The History of the House my Grandfather Built as shown in Photos, 5 Christmas cards, His Architect's Home Description, and a Recent Listing.

Do you know the history of one or more of your ancestors? In my case, I just researched the house my grandfather built in 1949. The address has always been the same, but it has been listed in three different towns. I recently discovered this when I googled his house. Wow, the house is now in Berlin, CT, not New Britain or Kensington as in the past. I decided to look at some of my handmade Christmas cards he made to see what they had for an address. He built this in 1949, his second-built home. His first built house in 1930 was covered in my post called 90 Adams Sreet, A Very Special Place (I was born there). My grandfather left me a good trail, but I had to find the clues. It helped that he was the architect.

No date with this card, but it is probably before 1952, based on my grandmother's death. Here they were in New Britain, CT.

A year later my grandfather was remarried, so this must have been 1953 since he was working in NYC, but also living in Kensington, CT.

He often used his house as his design for Christmas. Other cards are shown below.

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Photo card, undated. Annual Christmas message on the back.

My grandfather had a sense of humor and was into Star Wars. He even put his age on this card, can you find it?

Annual Christmas message on the back.

This 1976 painting shows his backyard on a snowy day. About 11 years ago, my husband and I went to the house and I gave the new owners this painting. They were delighted.

My grandfather having fun in 1950, in front of his house. All Christmas cards show a circular driveway, so he made that change after he moved in.

My grandfather wrote up a detailed description of his 1949 house. There are so many unique features, he didn't skimp on anything. I especially liked the cold storage room, I seem to remember it was lined in cedar, and that was where my grandmother stored her fur. When my grandfather died, the female relatives could take what they wanted. (I do believe he made a mistake in the description of the cold storage, it should have been "never goes below 32º", it should read "goes above.") We used to freeze in that room.

The "An Architect's Home" has been in my possession since his 1980 death, and I thought it was written at the time he completed the house in 1949. Turns out, I was mistaken because there is a 1978 date at the bottom, which means he must have been thinking of selling the house. It sold for $82,000 in March 1982!

Of course, we all had to have a map to get to his new house. I believe there was much confusion because this was to the second town, Kensington.

When I googled the house, there was an active link for the house showing 36 photos and a detailed description.   https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/62-Chatham-Rd_Berlin_CT_06037_M48895-69375 

This is a snippet from one of the 36 photos. The red and white open bookcase on the left was what my grandfather used for his piano music and photos. There is another bookcase on the opposite side of the fireplace.

I took this family photo in 1956. It is the same room as the snipit above. The window behind my father was removed and the room enlarged.

• 
  
• Sold
• Closed
• Single Family
• 5 Beds
• 3 Full Baths
• 1 Partial Bath
• 2,699 Sq. Ft.

•  1 Photo
•  Map & Location
•  Street View

1/1

Impressive, Stately Colonial located in the Kensington section of Berlin and within walking distance to Shuttle Meadow Country Club. This house is extremely spacious....walk inside the front door into the formal foyer area. Large remodeled kitchen offers plenty of cabinet space and is open to the large dining room area. The formal living room includes a fireplace and overlooks the gorgeous backyard. You can also enjoy the yard from the three-season porch which opens onto a lovely patio. The family room is tremendous. From the high ceilings to the incredible stone fireplace, you will love spending time in this area of the house. Upstairs are the four bedrooms. The master bedroom includes a full bath and a walk-in closet. The lower level of this house includes an in-law apartment. It has its own separate entrance and includes a living room, kitchen, full bath and bedroom. This apartment can also be changed back to a 1-car garage as well. The flat backyard offers many possibilities for either gardening, a play set, or a pool. Great location.....very convenient to all major highways. Welcome home!

for 62 Chatham Rd

GENERAL

• Sold For: $325,000
• Taxes: (7/14-6/15)
• Status: Closed
• Type: Single Family
• MLS ID: G10055335
• Added: 2, 227 day(s) ago

INTERIOR

• Number of Rooms: 10
• Interior Features: Fireplace, Sauna, Smoke Detector(s)
• Number of Fireplaces: 2
• Appliances: Dishwasher, Oven/Range, Refrigerator

ROOMS

bathrooms

• Total Bathrooms: 4
• Full Bathrooms: 3
• Half Bathrooms: 1

bedrooms

• Total Bedrooms: 5

other rooms

• Laundry: First Floor
• In-Law/Au Pair Suite: Separate Entry

EXTERIOR

• Exterior Features: Garden Area, Patio, Porch-Enclosed

PARKING

• Parking Features: None
• Garage Description: None

LOCATION

• Area: Berlin
• County: Hartford
• Neighborhood: Kensington (23)
• Driving Directions: High Road to Simms to Cornwall to Chatham

SCHOOL INFORMATION

• Elementary School: Mary E. Griswold
• Middle School: Catherine M. McGee
• High School: Berlin

COMMUNITY

• Community Name: Kensington

HEATING & COOLING

• Cooling Type: Central Air
• Heating Type: Warm Air
• Heating Fuel: Natural Gas
• Water Heater: Natural Gas

UTILITIES

• Oil Tank: Non Applicable
• Sewer: Public Sewer Connected
• Water: Public Water Connected

STRUCTURAL INFORMATION

• Architectural Style: Colonial
• Exterior Const.: Vinyl Siding
• Basement Desc.: Full Basement with Walk-Out, Partially Finished
• Attic: Yes
• Disability Adopted: Yes
• Disability Access: Bathroom Grab Bars, Ramps
• Square Feet: 2,699
• Sq. Ft. Source: Town Records
• Year Built: 1949

Grandfather's Will and My Birthday Celebration on the Day of His Funeral

I am in the process of going through old family documents and deciding which ones might be of use to a small number of relatives, none of whom are into genealogy, but they might want to read online. After many years I've accumulated quite a number of boxes, binders, and notebooks. The binders went to a genealogy friend, Judy Sylvia, who shared them with her genealogy club.

Most people don't prepare 14 wills or codicils in their lifetime, but my grandfather did. Earle Kilborn Bishop, died at the age of 89, on August 23, 1981. Within a few days after his death, the family was invited to choose various items of his. I clearly remember seeing the pile of wills/or codicils and hearing there were 14. Unfortunately, I wasn't into genealogy, so I didn't take any...I wish I had because about 10 years later, I ordered the one shown below.

When I looked over the will and probate, I can understand why so many were prepared. First, his first wife died, he moved to different towns in Connecticut, two of his children remarried, his cousin's husband died. (All these relatives were named in the will.) I believe he was always updating them. I believe his assets increased and because he was an architect, he was extremely careful with his business finances.

I debated whether I should post this, but because I've got seven cousins with Texas roots and thanks to Ancestry, I know one of them is into genealogy, although she doesn't have a tree nor answers my messages. So before throwing these documents out, perhaps family member will find these interesting. Below are some family photos celebrating a small reunion, Earle's life and my birthday.

LIBER 503 PAGE 057

The First part mentions that funeral expenses should be paid by the executrix. I remember all of us who traveled to Connecticut could submit our travel expenses (my expenses were airfare from Virginia to Hartford, room, meals and miscellaneous expenses).

LIBER 503 PAGE 058

On this page, he mentions a memorandum listing certain articles to distribute to family members. Unfortunately, I did not get a copy of that. His three children, step-son, his wife, and cousin are named on this page.

LIBER 503 PAGE 059

Five in-law children were named on this page.

LIBER 503 PAGE 060

I believe, because of the complexity of his will, that my step-grandmother probably had the New Britain National Bank perform much of the work as executor right after his death.

LIBER 503 PAGE 062

LIBER 503 PAGE 061

LIBER 503 PAGE 063

LIBER 507 PAGE 1053

LIBER 515 PAGE 023

LIBER 525 PAGE 001

LIBER 525 PAGE 002

LIBER 525 PAGE 003

Funeral expenses are on this page, as well as payment to the Internal Revenue Service - Federal Estate Tax, Wow, and payment to the New Britain National Bank for their services as Executor. The names of nine family members who received $1,000. I can't figure out much was in his estate. Some pages are missing. However, I know that my mother gave my two sisters and me, $10,000 that my grandfather wanted us to have. Since I didn't need it at that time, I put it into a CD, and a year later it was worth $13,000.

LIBER 522 PAGE 267

After my grandfather's funeral, the family got together in a hotel room. I am shown with my two uncles above. My mother, cousins, aunts, and sister are below. The birthday cake was a total surprise.

I Wanted This to be About the Bikes or Siblings, But it Turned Out to Be About The House

Three siblings enjoying their bikes. The oldest girl is my mother, with long hair, something I've never seen before. A few weeks ago, my cousin sent this to me picture, and while I kept looking at them, and their different style bikes, I wondered where was the picture taken. That thought became my project.

Fortunately, or so I thought, I had taken pictures of where they used to live in the 1930s. But the two pictures below of 90 Adams Street, New Britain, Connecticut didn't show a part of a striped awning as shown above. Were they at a neighbors house, a park or their own yard? I had no clue. Quite a bit of time was spent on googling the address and looking at various images, checking out the neighborhood and this address on Google Earth. I even found quite a write up about the house, (see at the end).

These two pictures were taken in late spring in 2012, for my blog: https://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2012/04/90-adams-street-very-special-place.html

The above photo was taken by Google Earth.

After way too much thinking, and searching the internet, I put this project to rest. The following day, I remembered the large portfolio I had that my grandfather and his partner had published in 1932 showing the houses, buildings, college buildings, banks, hospital additions, and churches, etc. that they had designed. It was a bound book, but there was one single loose photograph stuck in the middle. Yes, right away I saw the striped awning and finally knew where my mother and her siblings stood with their bikes.

The information below states it was built in 1930 and since the shrubs are mature, and my uncle looked to be about four, I think both pictures were taken in 1932, but it wasn't included in the portfolio. None of the children were born there, but I came pretty close, since I was born in that city, and spent my first nine months of life here. The three siblings were never infants in that house. (My father was in the war, and my mother lived with her parents. My grandmother was the attending nurse when I was born, then at nine months, mom and I moved to California where my father was stationed.)

PUBLIC RECORD - Built in 1930, this 5-bedroom, 2-bathroom single family residential house at 90 Adams St, New Britain CT, 06052 is approximately 2,044 square feet. Movoto's Comparative Market Estimated Value is $333,172 with a value per Sqft of $118. 90 Adams St is located in the New Britain School District. The closest school is Lincoln School.

• County Hartford County
• Property Type Single Family Residential
• Beds 5
• Baths 2
• Building Area 2,044 Sqft
• Partial Baths 1
• Rooms 8
• Lot Size 9,583Sqft
• Year Built 1930
• Last Sale Price $105,000
• Last Sale Date 08/24/1999
• Style Colonial
• Exterior Walls Rock, Stone
• Roof Cover Slate
• Heating None
• Cooling Yes
• Fire Place 1

Each Example is Different, and None Were Done on Computers

For many of us, we received a baby book with the new family tree filled out by a parent. This one of mine was filled out in full with all names, but unfortunately there are two small errors, and no dates nor locations. I received this book when I got married, I didn't think about these people until I began working at the DAR in Washington and decided to join as a member. Using this was my first source, until I discovered that my mother and great-grandmother had been members of the DAR.

I will show five examples of genealogy charts, all are quite different, and you might have the same luck if you just spread the news to your family members that you are big into genealogy, and ask if they have charts. Also, it would be a smart move to inquire at libraries where your family or ancestor lived as well as call, write or go online to see what the area Colleges, Historical Societies or any Repository has. Another suggestion is to ask other genealogists, especially if you belong to groups on facebook.

Since my old baby tree, I've been given several very detailed charts (typed and hand written) by family members and a stranger. In addition, I located a typed manuscript of over 200 pages. It appears that several of my ancestors were into genealogy. When I received these, I pretty much copied the data into my software. None of the charts had sources, but the manuscript did. The information came from an architect, a doctor, an archivist, a now Certified Genealogist and a lawyer, so I was very lucky...but remember they didn't source. I had lots of work to do because of that.

As you'll see, each example is different, and none were done on computers. I'll show them in the order that I received and include a brief description.

1. Several months after working at the DAR, a staff genealogist who was helping me with my line, surprised me with a nine-generation lineage chart, and more information as a gift. I wrote about this in a blog, seen HERE. I was in shock. You probably can't see it, but I didn't even know my grandfather's marriage or death date.

9 generation chart

2. Two years later, I received a rolled up sheet, measuring 30" x 43" from my uncle, containing our genealogy. It was based on my grandfather's information done in 1957. This was a total surprise. There was a notation that he (uncle) updated a few things (new births, deaths and marriages). What I liked were the 13 stars indicating military service. However, as shown below, it was very hard to follow the lines, and there were some errors.

Full chart spread across the bed.

3. Ten years after I began my research, I went to Canada to get copies of the records my archivist cousin donated to a Historical Society. Below are a few examples. The first is a partial descendant report beginning with my fifth great-grandfather. The second report is the first page of six showing the family tree.

4. A year later, I received a huge package of information from a distant cousin, I believe he was ending his research, but I don't believe he actually did this work. Below are three very large sheets, (the top, middle and bottom, when put together would make an enormous page), showing the descendants of Hendrick Schrambling. A descendant, Henry Scrambling was my Revolutionary War Patriot, and I was obsessed with this line, even before I received this gift. The family arrived in New York ca. 1710 and I had an easy time tracing the lines until the later years when the family changed their spelling to Scramlin and other variations, so these sheets helped immensely.

5. The pages below are from a manuscript my great-great grandfather wrote. It is located at the New England Historic Genealogical Society's library. By the time I discovered this, most my Poole line had been completed by me, because many resources and sources are plentiful in Massachusetts. I still have not read all the pages and I know there are things I'll need to add, after I check for sources. My post about my discovery is shown HERE and the first 25 pages shown HERE. I purposely left the pages below because of the "tabular" chart, parts of a will and transcript from a cemetery stone, so they can be read.

manuscript is over 200 pages, and includes transcribed wills and cemetery tombstones.