67. Weed-Enders House

Totally Smokin’ Weed-Enders, Man
Granby
(Google Maps Location)
July 27, 2008

mq67a.jpgAs part of our four part museum tour of the Salmon Brook Historical Society’s properties in Granby, I was granted a peek inside the Weed-Enders House. While it is attached to the more tour-able Abijah Rowe House, it’s not really a fully outfitted museum… yet. There is one room that visitors can enjoy – An elegant Victorian Parlor depicts, in cluttered splendor, a different view of the past. Visitors can look through a stereoptican or marvel at an Edison Phonograph.

But the rest contains a fine research and genealogical library, the curator’s office, and the Society Museum Store, featuring Granby history books, maps, and other Granby memorabilia. And let me tell you – there is such a thing as Granby Memorabilia. I saw it with my own two eyes.

mq67b.jpgThe fine folks working the museums during our visit granted me special privilege to see the secret society offices, just so I could feel as though my visit was complete. So, you say, “tell me more about this historic house!”

Moses Weed built this small saltbox house in 1790 in the hills of West Granby, six miles to the west of its present location. The Weed family cleared and farmed the land. The farmhouse, after being owned by the Weeds, Lampsons, and Corrells, was sold in 1924 to John Enders, who used it as a hunting cabin.

After the Enders State Forest was established, the Weed-Enders House was leased to the Salmon Brook Historical Society and moved, in 1974, to 208 Salmon Brook Street.

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The office

The eighteenth century farmhouse was restored to its original condition, and has multiple uses today, as mentioned above. The Weed-Enders House is typical of the farm homes found nestled amid stone-walled fields in the rugged hills of Granby.

And speaking of those rugged hills of Granby, sharp-minded readers will recall my trek up Weed Hill over at the McLean Game Refuge. Sure, Weed Hill itself was pretty lame, but I did see two bears one hill to the south of it! At least now I know the derivation of the name, “Weed Hill.”

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The messy Victorian room

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Cost: $2.00 donation to tour all the buildings
Hours: Sundays June-September, 2-4PM
Food & Drink? No question – The Cambridge House
Children? Yes, but don’t dawdle
You’ll like it if: You are fascinated with the inner workings of historical societies
You won’t like it if: You wanted some weed
Freebies: None

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For the Curious

Salmon Brook Historical Society
Enders State Forest

One response to “67. Weed-Enders House”

  1. Carol Laun, Curator/Archivist says:

    The research library and archives have been moved to The Preservation Barn, a large metal barn we built several years ago. We now have a climate controlled area with a staff room, library and archive, textile collection and storage in half the barn. The other half is used for exhibits, a yearly special exhibit and storage of artifacts.

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