Danbury Historic Hearthstone Castle

Hearthstone Castle located in Danbury Connecticut Tarrywile Park was built between 1895 and 1899 by E. Starr Sanford has been very successful with its headquarters in New York City portrait photographer and invented one of the first cinema cameras. Originally known as the "Castle Sanford," your house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Danbury.

The castle was originally designed to be a luxury honeymoon house in woman Sanford. It was designed by architect Ernest G. W. Dietrich with their houses and castles pictures were widely published in architectural journals of the time.

The stone was used to build the castle, it was extracted from the Tarrywile property is now Tarrywile Park and transported in a small railway built for this purpose.

All wood used in the construction of the castle was imported from Italy. The last inhabitants of Hearthstone Castle were Richard and Constance Jennings, his heirs who lived there until March 1987, when all Tarrywile Estate was sold to the city of Danbury. Today Tarrywile Park includes Tarrywile Mansion also on the National Register of Historic Places, picnic areas, gardens, orchards, fields, lakes, woods, campgrounds, trails and slopes covering 722 acres of rugged terrain.

Unfortunately, the castle was not able to be properly maintained in Danbury, and the roof collapsed, dropped ceilings, walls collapsed and Hearthstone Castle had to be closed to the public because of problems security.

It has been said many hauntings are known to exist in the Hearthstone Castle Park including shadow reports figures glowing mist in the castle windows, roof and the surrounding area. First owner of the castle, E. Starr Stanford died an unusual death when the boat was in was struck by lightning that severely damaged the arteries of the eyes. The man who had built his career as a photographer, camera inventor and creator image never recovered his sight and died three years later.

The Tarrywile Park Authority is considering two options for reforming the castle and around the property. The first option involves the development of the castle in a house and the third observation tower season.

The second option includes the complete restoration of the castle and the development of a full operation building with accommodation areas, restaurant, museum, conference rooms, classrooms, the staff residence and a gift shop. It is hoped that the restored castle and gardens offer a great attraction and gathering place for the city of Danbury and restore a historic castle home in the National Register of Historic Places.