An ongoing historical investigation into the plot of land at approximately 1032 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut. Planted by Puritans in 1638, it has been home to Roger Sherman, an opera house, and the city's Union League Club — from this ground grow the roots of the United States of America.
“The lot on which the [Old Sherman House] stood appears on the map of 1641, one of the earliest recorded maps in the history of the New Haven colony, and was known as the ‘Richard Platt’ lot. In 1761, one hundred and twenty years later, the property was sold to Roger Sherman.” -Excerpt courtesy of, “The Spirit of ’76, Volumes 9-12,” by Spirit of ’76 Publishing Company, 1902.(top)Image courtesy of Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Digital Collection, “New Haven in 1641,” by FR Honey, 1880
-Image courtesy of the Internet Archive, Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center, “History of the city of New Haven to the present time,” by Edward Elias Atwater, 1887
Roger Sherman, also of Connecticut, was known to have given one of the shortest speeches in history at a bridge dedication ceremony when he said, "I think it will hold up all right," while testing the strength of the bridge with one foot.
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