A peaceful nature setting within a two minute drive to Historic Downtown Mystic.

THE JOHN H. GOODMAN HOUSE
The land that this house is built on was owned by John H. Goodman, my paternal grandfather. He inherited the land from Mrs. N. Stanton Gates, who was the last Denison to live in the Denison Homestead (which is just up the road from the house). He was a master gardener and took care of the house and gardens for Mrs. Gates at the Denison Homestead for 15 years until she passed away, and the Homestead became a museum. He, his wife, and his two boys loved Mrs. Gates, and she was very kind to them all. He created and maintained a large cutting garden next to the Homestead barn, so that Mrs. Gates could always have fresh flowers during the warm season. He designed and created colorful, serene gardens surrounding the Homestead. I remember a beautiful scallop shell birdbath in the middle of one garden. He used to put sunflower seeds in an old, broken tobacco pipe, and as he stood outside with the pipe in his mouth, the chickadees would come and get the seed from the pipe bowl. He tended the orchard, cut 9 cords of firewood every year to heat the Homestead, and was Mrs. Gates chauffeur and trusted friend. When Mrs. Gates died on February 9th, 1941, she bequeathed my grandfather 10.5 acres of her land, part of which this house now stands upon and is surrounded by. She wrote in the will that “he had been so kind and helpful to her. “ He was the only person to inherit land from her, as all the rest went to the Denison Society and is now part of the Nature Center. The picture hanging over the fireplace mantel is the front door of the Denison Homestead, where love and kindness reigned. We hope that you can feel the spirit of all who came before, as you relax and enjoy our peaceful little house on this special piece of land.