All About Cheshire Ct: Historical Analysis: The Andrews, Doolittle, and Moon Family Lineages of Cheshire, CT

Historical Analysis: The Andrews, Doolittle, and Moon Family Lineages of Cheshire, CT

Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

(I was given some old photo's by Ron Gagliardi who didn't who the people were and asked me do do some research on them using both traditional and new technique that are now available to us and this is what I found out.)

The history of Cheshire, Connecticut, is characterized by a complex web of land ownership, industrial development, and civic service. Central to this narrative is the interconnectivity of the Andrews, Doolittle, and Moon families. Through contemporary digital restoration of archival photography and primary source research, we can document the evolution of these families and their roles in shaping the town’s residential and social landscape.

I. The Andrews Family: Agricultural and Land Legacy

The Andrews family served as a primary terrestrial anchor for the Cook Hill district. Their influence was centered on the Andrews Homestead, a 12-room vernacular farmhouse situated on an 80-acre agricultural estate.

Key Figure: Lena E. Andrews managed the homestead during its final era as a private residence.
Institutional Transition: In 1906, the Andrews estate transitioned from private agricultural use to a community-focused institution. This land eventually formed the foundation for the Elim Park campus, where the family name is preserved at the "Andrews Knoll" location.

II. The Moon Family: Industrial and Civic Integration

While the Andrews family managed the land, the Moon family was deeply integrated into
Cheshire’s 19th-century industrial shifts, particularly the barite mining boom (c. 1840–1878).

The Moon Residences: The family is associated with the historic district on Cornwall Avenue, specifically the William Moon House (c. 1857) located at 214 and 224 Cornwall Avenue. These homes were often twins of surrounding properties built as investment or rental units by prominent citizens like Edward A. Cornwall.
Key Figures: * James "Jim" Moon: Served as a Grand Juror in 1894 and Town Auditor by 1902.
- Jennie Cook Andrews Moon: Her marriage linked the Andrews land legacy with the Moon industrial ties, unifying the stewardship of the Cook Hill and Cornwall Avenue districts.
- Harold Edward Moon (1893–1970): A prominent civic figure involved in local firefighting, Red Cross drives, and community leadership throughout the mid-20th century.

III. The Doolittle Family: Industrial Bedrock and Civic Administration

The Doolittle name is among the most established in Cheshire, descending from Abraham Doolittle, a founding settler. The family motto, "Doing a little bit more," reflected their extensive involvement in the town's mechanical and civic progress.

Industrial Influence: The Doolittle's

held significant mineral leases at Jinny Hill, a center for barite extraction.
Civic Service: Frederick Doolittle and his son, Joseph D. Doolittle, served as Registrars of Voters for a combined period of nearly 60 years.
Visual Documentation: Joseph Doolittle was an early adopter of photography and motion pictures. His hobby created a visual archive of local events, such as the Lions Club Easter Egg Hunts at the Green Dolphin restaurant, which serves as a primary source for modern historians.

IV. Genealogical Analysis: The 1944 "Senior House" Photos

The Andrews Home was
moved and now Elim Park.

A significant collection of photographs from September 1944 captures a gathering at the
"Senior House"—the original Andrews/Doolittle homestead on Marion Road. This collection highlights the merger of the families through the marriage of Mary Andrews to Walter G. Doolittle.

The "Hilda vs. Hulda" Research Note

Digital OCR and census analysis of the 1944 photos clarify a common naming discrepancy:

Hulda/Huldah: A biblical name common in the 1700s and early 1800s.
Hilda Andrews Doolittle: The likely subject in the 1944 photos. In the 1940 Census, she is listed in the household of Walter G. Doolittle. The discrepancy often arises from cursive handwriting where the "i" in Hilda was looped or dotted in a manner that resembles a "u."

Identified Family Members (1944 Portfolio):

The woman Titled "Mooch" is Mrs. Moon.

Name	Relation/Context
Donald Andrews Doolittle	Born 1913; son of Walter and Mary.
Evelyn Doolittle	Born c. 1915; daughter of Walter. A bridge to the modern era, appearing in social records through 1964.
Hilda E. Doolittle	Resident of the Marion Road household; key link between the Andrews and Doolittle lineages.

V. Architectural Context

The family homes mentioned—the Andrews Homestead and the Moon House—are classic examples of vernacular farmhouse design. These structures typically featured:

Cross-gable roofs and large bay windows.
Wraparound porches, which were often Victorian-era additions to earlier 1850s frames.
External staircases, suggesting adaptations for multi-family use or agricultural worker housing during Cheshire's periods of rapid growth.

Moon Home Today

VI. Conclusion and Archival Resources

The synthesis of the Andrews, Moon, and Doolittle families represents the transition of Cheshire from a collection of isolated agricultural hills and industrial mines into a cohesive civic community. Researchers can find further documentation at the Cheshire Historical Society, Find A Grave (St. Peter's and Hillside Cemeteries), and the Internet Archive.