History: 1160 racebrook road

This house occupies a relatively open site on the west side of the road and faces east. Stone walls border some of the property.

When 1160 Racebrook Road was built about 1830, it had a two-over-three bay facade. In 1993 the roof was raised to create a full second story and another window was added over the left side-hall doorway. All the windows now contain 6-over-6 sash;

the earlier two at the second floor had 2-over-2 and generally, the original 6-over-6 sash remain on the first floor. The new main roof has a slightly shallower pitch and pronounced cornice returns, the latter a feature not found on the original building. About 1860 an Italianate portico was added at the main entrance. It displays small decorative brackets under the eaves and is supported by chamfered posts. A new door of the same style was added at the same time. It has a double-arched glazed openings in its upper half. There is a one-story old ell on the north rear elevation, which now has an added enclosed entrance.



This house was built by Isaac Stowe (b. 1809), probably about the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Baldwin (b. 1810), the daughter of Abner Baldwin (1781-1863). Despite the small size of his house, Stowe was a wealthy farmer. He had accumulated quite a considerable personal estate by 1870, which then amounted to $10,000, and it was probably he who added the stylish doorway. It is possible that there was a house on this site (the existing ell?) somewhat earlier, perhaps before 1800, which may have been built by Job Northrop (1758-1826). Northrup, who married Chloe Baldwin, removed to Sherman sometime in the early nineteenth century. External evidence is not conclusive, however, especially given the fact that this vernacular house type was built in Woodbridge throughout the nineteenth century.