Sheridan House Museum
History


The Sheridan House was built by Charles Norton in 1870. Hugh Sheridan purchased the house in 1901. He also bought the Ashuelot Manufacturing Company at this time. The house was extensively remodeled over the next 15 years. The windows were replaced and the expansive wrap-around porch was added. An ell was constructed at the back of the house which provided a maid's room upstairs with a back stairway leading to a laundry which included a walk-in refrigerator with a door in the exterior wall to receive ice, a half-bath, and entrance to the kitchen. This addition brought the total number of rooms to ten, plus 2 1/2 baths, and a large center hall that encompasses three floors. Two parquet floors and an upstairs fireplace were incorporated in the improvements.

Since the Sheridan property was deeded from the Town to the Winchester Historical Society, Inc. in 1996, it has undergone a marvelous transformation. This is due largely to generous donations of time, money and effort on the part of members and of the community. The restoration is a work in progress; at this time over 15,000 volunteer hours have been donated. We are a non-profit organization.

Unusual features of the house include the double chimney structure and a broad center stairway. The Gothic style roof is truncated at the top with a flat deck. It has ornamented gables which add greatly to the appearance.

Signing of deed from Town of Winchester 1996.
Mary Weeks, President, Winchester Historical Society and Leroy Austin, Chairman, Board of Selectmen
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Accomplishments thus far include: repairs to the front porch, roof, chimneys, heating and electrical systems, plumbing, the replacement of the septic system, as well as window pane replacement, the removal of several big spruce trees and general grounds cleanup. Eight rooms, the center hall and the half-bath have been restored to date.

All of the rooms on the first two floors now house the Society's collection of memorabilia.
On May 9th , 2006, The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance presented the Winchester Historical Society Sheridan Museum the honor of an award for outstanding preservation achievement.

Many thanks to Rene Brewer for her hard work in making this possible.