The Hebron Historical Society

Conclusion – Today very few people live on the south side of Hebron’s Green, but when this area was developed around 1816, almost all of the buildings except the Old Town Hall and Center School housed families and businesses. How common is it today for families to live in a house in Hebron that is also run as a business by the same family?

Meet Your Neighbors QR Tours funded by the Hebron Greater Together Community Fund in conjunction with the Hebron Historical Society

C. L. Pendleton 1893


Reuben Rowley artist Courtesy of Nathan Liverant and Son, Inc and Connecticut Historical Society, photography by Kevin Tulimieri

This house was built by John Graves in 1816. The year 1816 is known as “The year without a summer” due to a volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in the East Indies. One June 6, 1816, six inches of snow fell. As a result, building this house was rather difficult. John Graves was a local carpenter and furniture maker who had married one of the daughters of Jonathan Peters who lived in the house located at what is now Burnt Hill Park. His cabinet and broom makers shop stood next door to his dwelling house. Through marriage, John Graves was a relative (cousin) of Governor John S. Peters who lived down the street. During the Civil War, Dr. Cyrus Pendleton’s family moved into this house and lived here for about 100 years.

Dr. Pendleton and his daughters Susan, Clara, and Annie were all very interested in history. They collected a large number of projectile points or arrowheads from their property in Hebron Center and also items related to Hebron’s history. They also collected stories about Hebron’s past. Some of the information you have read while walking on this tour was recorded by them. Both Clara and Susie Pendleton were artistic young women and in the 1890’s they painted some of the watercolors you have seen.

Think about it

Why is it important for people living in a town to know about its past?

What story from your walk strikes you as the most interesting or thought provoking?

Where to go next

This marks the end of the Trails and Tales – Meet Your Neighbors Loop of the south side of Hebron Green. From here you may explore the Church Street Loop, North side of the Hebron Green Loop or Marjorie Circle Loop

Meet Your Neighbors QR Tours funded by the Hebron Greater Together Community Fund in conjunction with the Hebron Historical Society.
Please note that most of the structures you will see are privately owned. Please respect these properties by viewing them from the sidewalk.

Courtesy of the Town of Hebron


Tenant postcard

This large brick house was built about 1820 and was very stylish for its day with its Palladian or Venetian Window over the front door. The north gable end also had a door. Thus, the house displays long established Georgian details on the long side and more up-to-the-minute details on the north gable end. Hebron Center has the largest concentration of historic brick structures in town. Although brick was used for the construction, the plan of brick houses tends to follow wooden examples. Here a central hall opens to rooms on either side. William Annable, who lived across the street (Route 85) in the 1840’s and was partially paralyzed, recorded in one of his letters of attending a party here that was also a fund raiser with various handmade items for sale. He enjoyed himself while selling items and visiting with his neighbors. By the 20th century the Hewitt family added a Victorian bay to the south and a porch to the northern side and ran a store. A building next door seen in the historic photograph was also a store owned by Jonathan Page who lived in a house where the Douglas Library is located. That building no longer exists today.

Think about it

Have you ever been to an event that was a party and fund raiser?

Why would people want to run an event that was both a party and a way to earn money? What sort of projects might people want to fund?

Where to go next

From here walk south along Church Street to the driveway

Meet Your Neighbors QR Tours funded by the Hebron Greater Together Community Fund in conjunction with the Hebron Historical Society.
Please note that most of the structures you will see are privately owned. Please respect these properties by viewing them from the sidewalk.

Notice how this house is similar to # 12 and # 14 Main Street. This gable end to the street house form is typical of early 19th century architecture and indicates that these houses along the south side of the Green were built about the same time. These houses were more economical to build than broad side to the street houses like #4 Main Street, but did not provide as much room. Generally, these houses had a front entry hall with a stair case rising to the second-floor bedrooms or chambers. The ground floor was reserved for daytime activities like cooking, entertaining and a place where the family might sit together and visit one another, since they did not have as many chores as a farm family.

Think about it

Compare #10, #12, and #14 Main Street. They have the same general designed, but have been changed over time. How are they similar and how are they different?

Use Your imagination – If you lived in this house, what activities might take place on the porch? Would those activities change with the seasons? Why or why not.

Where to go next

From here continue to walk along the sidewalk toward Route 85

Meet Your Neighbors QR Tours funded by the Hebron Greater Together Community Fund in conjunction with the Hebron Historical Society.
Please note that most of the structures you will see are privately owned. Please respect these properties by viewing them from the sidewalk.

Tenant postcard of Hebron Center c 1910

Stores have been a part of Hebron since early settlement. In the 1700’s Moses Case ran his store close to the Green. By the 1870’s, there were five stores in Hebron Center. Throughout the mid-20th century, first the Porter family, then the Celio family ran this store. Interestingly, it seems to have an 18th century store building relocated to the rear. Italian Americans first began to appear in the Federal census for Hebron in the 1880’s. At one point, Gilead was home to a large number of Italian immigrants. Celio’s store was a Hebron Institution providing bread, meat and other goods to people living in Hebron Center. However, the increase in automobile ownership, developments of the Eisenhower highway system and growing Connecticut suburbs gave rise to shopping malls that replaced local shopping.

Think about it
How would your family’s life be different without a car? How would your family get food? How would you go to school? How would your parent’s jobs be different?
Using your eyes to discover the past -Look at the building today can you find the spot on the building where the newer front was added to the older building. Close your eyes and imagine what the older building might have looked like before it was added on to.
Where to go next
From here continue to walk along the sidewalk toward Route 85

Meet Your Neighbors QR Tours funded by the Hebron Greater Together Community Fund in conjunction with the Hebron Historical Society