The Cheshire Historical Society
Hitchcock Phillips House
43 Church Drive
Cheshire, Connecticut 06410 USA

Telephone: (203) 272-2574

CHESHIRE THEN - THE JOSHUA HOTCHKISS HOUSE "High Knoll" 664 Jarvis Street (1732)

In 1732 Joshua Hotchkiss built "High Knoll" on land purchased from Samuel Cook, one of Cheshire's earliest settlers. Although a simple story-and-a-half structure, the house is well situated with commanding views on three sides and has a prominent overhang on the front, somewhat reminiscent of Hudson River architecture. It has four fireplaces, three on the first floor and one in the master bedroom. The hearthstone in the largest fireplace is estimated to weight 1500 pounds.

Early features of the house include a number of original panes of glass, several "Holy-Cross"doors, and a secret hiding place in the base of the chimney large enough to hold two people. According to local tradition, the house was a stopping-place on the Underground Railroad when slaves were being spirited northward.

From: THE LANDMARKS OF OLD CHESHIRE, Cheshire Tercentennial Celebration, 1694 to 1994. © 1976 by the Town of Cheshire, Connecticut. Page 162.

Call (203) 272-2574 or e-mail edwinkania@cox.net for more information.

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