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 gitana
 
Location: near Boston, MA, USA
Gender: Female
 |  | Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
< on 9/24/2007 2:05 AM >
|  | | | I meandered into this magnificent building by accident one day. It's definitely not a secret, and is easy to get to (it's located in Tarrywile Park); but I've never seen any info on this location. It's a bit away in the woods from the usual activities, but two hikers did go by while I was there checking it out mid-afternoon.
Unfortunately, I was not prepared that day for exploration, and it's reputed to be very dangerous inside due to roof leaks; but I intended to go back and at least get inside pics as the third story windows are all open, and provide lovely broad stone ledges. It's such a beautiful old stone place, it's just a shame to see it going to ruin, despite being on the Historical Buildings list. The City of Danbury keeps promising a restoration, but don't hold your breath; it seems they do that every few years.
I would love to know if anyone else has been/seen inside; this has been bugging me since I haven't gotten back yet, and now I'm in Santa Fe, NM...getting back anytime soon doesn't seem likely.
The pics are badly overlit - apologies; friends cheapie camera + rare New England brilliant sun - and the building looks almost demolished due to the wild overgrowth, but it is in much better shape than can be seen in the photos.
Some history of the building: http://www.dupontc...stles/hearthst.htm -also better pics taken in winter; more like it looks under all the summer growth (I've posted one below); plus a description of the interior three floors based on the building plans from 1898.
[last edit 9/24/2007 2:06 AM by gitana - edited 2 times]
"All things are subject to interpretation; whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth."
- Nietzsche |
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Turrel
 
Location: Pawtucket, RI
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 1 on 9/24/2007 3:22 AM >
| | | | That's a truly beautiful building, I'm urged to see it for myself now.
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Thom
  
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 2 on 9/24/2007 3:32 AM >
| | | | Very Cool. I'll have to check it out. I live close to Danbury and I've never heard anything about this place. I'm a castle nut too. Odd. How's the danger factor? Floors still good?
www.thomdunlavey.com |
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gitana
Location: near Boston, MA, USA
Gender: Female
| | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 3 on 9/24/2007 5:39 AM >
| | | | It is gorgeous. The outside portico - where carriages would draw up - the roof has collapsed there, but that was completely subjected to snow loads and weather for decades.
As for the building itself, all I've heard is that the roof leaked for years, and the general rumour seems to be that the interior is very dangerous; for all I know, it may even be collapsed by now, but I haven't heard that from anyone. I simply don't know, because the bottom two stories were boarded up tight. The open windows on the 3rd floor should give you a good view of the interior; if the 3rd floor is still intact, than that's encouraging at least, although it certainly doesn't mean they're sound. I would look first, that's for sure. The huge porch flooring was pretty sound when I was there, and that's exposed to weather; the basement was accessible, but pitch dark & I had no light with me.
The hiking path can be seen by the front & side of the building; around back the land drops off steeply, but there's plenty of even ground all around the building.
I'd love to see the interior; even if it's just octopus shots; an arm stuck in a window...lol.
[last edit 9/24/2007 5:45 AM by gitana - edited 1 times]
"All things are subject to interpretation; whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth."
- Nietzsche |
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gr8fzy1
Location: Waterbury, CT
Gender: Male
Fewer and Fewer...
| |  | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 4 on 9/24/2007 4:43 PM >
| | | | Very promising! I look forward to more pics!
Softly creeping through
Empty hallways decades old,
glimpsing history. |
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Geminichild
Location: Mohegan Lake, NY
Gender: Male
| |  | | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 5 on 9/24/2007 5:11 PM >
| | | | I have been there also, floors are all gone inside but still might be manageable to climb around ...
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gitana
Location: near Boston, MA, USA
Gender: Female
| | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 6 on 9/25/2007 4:58 PM >
| | | | Posted by Geminichild
I have been there also, floors are all gone inside but still might be manageable to climb around ...
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I am really disappointed to hear that. 
"All things are subject to interpretation; whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth."
- Nietzsche |
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gear-h
Gender: Male
| | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 7 on 9/26/2007 2:48 PM >
|  | | | gem child:
I love your first pic.
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Geminichild
Location: Mohegan Lake, NY
Gender: Male
| | | | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 8 on 9/27/2007 11:17 AM >
| | | | Posted by gear-h
gem child:
I love your first pic.
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Thank you
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yayafi
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Gender: Female
| | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 9 on 10/7/2007 2:10 AM >
| | | | That place is absolutely gorgeous, thanks for posting!
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femaledragonx
 
Location: Detroit & Everywhere Else I can dream up to go to
The singularity is near
| | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 10 on 10/7/2007 2:14 AM >
| | | | some info i found online about this place (however, i cannot guarantee it's validity)
"The castle is three stories high. The first floor consists of five rooms and a kitchen with a butler's pantry. The second floor consists of six rooms; five bedrooms and a library. The third floor consists of five rooms; four bedrooms and a billiard room. The first floor has one powder room and a full bath near the basement. The second floor consists of four full baths, and the third floor with three. The full baths have standing showers, each with seven or more shower heads. The first floor of the castle has four fire places, and two on the second floor, and two more on the third."
Interesting to know each may have previously been before collapse.
here is the site i found mention of the castle at:
http://www.dupontc...stles/hearthst.htm
i may need to check this out on monday when i come up to CT! thanks for sharing. good stuff.
[last edit 10/7/2007 2:19 AM by femaledragonx - edited 1 times]
"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." ~Annie Dillard |
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//Bryant
Location: Connecticut
Gender: Male
"Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing." -EA Poe
| | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 11 on 11/21/2007 6:39 PM >
| | | | I can verify that the interior is gone. The roof collapsed a few years ago, but not before I got in there with my video camera and got some decent footage. I'll have to put it up on my YouTube account and post the link.
When I went in (2002-03), it seemed to be a teen hangout... some empty beer cans and bottles laying around in random places. It was huge inside and had a nice layout. My P.O.E. was a basement window under the front porch. The last time I checked it out (2006), that window was blocked by the floor above it and maybe the floors above that?) that had come down and filled in the basement. Entry is highly unlikely.
I agree... the place is beautiful and it's a waste that it has been left to decay. Off the top of my head (my own database of info is on my home computer, I'm at work... shhhhhh! =), it was built in 1897 as a wedding present by a famous architect. It went through a handful of owners through the years, and was finally abandoned in the mid 80s (I want to say 1987).
By the age of the trees in the area, the place was probably pretty much open space, with the exception of some larger trees randomly around the property. I saw an old picture of the place a while ago, I'll see if I can dig up up again. Back in its heyday that house was amazing.
Trying my hand at UE photography...: http://Bryant-Photography.imagekind.com/ |
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Geminichild
Location: Mohegan Lake, NY
Gender: Male
| | | | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 12 on 11/24/2007 10:23 PM >
| | | | Just went a week ago to do a photo shoot with a model , brand new fence up around it!
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//Bryant
Location: Connecticut
Gender: Male
"Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing." -EA Poe
| | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 13 on 11/25/2007 2:34 AM >
| | | | Posted by Geminichild
Just went a week ago to do a photo shoot with a model , brand new fence up around it!
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Yeah, that last one was pretty beat... my elderly grandmother would have been able to get around the old one.
Trying my hand at UE photography...: http://Bryant-Photography.imagekind.com/ |
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Krescentia
Location: Oklahoma
Gender: Female
[Zerstörer der Herzen]
| | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 14 on 11/28/2007 5:15 PM >
| | | | This place seems really amazing. Anyone have any other pictures? Or willing to climb around to get some?  (If still able that is).
[last edit 11/28/2007 5:15 PM by Krescentia - edited 1 times]
Es kommt wie es kommt. |
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Troublefish
| | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 15 on 2/14/2008 7:55 PM >
| | | | There's a fence around it for a reason, the entire structure is unsound. If your caught inside the gates your gonna get arrested so anybody with any ideas of jumping the fence, do yourself a favor and don't. Besides the inside use to look like an old house now well...not so good. If you want pics, your gonna have to get a hold of me, their files are too big to be posted
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//Bryant
Location: Connecticut
Gender: Male
"Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing." -EA Poe
| | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 16 on 2/14/2008 8:02 PM >
| | | | Posted by Troublefish
There's a fence around it for a reason, the entire structure is unsound. If your caught inside the gates your gonna get arrested so anybody with any ideas of jumping the fence, do yourself a favor and don't. Besides the inside use to look like an old house now well...not so good. If you want pics, your gonna have to get a hold of me, their files are too big to be posted
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Greetings, Troublefish!
I agree completely: NOT worth it (the risk vs. reward ratio for this one doesn't make it worth it anymore, unfortunately).
Trying my hand at UE photography...: http://Bryant-Photography.imagekind.com/ |
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//Bryant
Location: Connecticut
Gender: Male
"Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing." -EA Poe
| | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 17 on 5/2/2008 1:40 AM >
| | | | Some idiot kids got in to the castle and took video of it. Not your typical UEing...
http://www.newstim...estnews/ci_9119598
(the link should be good until around 5/11 or so, since it's a local newspaper article and they archive these things after a short period of time...)
Trying my hand at UE photography...: http://Bryant-Photography.imagekind.com/ |
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Phadraig
Location: Danbury CT
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 18 on 8/3/2008 6:58 PM >
| | | | Not to long ago, a friend and i went up to the castle (we live quite closeby) and there was a hole in the brand-new fence (later i was to find out there were two). Going up onto the front porch, which was quite dangerous in itself, me and my friend noticed that one of the windows was not borded up anymore, the one in what i assume was the living room, by the back round tower. Looking inside, it is a terrible sight. The third floor has collasped down into the first floor in the main part of the house (with the exception of what i assume to be the dining room, the public room on the first floor closest to the kitchen). However, at the rear of the house, where the basement steps are, there is another uncovered window that looks inot the kitchen, which, as compared to the rest of the chaos, is in relatively good condition. Although the kitchen is not original (i'd say about mid-century, prob the fifties or so) it is still interesting to look at. there is access through the kitchen to a staircase and other rooms (I am not quite sure how accessable since we were too scared to climb in without prpoer equipment such as helmets, boots, and the like).
I took a few pictures of the inside, contact me via email if you would like to see them...
[email protected]
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embolism
Location: philly
Gender: Female
| | Re: Hearthstone Castle, Danbury CT
<Reply # 19 on 8/5/2008 4:56 AM >
| | | | I actually wrote an article featuring this and a few other places back in 2004/5, basically detailing it was there and if you wanted to go exploring, not to eff it up. Really sad that people ruined it for the rest of us. If I remember correctly, there is a connection between this and the Tarrywile Mansion down the road. That place hosts weddings and such and is said to be haunted... Anyway, there were rumors floating around that the town would sell Hearthstone for a buck with contractual promises to refurb it. Perhaps someone got foreclosed upon and got desperate! 
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