Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House

The Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House is a historic house on Ross Hill Road in Lisbon, Connecticut. The house was built in 1761 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 1982. It is a 2-1/2 story wood frame structure, five bays wide, with a side gable roof, twin chimneys, clapboard siding, and a stone foundation. Its main entrance is topped by a transom window and framed by a molded wooden surround. The house was built c. 1761, possibly by Ezra Lathrop. The Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House was part of the 200+ acre "Ross Farm" which was purchased by Edward Peace Friedland and Joan W. Friedland in 1958. Over the course of the 40 years that they owned this home, the Friedlands painstakingly restored the structure and grounds to authentic 18th century specifications. The home served as the center for meetings of the Lisbon Historical Society for many years and was regularly the site of authentic 18th century dinners and gatherings. Edward Peace Friedland is known as one of the foremost experts on 18th Century Colonial Architecture and the author of "Antique Houses." Joan W. Friedland was the Registrar of the Connecticut Historical Society and co-author of "Connecticut Firsts." Edward and Joan Friedland were pioneers in the historic preservation of some of New England's most important structures including Hartford's Old State House, the John Bishop Museum, the David Hale house, the John Palmer House and dozens of others. Mr. Friedland's domestic architecture photos are currently archives and stored at Yale University. The Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross House was also the staging area for Edward Friedland's historic preservation operation which included training artisans, craftsmen and tradespeople in the production of authentic tools, means and methods for the historically accurate reconstruction (and in some cases reproduction) of original components and features. This home was the childhood home of Jed Peace Friedland (who has submitted this information). The Lathrop-Mathewson-Ross house is said to be haunted by the spirit of Bucklin Mathewson who has walked its halls for over 250 years.