In 1779 Jeremiah Stebbins married Elizabeth Brewster and, as was the tradition among the wealthier men in those days, Stebbins built this house for his new bride. He did not, however, build it at 10 Kings Highway, where you see it today, because it was said that, “his wife was known to have a case of over-wrought nerves and could bear no excitement”. So, rather than building on “the Village Street”, as Elm Street was then called he chose to build at the base of White Church Hill on the less-traveled “River Road”, now known as Riverdale Street,
Tradition tells us that the house was originally built with two doors each equipped with a “wicket”, or little door, in it so that Mrs. Stebbins could look out to see who was calling. Even though the “wickets” were designed to be able to view strangers who came calling, her neighbors said that, “although devoted to her husband, she would open the wicket and seeing him would say, How do you do, my dear? You cannot come in today.”
People say that within a tradition one will usually find a kernel of truth. Perhaps the kernel of truth, in this case, is related to the fact that between 1779 and 1801, a period of 22 years, “Jerry” and Elizabeth Stebbins had ten children, seven of whom died before their parents. Of the seven who died young, five, including the last four, died under the age of three!
In 1800, in conjunction with the building of the new Meeting House On the Hill, it is said that Jerry Stebbins had his house moved from the “River Road” up the hill to its present location. It has been suggested that he hoped the building would be bought by the Congregational Church to be used as a parsonage, but this did not happen. At the time the house was moved it was 1½ stories high and contained two living rooms, a kitchen, bedroom and pantry.
In February 1817 both Elizabeth and Jerry Stebbins died, he of “consumption” and, 13 days later, she of “nervous afflictions”. The house and ¼ acre lot passed to their son Miner Stebbins who, in 1822, sold it to 24-year old shoemaker Benjamin Colton for $375.
At the time of the purchase, Colton was operating a shoemaking business in New Haven, Connecticut. His original idea had been to buy the house for his two sisters, but soon after buying the property, he decided to relocate his business to West Springfield and he moved in with his sisters. The property remained in the Colton family until 1924, at which time it was bought by town druggist Sidney Sweet.