Lockwood Mathews Mansion

Challenge

One of Connecticut’s grandest houses is the Lockwood–Mathews Mansion in Norwalk. A 62-

room Second Empire-style country house, it was built by LeGrand Lockwood, a New York

City businessman and financier, who named the estate Elm Park. Construction of the mansion,

designed by Detlef Lienau, began in 1864 and took four years. Lockwood lavishly furnished

his house and displayed art by Hudson River School painters, including the monumental Domes

of the Yosemite by Albert Bierstadt. The depreciation of gold in 1869 was a series financial

blow for Lockwood, who died in 1872. His heirs lost the estate through foreclosure in

1874.Charles D. Mathews bought the property in 1876 and it remained a residence of the

Mathews family until the death of his daughter, Florence Mathews, in 1938. Sold to the City

of Norwalk in 1941, the estate became a public park. After the city announced plans to demolish

the mansion in 1959, preservationists formed a Common Interest Group and after a prolonged

legal struggle were able to save it. The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk arranged to lease

the building from the city and formed the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum of Norwalk,

Inc. to restore and operate the mansion as a public museum. The mansion is now undergoing a

new renovation, which began in 2007.

Solution

This building underwent historical wood restoration, asphalt shingle installation, carpentry work and had a

lifting of the entire building.