Hello, A week ago, over the weekend, my computer had to spend a few days in a repair shop. Since I couldn't use it, :o( I decided to go through my box of HUTCHINSON papers and reread some of the old documents which an ancestor, Thomas, wrote between 1890-1920's. Also in another later report, I was reminded that the "HUTCHINSON homestead" at 21 Ridge St. in Winchester had been a "large, fancy house and outbuildings" during the 1800's. And "large parties were held there for 'Arlington society.'" The property held a large, attractive house, at least one "carriage house," a large barn, and probably other outbuildings. Unfortunately, they all burned down in 1883. Ridge Street was the main street going through the "Hill District" of Winchester, and it was very close to both the Woburn line at the bottom of the hill and the Arlington line at the top of the hill. And the families in the "Hill District" found it easier to shop in Woburn and Arlington than to travel down to "Winchester Center." (In 1850 when Winchester became a town, a map showed only 3 surnames on that Hill - HUTCHINSON, LOCKE, JOHNSON. (DODGE was a sister to HUTCHINSON).) My first question is: Does anyone know who the people of "Arlington society" were during the 1840's to 1880's? During the 1830's, Jacob HUTCHINSON married Eliza CROSBY of Arlington, whose brother, John CROSBY, ran the large "CROSBY Farm" in Arlington. So, the CROSBY's were probably part of the "society people." My 2nd question is about the "homestead." By reviewing the old documents, I was reminded that the large house at 21 Ridge St. was built ~1724. That is when the HUTCHINSON family bought one part of the large GARDNER Farm from Rev. John GARDNER. So, the "HUTCHINSON house / homestead" stood from the 1720's until the fire in 1883. We lived in the replacement farmhouse which was built with much less money, much plainer, simpler. But, the large attic had many remainders from the previous house. Yet, none of us ever found a picture of the "fancy house" which existed during the early 1800's. I have written to the Winchester Historical Society and the Arlington Historical Society, an neither organization knows of any pictures of that property. (I just remembered to write to the Woburn Historical Society last week.) Does anyone have a suggestion as to which office or group "might" have such a picture, even a drawing? I was also reminded that it was probably my ancestor, Jacob HUTCHINSON, who built the 2nd farmhouse across the street at 18 Ridge Street ~1840. That house still stands. And, we have pictures of that house and the replacement farmhouse probably from 1900. * Betty (near Lowell, MA) * One of the pictures shows the LOCKE house which was just down the street from the farm. I don't know when that house was torn down. The larger LOCKE house at the bottom of Ridge St. still stands. Actually I'm curious whether the original HUTCHINSON house and the LOCKE house were similar - during early 1800's. (I think I already mentioned that I'm curious who the JOHNSON families were during the early 1800's.)