Oak Lawn (Pre-American Revolution - Present) Welcome back, Monroe history lovers. This week’s history takes us to Five Corners in the East Village District. Doesn’t ring a bell? How about Jacot’s Corner or Tomlinson’s Corner? Oh my, I see I’ve got some work to do here. Ok, let’s simplify. Drive north on Monroe Turnpike past Masuk High School and look for the yellow blinking hazard light. That’s Five Corners, the five-way intersection of Hammertown Road, Old Zoar Road, East Village Road, and Monroe Turnpike. That wasn’t so hard was it? It is here, at the intersection’s northwest corner, at 1115 Monroe Turnpike, that we find Oak Lawn, a fine example of Greek Revival architecture, its name inspired originally by the many mature oak trees that once adorned the property. There’s quite an interesting history associated with this expansive pre-Revolutionary home. Let’s go back in time and learn the family names associated with its ownership over the centuries. The precise age of the home is not authenticated, but earliest records show that Mercy Mallory sold it in 1783 to Elnathan Hurd, whose son then sold it to Josiah Tomlinson. In the 1850s it was owned by Curtis L. Bostwick, and was then purchased in 1866 by Frederick Hollister. It was a simple four-room home then, but that was soon to change. Frederick Hollister had far greater plans for the property. He expanded the home to its current form and added its signature Greek-inspired touches. With the upgrades completed, he and his family established the Hollister School for Fashionable Females, a popular and successful academy of higher learning, which he conducted there until his death in 1906. The home was then purchased by an immigrant from Switzerland named Auguste D. Jacot. That’s pronounced (Jā-kō). It was during this era that the property was named Oak Lawn and its location was conveniently referred to by residents as Jacot’s Corner. Our vintage supporting images are from the Jacot family’s era, and provide a pleasant glimpse of life from back in the day. Next in the line of ownership was W. Bruce and Myrtle Tomlinson, who purchased the home in 1939. The new owners were unaware at the time of their purchase that they were relations to the Tomlinson family who owned the home 150 years earlier. During their ownership, the location’s name was changed from Jacot’s Corner to Tomlinson’s Corner. In the late 1960s, the home was purchased by Peter and Mary Spangenberg, and has been owned and beautifully maintained since 1997 by Kenneth and Patricia Piddington. The home is currently for sale. I’m sure the new owners will appreciate its unique academic history, and I would love to see the tradition of naming the corner after the new owners continue. What’s old is new again. I hope you enjoyed this week’s historical spotlight on Oak Lawn and its history here in Monroe. I bet you drive by it all the time and had no idea. Please share this post with your family and friends, and thank you for your continued support and interest in Monroe’s rich history. Now, the Monroe Historical Society is by no means in the real estate business, but I’ve included a link below to the current property listing. I think the listing’s 38 photos and this article complement each other quite nicely. The original four rooms are still part of the main home. So, until next time. Please take caution when driving near Five Corners. Unfortunately, in the modern era, car accidents are also very much a part of its history. Regards, Kevin Daly Historian, Monroe Historical Society www.monroecthistory.org Our Past is Always Present https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1115-Monroe-Tpke-Monroe-CT-06468/58790283_zpid/ (fb)

**Courtesy post for the East Village Cemetery, NOT a Monroe Historical Society Event** East Village Cemetery's 4th Annual Lantern Light History Walk 185 East Village Road, Monroe Ct. Come, celebrate October! Join us for a country evening lantern light stroll thru the crisp autumn air and hear new snippets of history and lore of the burial grounds and some residents. No monsters or terror awaiting you on our walk! Although we can't vouch for some of the ancestors! Come out, support a historical treasure, have fun, and hang around with the dearly departed and their relatives! *Sat. Oct. 4th at 6,7, & 8p.m. & Sun. Oct. 5th at 6 & 7 p.m.* Reservations are required. Space is limited. Grounds are not handicap accessible due to uneven ground and hill. Not recommended for young children due to some subject matter presented. Donation of $10 goes toward maintaining and preserving cemetery Call/text 203-377-0771 or email eastvillagecemetery@gmail.com for reservations and more info. Please LM if no answer Thank you East Village Cemetery Association History Walk Committee 2025 (fb)