Morningside’s History
The landmass of one hundred-odd acres comprising Morningside was part of the land acquired by the Town of Milford from Native-Americans by the Town’s first settlers in 1639, and it was included in the “plantation” of Miles Merwin, who settled in this area in 1645. Like other parcels of land in Milford, it was secured by a patent granted in 1685 by the Governor of the Colony, Robert Treat, in the name of King Charles II of England, and by a later patent granted in 1713 by Gordon Saltonstall, Governor, in the name of Queen Anne of England. “Merwin’s Farm” at Pond Point, as the plantation was known, has been the home of sixteen generations of the Merwin family.
The Morningside section was known as the “Rock Farm” because it was divided off into fields and sections by stone walls built from the rocks which had been cleared from the land and cultivated. Not until the mid-1860’s was it separated from the Merwin holdings when Henry G. Thompson, a New England industrialist, purchased it from descendants of Miles Merwin. After sailing along the North Shore of Long Island from New London to New York in search of a suitable homesite, Mr. Thompson was attracted by this high bluff overlooking the Sound. On March 27, 1865 he acquired 43 acres from Benedict Merwin for $8,000. On May 19, 1866 he secured an additional 35 acres from Mark Merwin and William M. Merwin for $2,000. And on October 15, 1866 he bought 3 acres from Anson Merwin for $450, thereby bringing his holdings to 81 acres at a total cost of $10,450.
High on the bluff, looking out over the water, between what is now Thompson Hill Road and Manor Drive, Mr. Thompson built a manor house of twenty-two rooms, surrounded by wide expanses of lawn, rare beautiful trees and elaborate flower gardens. Because it faced the rising sun, Mr. Thompson called his new estate “Morningside”. Two men from Milford were largely responsible for the construction of the estate: Miles B. Plumb, a skilled carpenter, and James L. Miles, a master mason. Because of the immensity of the project and because of Mr. Thompson’s taste for fine craftmanship, “Morningside” was adorned with woodwork; the rooms were paneled in English and Circassian walnut with black trim, massive walnut doors, and had silver knobs. Great crystal chandeliers imported from Europe hung from high ceilings.
On the practical side, too, there were features unusual for those times. Running water was supplied to each bedroom, in addition to the main baths and kitchens, by use of an Ericson Hot Air Pump in the basement which, operated by coal, generated enough pressure to pump water from cisterns to the tank on the top of the house, and water then descended to each outlet by gravity.
A system of bells was installed throughout the mansion, each bell a different tone, and the servants, of whom there were usually five, responded to the proper room according to the tone of the summons.
The estate manufactured its own supply of illuminating gas in a small building located near the big rock off Thompson Hill Road. It had its own ice pond and ice house just below the Recreation Field. In the basement of the “Big House” was a milk room, a laundry room, an ice room, a furnace room, an engine and pump room and a room for storing wine, mineral waters, cider, vinegar and other beverages.
In addition to the manor house, there were, on the Thompson Estate, a large carriage house, a barn and tool house, and the home of the superintendent. The black walnut paneling and woodwork were carried over into many of the buildings, especially in the superintendent’s home and the carriage house, where there were housed several work and riding horses and two fine white ones used to pull the fancy carriage which was driven by a liveried coachman. Below the carriage house itself were the piggery and large vaults for the storage of grains and fodder. In the barn were facilities for cattle, oxen, chickens and ducks. Adjoining this was the tool house which has since been detached from the barn and moved to Ridgewood Drive.
When Mr. Thompson moved here, he engaged Thomas and John Hadden as his gardener and farmer. The Hadden brothers were natives of Ireland, but Thomas had learned his profession in England working on a large estate. In 1876 Thomas F. Maher of Milford came to work under Mr. Hadden, and when the latter accepted a post on a New Haven Estate, Mr. Maher was named head gardener and superintendent of Morningside. He lived in the house still standing at the corner of Little Pond Road and Ridgewood Drive, until his death. The Hadden brothers and Mr. Maher planted tress and shrubs which graced the manor and were responsible for the many varieties of flowers, vegetables and fruits, including a particularly fabulous strain of Hamburg grapes which came originally from Queen Victoria’s greenhouse. These grapes were grown in the greenhouses and grapery that were situated in what is now Fowler field. Because of the Thompsons’ desire for privacy, Morningside was completely enclosed by fences, some of stone and many of white pine of closely planted spruce trees.
This then was Morningside, the estate of Henry G. Thompson, his wife, their three daughters and two sons. Mr. Thompson, who was born in Enfield on October 18, 1818, came from the carpet-making family for whom Thompsonville, Connecticut was named. He was in business himself for a time, but in later years he had many business interests including the Thompson Saw Company of New Haven, of which he was president, as well as others in New York City. He is remembered as having a happy disposition and was habitually humming and whistling.
Following Mr. Thompsons death in June of 1903, the family used Morningside as a summer home, after which it passed through several owners. Finally, in 1912, the property was offered for sale in the New York papers where it was noted by Milton T. Yale, who ,with his two sons, Fred and Will, operated Yale Land Company of Flushing, Long Island. They were specialists in developing small select residential communities, and in Morningside they saw opportunities for an ideal shorefront development. After dividing the land into building lots, they laid out and constructed Morningside Drive on the shore front and Ridgewood Drive bordering the woodland, with nine roads running due west to connect these drives and provide settings for homes. A sewer system was installed and provision for other utilities made. Water mains had been brought to the area and a trolley line linking Milford with New Haven and Bridgeport ran along the edge of Morningside from 1897 until it was replaced by buses in later years.
The Yale family converted the old manor house into a private club/inn called “The Morningside Club” that was managed by Mrs. M. E. Terrel, an aunt of William T. Bissell. Guests reserving a room were expected to furnish references and meals were served (“Excellence of the table has been each year the special concern of the Management”). The carriage house was made over to house the Anaconset Club, where there were card and billiard rooms, as well as a dance floor. Several tennis courts were constructed nearby. During World War I, bomb shelters were maintained in the basement of the Club. The barn was remodeled by it’s owners, the William T. Bissells, equipped with extra sleeping rooms for guests and with a large private garage for residents or guests of Morningside.
By 1921, many of the lots had been sold and about seventy homes had been built. It was then that the Yale Land Company gradually withdrew its policy of active maintenance. The Morningside property owners decided to form an association, apply for a charter from the state and thereby assure the continuance of the standards and conditions which had made Morningside such a desirable location in which to live. Several years later, in 1923, the Anaconset Club was also taken over by the residents and incorporated. As the center of Morningside’s social life, it was the scene of dances, several nights a week, amateur theatricals, activity groups for adults and children and buffet suppers for members and their guests. The club continued to be active until the depression when the expense of maintaining the property and organization forced it to disband. The building reverted back to the Yale Land Company that held the mortgage, and remained unoccupied until purchased in 1942 by the artist Wendell Phillips Austin as his studio and home.
The Thompson mansion, which for a time had been in the possession of Mrs. Terrell, also reverted to the Yales. When it became impractical to maintain it, the Yales sold the building itself to a wrecking company. It was demolished in the early 1930’s, preserving for reuse and resale much of the fine woodwork, paneling and accessories.
Morningside’s two entrances were marked by the stone waiting stations of the Bridgeport-Milford, New Haven trolley line, and by gates which were at one period, kept closed to the general public. Later the gates were open, except for one twenty-four hour period each year, when they were closed to maintain the roads as private thoroughfares. At the intersection of Yale Avenue and Ridgewood Drive, a flap pole was erected that has become a familiar landmark. At the base of the pole was the public signpost called for in the Charter, upon which were to be posted for a ten day period by-laws and ordinances passed by the Association, notices approved by the Association and the notice of the annual meeting. During World War II, a section of the public signpost was used as an honor roll, listing the residents of Morningside who were in the military service.
Morningside has been historic farmland, a gentleman’s estate and a land company development. Today it is a carefully managed community of desirable homes for almost two hundred families.
In 1970 the Morningside Directory was revised by what was then the Women’s Club of Morningside. Much of the historic information contained in this writing, which was originally written by Ellen Brown, was obtained from personal recollections of a number of people identified with Morningside over many years including Mr. and Mrs. John Maher, Mrs. Alanson B. Walker, Mrs. Paul Erlacher, Mr. and Mrs. Frederic H.B. Fowler and Mrs. Frances LaDue Thompson and members of the Thompson family. We recognize the debt of gratitude we owe them for preserving the history of this unique place.
