During Open Farm Day on Sept. 14, Salmon Brook Historical Society will host a public opening of the Sadoce Wilcox House, at 145 Simsbury Road in West Granby. On this day the historical society will be celebrating the recent restoration of the pantry, second floor chambers and garret (or attic), complete with interpretive signs. These rooms are now furnished with 18th century items carefully preserved by six generations of the Wilcox family. As in past openings, there will be weaving demonstrations on the 300-year-old loom.
When this dwelling was built, circa 1800, a full second story and attic were luxuries and a sign of relative prosperity for the resident family. Only a few houses in the neighborhood had more than a loft above the first floor. Most were small “salt-box” structures with two or three rooms downstairs around a center chimney with an unfinished attic. The historical society’s Weed-Enders house is a good example of the way most people lived.
Blacksmith Sadoce Wilcox and his family of eight had already done quite well for themselves, and his purchase of a 200-acre farm along the West Branch of Salmon Brook and construction of this house reflected that achievement. Sadoce would soon get himself elected captain of his militia company and go on to represent Granby at the state constitutional convention that ended the intolerance in Connecticut of any religion but Congregationalism. He and his family had become among Granby’s most prominent.
Come on Open Farm Day and enjoy a trip back to Granby’s early years when democracy and religious liberty were new to the world. Admission is free!