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Package Deals:
Enjoy an overnight stay, a wonderful
dinner for two, and a great show at
Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, CT - all for $150! Call
us for package restrictions and details and for show information!
Mesothelioma Community Resource Network
The Curtis House is proud to share resources with the Mesothelioma Community Resource Network. Family and loved ones of those undergoing cancer treatment or consulting with an area mesothelioma lawyer will find comfort while lodging with us. Learn more about mesothelioma or how to join the network at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.
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Welcome
Located in picturesque Woodbury, Connecticut (CT’s antique capital),
in the foothills of
Western
Connecticut’s beautiful Berkshires, The Curtis House Inn is
Connecticut’s oldest inn and an exceptional venue for relaxing,
lodging, dining, and/or celebrating those special events. We offer
a variety of quaint guest rooms, spacious
dining/banquet rooms, a
warm and inviting pub and a rich history.
Over the years, The Curtis House Inn has brought comforts to many
weary travelers and vacationers alike. From the warm bed stones
hanging on the lobby fireplace to today’s wireless internet service,
The Curtis House tries to offer visitors “Every Modern Comfort,
Every Ancient Charm.” With canopied beds, wide board flooring,
cable TV and air-conditioning, we try to join quaint country charm
to everyday conveniences.
History
The Curtis House was built some time before 1736 by the Reverend
Anthony Stoddard, and opened as the Orenaug Inn in 1754 by the
Reverend’s grandson, Anthony Stoddard. Having been occupied by some
30 different owners since, it has remained, throughout, a Publick
House.
The Curtis House has seen many changes throughout the years. The
alterations have coincided with the times. Originally the entire
second floor was a ballroom which later gave way to additional guest
rooms. The biggest renovation was “the raising of the roof” in
1900. Then owner, Levi Curtis, added the 3rd floor where 8 rooms
were added in anticipation of a boom from the scheduled trolley
services. Total cost of the renovation, according to work records,
was $400.00.
During the late 1940’s and early 50’s, Estella Hardisty was a
waitress for Sterling Dunn (Inn owner from 1945-1954). When Mr.
Dunn decided he was ready to retire, he offered to sell the Inn to
Mrs. Hardisty and her son Chester. They agreed and bought the Inn
in 1954. It has been in the Hardisty family since that time,
lovingly cared for by four generations thus far.
Today,
the main house offers 14 quaint guest rooms (8 rooms with private
baths and 6 with shared baths), two large dining rooms and a cozy
lower level pub. The former carriage house which is connected to
the main house by a picturesque footbridge, has also been
transformed into four comfortable guest rooms with private baths
that are handicapped accessible.
Inn Lore
The Free Masons
Before King Solomon’s Temple (situated nearby) was built, the local
Free Masons held their meetings at the Inn. They used a separate
secret entrance somewhere along the building’s perimeter, the
whereabouts of which is still a topic of dispute and mystery. The
Free Masons’ right to privacy (protecting the disclosure of the
entrance, among other Mason business) is recorded in one transfer of
title. Wrong doings were rumored, but who knows...
Murder and Mayhem?
Lucius Foot, Innkeeper from 1852-1857, was found deceased in the
work barn on the property of St. Paul’s Church one winter night,
following a poker game at the Inn of which he was declared the
winner. It was said it took three days to thaw him out to perform
an autopsy, which, in the end, provided few clues as to the cause of
his death. So, was he really the winner that night?
Famous Ties
The area surrounding the Inn abounds in history. Some of the homes
neighboring the Inn date back to the 1600’s, including the historic
“Glebe House,” only a ten minute walk away, known as the birth place
of American Episcopacy. It was here that the Reverend Samuel
Seabury was nominated as the first Episcopal Bishop when the newly
formed Church severed its ties with the Church of England after the
War of Independence. The large signs in front of the Inn are the
work of the Artist and Writer Wallace Nutting whose book Connecticut
The Beautiful pictures many of the historic buildings in Woodbury,
CT.
Hungry for more Inn legend and history?
Visit the historic and
beautiful Curtis House Inn today!!!!!
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