The Mysterious Features

Of The Webb House

WETHERSFIELD — Old house lovers, amateur historians and historical preservationists are invited to join the staff of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum for an archaeological exploration of how the Webb House was built and how it has changed over the last 250 years. The “Webb House Mysteries Tour” is currently being conducted at 10 am Wednesday through Monday through October 31.

The Webb House, a National Historic Landmark and a museum since 1916, has been the subject of architectural studies since 1902. Despite more than a century of research, many questions have remained unasked: Why was the hallway wall moved at least twice? Are the shutters original to the house? What caused all the shadows in the brick chimney?

Now a team of architectural historians, conservators and scholars are asking the questions and finding answers. Some of these questions are the basis for the new tour.

The research process, called a Historic Structure Report, is the first step in a larger preservation project funded by a 2004 Save America’s Treasures grant.

When the house was built, it was underframed with not enough vertical support through the center. Consequently, Webb House is slowly collapsing.

The Save America’s Treasures will prevent further collapse and the Historic Structure Report will assure that structural intervention is done with minimal impact on the historic fabric of the house.

On the museum’s new half-hour tour, visitors will become archaeologists and discover some of the more mysterious features and changes in the house. Guides will provide some answers and identify those areas that are the subjects of further study.

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum is at 211 Main Street, Wethersfield. Cost for the Webb House Mysteries Tour is $4 per person; group rates are available.

For information, call 860-529-0612 or visit www.webb-deane-stevens.org.