WELLS SHIPMAN WARD HOUSE
HISTORY
This mansion house, as it was known in the
18th century, is
traditionally believed to
have been built by Col.
Thomas Welles as a gift to
his son, John, on the
occasion of his marriage in
1753 to Jerusha Edwards of
Hartford, a niece of Gov.
William Pitkin III. John
Welles owned the John Welles
and Co. shipyard and
merchant trading business
located on the Connecticut
River in the Nayaug section
of Glastonbury. In 1764,
Welles became ill on a trip
to Philadelphia and died, 34
years old, leaving his
widow, Jerusha, and 5
children. Among her dower
rights, she received land
and a share of household
furnishings, including a
silver tankard valued at £9.
George Welles, second son of John and
Jerusha, inherited the
property and sold the
“house, barn, cowhouse, and
other buildings”, plus the
remaining 1 1/3 acre of the
homelot, to Stephen Shipman,
Jr. in 1789. Shipman, a
shipbuilder, merchant
trader, and storeowner,
added neoclassical features
to the house, such as the
Palladian type crown
moldings on the first floor,
popular among the merchant
elites in the Connecticut
River Valley. The Shipman
family owned and occupied
the house for over 125
years.
In 1929, Mrs. Berdena Hart Ward, wife of
Dr. James Ward, purchased
the property, decorating and
furnishing the house in an
English country style.
Today, this House is in the care of the
Historical Society of
Glastonbury. The
Glastonbury Garden Club
tends the Colonial Revival
herb garden. The
Glastonbury Weavers turn out
textiles on our 300 year old
loom. Young children play
18th century
games on the lawn. Young
people participate in
archaeological digs to find
what has been left behind by
past residents. Our kitchen
fireplace turns out meals
made to “receipts” of past
families. Our barns are
filled with antique farming
equipment and horse-drawn
vehicles.
We invite you to join us.
WELLES SHIPMAN WARD
HOUSE
2010 CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
The House will be open
Tuesdays from 1-4p.m.
between June 16 and
September 1.
Sunday, March 21,
9a.m.-1-p.m. **NEW EVENT**
See how maple syrup is made
from the sap of the maples
on the property. Sample
last year’s stock. Rain
date: Sunday, March 28.
Sunday, April 18, 1-4p.m.
Planning the Kitchen
Garden: What will grow
in this year’s garden?
Spring preparations and
plants grown in 18th
century gardens to feed and
nurture the family are
discussed.
Tuesday, April 20,
10a.m.-2p.m. **NEW EVENT**
Kids in Jerusha’s Kitchen:
Cooking class for kids, ages
8-12, who prepare and enjoy
a simple meal together.
Limited to 6. $10 per
person, pre-registration
required.
Sunday, May 16 , 1-4p.m.
Textile Arts Day:
Spinning, weaving, quilting,
knitting, cross-stitching
demonstrations and more
Tuesday, June 29,
1-3p.m., Colonial Games Day:
Kids 6-11 play outdoor games
like the Welles and Shipman
children did. Fee is $5.00,
pre-registration required.
Friday, July 16,
10a.m.-3:p.m., Archaeology
Day: Dig with Dr. Nick
Bellantoni and Friends of
the Office of the State
Archaeologist. For ages
12-16. Fee is $10,
pre-registration required.
Bring closed shoes and
lunch.
Sunday, September 19
(26?), 1-5p.m., Farm
Festival: Colonial
crafts and tr4ads, games,
live animals and music and
more.
Sunday, October 17,
11a.m.-4p.m., Dinner in
Jerusha’s Kitchen: Help
cook and enjoy a typical 18th
century dinner. Limited to
10. Fee is $50,
pre-registration required
Sunday, November 14,
1-4p.m., Get Ready for
Winter: Learn about how
families in the 18th
century prepared for the
cold, the coming winter, and
their Thanksgiving
celebration.
Admission is $2.00 unless
otherwise noted. There is
no admission for HSG or
Glastonbury Garden Club
members.
Calendar subject to change.
For updates or information,
call 860-633-6890 or e-mail
HSGlastonbury@sbcglobal.net
Visit us at
www.hsgct.org.
Welles Shipman Ward House
(972 Main St., South
Glastonbury)
Directions
Coming from Rte. 84
Rte. 84 East
Rte. 2 East
Rte. 17 South (a left exit)
Go through 2 lights
972 S. Glastonbury, Rte. 17
(also known as Main Street)
is on the left.
The house is a white Center
Chimney Colonial. If you go
through a third
light you have gone too far
and just missed it. There
are two entrances to
the property and there is a
sign out front that says:
Welles Shipman Ward House.
Coming from Rte. 17 from the
South
Going North on 17 from
Portland
Take 17 North to S.
Glastonbury Center, Rte. 17
(Rte. 17 is also known as
Main Street)
Go through a light at the
corner of Main &
Hopewell/High Street in the
town of South Glastonbury
The house is the first
driveway on your right
The house is a white Center
Chimney Colonial with a sigh
out front that
says: Welles Shipman Ward
House.
Coming from Rte. 91
Rte. 91 North & South: Ex.
25 to Rte. 3
Rte. 2 East
Rte. 17 South (a left exit)
Go through 2 lights
972 S.
Glastonbury, Rte. 17 (also
known as Main Street) is on
the left. The house is a
white Center Chimney
Colonial. If you go through
a third light you have gone
too far and just missed it.
There are two entrances to
the property and there is a
sign out front that says:
Welles Shipman Ward House.
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