From The Archives

The Simeon Smith House, An Important, Authentic Historic 1798 Georgian/Federal with Ballroom. A National Register Property by William Sprats.

This Eighteenth Century home was the Party House where the famous early American Dr. Simeon Smith entertained his guests. The house was designed and built by the highly respected and important British architect William Sprats; it is a rare treasure. William Sprats was the famed architect-builder of his day and introduced the Federal Style to the Connecticut and Hudson River Valleys and to Vermont areas in the late Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Century. He has been called "the Bulfinch of Western New England and the Hudson River Valley."

Built to the European floorplan and to endure for generatiions, The Simeon Smith House has post and beam construction, solid slab walls, piled stone foundation and slate roof. The second floor contains the focal point of the interior: a fully fashioned, cove ceiling Georgian Ballroom. This house was primarily built to entertain in and is also known as The Sprats' Party House. Also on the second floor are two rooms which were originally dressing rooms for the guests who came from "afar" to attend Balls. These rooms are now used as bedrooms. The upstairs portion of the wing contains a small servant's room and a loft/balcony office plus.

Originally, the rooms on the first floor were used as a main reception room and private areas for card games, tea socials, dining, and so on. Today, although little renovation has occurred, the first floor rooms are used as a parlor, dining room, old fashioned country kitchen, bath, bedroom and library.

The Simeon Smith House is the most classic example of Sprats' work and it is the one on which he had the most creative freedom. It contains the only Sprats Ballroom.

The Simeon Smith House is truly one-of-a-kind, an architectural gem. Fortunately, it has not been greatly changed through the years; its architectural authenticity and integrity is intact.It has the usual amenities..great drilled well/water supply, excellent septic system, new furnace etc,

The house is rich in history and romance.
Horace Greeley and family had their first home in Vermont on the property. Greeley danced in the Ballroom.

In later years William Miller, The Millerites, Adventists, lectured and preached in West Haven in both the small church and the Sprats Ballroom.
And...on a trip to Vermont, Henry Ford attended a party in the Ballroom.

Various organizations at one time or another have gathered in the Ballroom, the Freemasons among them.