Warburton

John Warburton owned and operated the first cotton spinning mill and a wool-carding mill on the Tankerhoosen. He was an incredibly strong character, getting things done in spite of obstacles. For instance, he dug out and built the dam for his first mill power by himself with wheelbarrow and shovels when he couldn't get help. The story is told that at a high point of his mill's success, he put a keg of rum out by the road for the workers and travelers to share as they passed by.

There were actually two John Warburtons, father and son, and both featured in the mill history of Talcottville.

The Warburton House

The Warburton House, circa 1802, was the home of John Warburton. The oldest house in the village, this house has a solid, blocky look. The unique brick fringe work just on that one front corner gives it some real character.

Brick detail.

The Warburton Tavern

This Warburton building was romantically described as "the inn with a chimney at each corner" in the 1923 Connecticut Beautiful by Wallace Nutting. It survived from the 1850's all the way 'till 1962, when it was sadly destroyed due to abandonment and disrepair. It stood at the end of Main Street, east side, just before the pond.

Here is a picture from a stereopticon photo c. 1895. The dirt road at the right is Main Street. Up the hill behind the stone wall behind the men at the right would lead up to C.D. Talcott's house and the Tankerhoosen would be behind us.

"A chimney at each corner - Talcottville", Connecticut Beautiful by Wallace Nutting, 1923. Notice the trolley tracks. I like to think there is a cat in the upstairs window.

"No comment necessary: "Warburton's Inn" appearing in 1955,"Cascades and Courage, a Vernon and Rockville History" by G.S. Brookes.