Number 25. Waldo Caldwell House. 33 High Street. From 1638 to 1644, this was the site of the home of Simon Bradstreet, who was later the Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. He married Anne Dudley, who was the daughter of Thomas Dudley, also Governor of the Colony. She was a famous poet, and much of her work was written here. The current house was buit before 1652. At that time, it was owned by Cornelius Waldo, but he lived there only 2 years before he sold it to John Caldwell in 1654. The home remained in the Caldwell family for generations.John Caldwell married Sarah Dillingham, who was one of the first children born in the new community. Her father died when she was very young and her mother died 2 years later. No one is sure which family raised the little orphan, but with her parents good connections, it was surely a prominent one. When she married John, she acquired a home of her own and founded an extensive family of her own. The house and grounds have been extensively restored by the present owner, but the building looks much as it did 250 years ago. It has a huge walk-in fireplace, great summer beams, and heavy walled sheathing. Its chamfered frame is exposed throughout. |