell died at the age of 90 in May of 1905.

These are early photos, the one at right below is shown in "Picturesque Stamford," published 1892

A good view of the house from the Franklin Wardwell Home. The child in the photo is Franklin's daughter Helen.

The Claison Wardwell Home at 484 Elm Street

from Picturesque Stamford 1892

The Franklin Wardwell Home at 585 Elm Street - “Stone Haven”

A moldy box, containing mostly glass plate negatives, was discovered and rescued years ago from the basement of the Hoyt Barnum House by Lois Dater and Ron Marcus, before the Society had moved to High Ridge Road. We are extremely lucky to have these photos, the more so because of the great number interior shots: We do not have too many of those in our collection. From their professional look, it seems that Dr. Wardwell, a dentist with a practice in New York City, might have commissioned these photos. As mentioned above, the site, or part of it, is now a shopping center.

 

the house in 1900	prior to demolition in 1957   Shopping Center

Winter scenes 1900. At right, the play house can be seen in the background.

And here are these fascinating interior shots! You may click on each thumbnail image for an enlargement.
		Additional Furniture Details Christmas 1900

The Franklin Wardwell Family in 1900

Probably Bradford Wardwell, son of Dr. Claison Wardwell. Street railroad tracks can be seen.

The play house.

Farm Animals

Photos © Stamford Historical Society

Wardwell Family Photos
Gracious Living in Stamford, a 2004 Exhibit

Other Photo Archivist Selections of the Month
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