Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 53 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
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Oldest House in Old Chelsea
The Brigham-Chamberlin house is the oldest in the village of Old Chelsea. Prior to being moved to its current site on the Padden Road in 1962 the building had stood on the Old Chamberlin farm for approximately 140 years, being the original homestead. Apart from the move, caused when the Meech Lake Road was rerouted in this century, the old building has remained structurally unchanged, with the exception of the kitchen which was removed. The only visible changes to its outside appearance were the different colours of paint applied from time to time. Originally white, it has undergone several changes.
The Brighams and the Chamberlins were related not only by marriage, but also by business arrangements. The original Chamberlin farm appears to have been adjacent to Thomas Brigham's property, separated by the trails leading to Meech Lake and to Kingsmere. As Josiah Chamberlin supervised the construction of Brigham's mills it is conceivable that he built his home and barn nearby in order to be at hand when the mills were being erected.
Josiah Chamberlin built another house which was later extended to twice its length, became the Dunn House. The Dunn building burned to the ground in 1900 but was rebuilt in 1901 to the same specifications. It is now the Dawn House (1990's). It is not known if Josiah ever occupied the original house he had constructed or reserved its use for the mill builders he had hired.
Brigham was son-in-law to Philemon Wright. Brigham's son, Charles Lennox, is listed in the 1861 census for West Hull as 42 years of age, his trade being miller, his wife Louisa (nee Aylwin) is shown as 29, and their children as Florence 3, and Mary Louisa aged 1 year. The census also reported $800 invested in a sawmill which employed one man at $20 per month.
In the same census, Charles Waters Chamberlin (he was later to marry Louisa Abigail Brigham, widow of Charles Lennox) is listed as a 28 year old millwright. He may have been employed by the Brighams or by his brother Josiah Chamberlin Junior who also had a sawmill.
Charles Waters Chamberlin lived to be over 100 years old, occupying the "oldest house in Old Chelsea" for more than 75 of these years.