Smithfield House

Smithfield House. Middletown's Oldest House?. , The stucco house in front of you, now privately-owned, may be Middletown's oldest surviving residence. Its original walls made of Chestnut logs in the mid-1700s were replaced with stone walls in the early 1800s. Because a blacksmith had established a shop here in the 1740s the place had become known as "Smithfield.", Situated along an Indian trail, and later the old National Road, the Smithfield House witnessed the passage of many famous people and events. The young surveyor and soldier, George Washington, passed here in 1748, noting that this valley was "…one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen." In 1862 thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers passed by here., Over the years notable businesses built up around here including a large tannery, a creamery, and the Gladhill Furniture Store to your left , still in business today!, [Captions:] , This mid-1800s photo was taken from high ground behind the Smithfield House. Note the old stone steps leading up to the National Road. A few stone steps are visible directly behind you., Behind the Smithfield House you can see its old stone springhouse. The spring still runs today, but through a buried pipe which empties into Tanner's Branch behind the house. In the 1800s a covered bridge carried wagons across the stream just below here. , Private Property. House not open to the public., A Look Inside… , The well-worn stairway in the main hall might date to a major renovation in the early 1800s., Historic hardware remains throughout the house. This latch opens a door to the elevated back portch., An attic window reveals the thickness of the masonry walls. You can see this window in the historic photo above., The original house was made of hand-hewn American Chestnut logs like the one shown here. Note the hewing marks and the tiny worm/insect holes often seen in Chestnut wood.