The final program in our series ‘Simsbury and the History of Land Conservation’ is a talk and tour of the Simsbury 1820 House, an inn next to the Library which also houses Metro Bis Restaurant.

The 1820 House was built by Elisha Phelps, the son of Maj. Gen. Noah Phelps, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Elisha’s son-in-law, Amos R. Eno, used the house as a summer residence. His grandson, Gifford Pinchot, first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, was born there in 1865.

Simsbury Historical Society Archivist Barbara Strong will explain the history of the building, including former occupants and architectural changes, and she will point out interesting architectural details such as chimneys, moldings, cornices, window casings, mantels and fireplaces, stair ways, porches, and more. This short presentation will be followed by a tour of the inn.

Barbara is active at the Simsbury Historical Society as a docent, administrator, and archivist.  She has a bachelor’s degree from Brown and a passion for local history.

This series of programs is made possible by a generous grant from Connecticut Humanities, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities which supports cultural and historic organizations that tell the state’s stories, build community and enrich lives.