A Brief History of the Brooks House



The Brooks House, built in 1788, was originally located on the old Boston Post Road about half a block from the Pembroke Street site to which it was moved later. At the time, it was two miles from its nearest neighbor on what was then known as New Pasture Point. Captain John Brooks, Sr., a native of Stratford who served under General Hooker in the Revolutionary War, became a rich merchant and ship owner. He also served in the War of 1812.

Brooks House
The house was the birthplace of Captain John Brooks, Jr., a man of great local stature. At the age of 15 he went to New York to live with John Vanderbilt and at 18 took command of the sailing vessel “Arab”, which ran between Bridgeport and New York during what was a prosperous period for this busy seaport area. During the next few years he commanded the “Intrepid”, “Patriot” and the “Mary Ann”. In 1852 he was elected Mayor of Bridgeport to fill a vacancy and was re-elected in 1854. Through his efforts the harbor channel was deepened and the present lighthouse erected. He also was influential in having a breakwater constructed and a lighthouse built on Penfield Reef.

The house and a $20,000 endowment, as well as much of its fine original furniture, were given to the Museum in 1960 by the estate of the late Miss Mabel Frances Wilder who occupied the house until her death in 1956. She was the great, great granddaughter of Captain John Brooks, Sr.

Its location on Pembroke Street was not safe in the 1960’s so it was decided to move the house to the Museum’s property in 90 Acres Park. The structure could not be moved as a single unit because of problems posed by intervening bridges and power lines. It was disassembled piece-by-piece and re-assembled at its new site. All this was done under the supervision of a specialist in the moving and restoration of old homes.
The house is architecturally significant as an example of the once widely prevalent New England style called “half-house”. It was described by William L. Warrant, former chief curator of Old Sturbridge Village, as probably the last really good old house in Bridgeport which can still be saved.”

In addition to the original furniture which has come down through the generations, there is a significant collection of papers, including letters from Presidents Madison and Monroe.

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