On the bank of Long Island Sound lies a city settled in the 1600s. One of the eleven original families, Boothe, began their new life in Stratford, Connecticut. Descendants of the Boothe family, two brothers, Stephen and David, built what is now known as the Boothe Museum, comprised of unique architectural buildings.
Each week the Museum offers tours of the Boothe Homestead with insights of how life was like before ipods, televisions or even electricity. The Homestead’s main visitors include second graders from schools all over the city.
Upon entering the main house where the Boothe family lived, one gets the feeling of time traveling to the past. The tour starts in the kitchen, which was the center of the house due to the heating of the stove. Around the corner from the kitchen was a room many do not get the chance to see.
The dining room offers hidden items; visitors rarely get an opportunity to look upon. Underneath a panel across from the table was one of three secret safes in the house. These safes were used in case of fire, which was much more prone to happen than burglary. Another safe was located in what used to be the library. The last safe was not shown in the tour and its location remained unknown.
Furthermore, the dining room also belonged to the silent butler. In the summer, the basement was much cooler, and the servants would work down there making meals. They would then load the silent butler with those meals and send them up to the dining room.
When walking through the rest of the house, furniture and wallpapers remain intact. Many rooms look as if the Boothe family never left. One room in particular, Mrs. Boothe, Stephen and David’s mother, lies on the second floor and looks as if she still lives there.
Of all the buildings the Boothe brothers built, they were also known for collecting. The house of full of antiques and other memorabilia they collected throughout their years. One room is made up entirely of baskets, wooden baskets they collected on each trip they took. The house even has rooms that are not open to the public because they are occupied by antiques.
Although both tour guides said they had never accounted anything paranormal within the house, there are many who believe the museum and park are haunted. There are some who claim that while inside the museum they have heard disembodied voices, unexplained knocking or have experienced weird feelings.
Across from the Museum and Park, is the old Boothe cemetery. “I have never had any experiences here in the house, but I have heard a lot of stories about the cemetery,” one tour guide said. While looking through the slide show, you can see why.
Enter at your own risk.
Comments
good story.. see i can read..the story was full of interesting facts form the house. good job..
Great article. Lots of information & it peaks my curiosity.
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