Very interested in the article about Bloomfield as my branch owned 288 until the depression, 1934. My grandmother Helen Freeman Johnson lost it for taxes. She was daughter of Caroline Ball and Walter Freeman. In 1994 my sister and I visited the house and took loads of pictures. Heartbreak when compared to family pics. I have one of the chairs that used to be in the dining room. My mother was Eleanor Johnson m. Samuel B. Ellis. I'm Mary Nancy m. to Robert N. Palmer.
Regarding the article about Bloomfield and 288 as my family has always referred to it. The description of the house is quite accurate. The dining room is very much as it was originally. I was surprised at how low the ceiling was. The fireplace is exactly as described. The front parlor is now the dentist's waiting room but the fireplace has been closed. The back parlor is a nurses station and the fireplace in it has been totally enclosed. I guess it was in the way. The dentist, the son mentioned in the article, was very kind to let us look thru. Other walls have been changed and the stairway to upstairs enclosed. I remember as a little girl going down the basement with my Uncle Billy Langstroth. It was very much as described. When I lived there a summer kitchen was out back. What I found depressing was that the large lawn had been broken up and sold . A garden shop is very next door -- a few feet away. You really can't go home again.
We also went to The Church on the Green, the old Presb. Church. It is lovely but our time was short and could not find anyone who could give us info. My mother was baptized there but even tho I asked for a copy of the records I have never received one. I do have loads of pictures. We went to the cemetery and found many of the graves. Someone mentioned how scattered they were. They are. If anyone would like more info or pics. Let me know. I also have 4 tintypes and I would love to identify the people in them.
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