Henry Farnam
(1803-1883), made his fortune in the railroads in the middle 1800's and
contributed a great deal of money to the early beginnings of Yale. Through
his generosity, Farnam Hall, the freshman dorm at Yale, and The
President's House at 43 Hillhouse were erected.
Henry's youngest
son, Henry Walcott Farnam, became a Professor of Political Economics at
Yale. Through his inspiration and foresight, Connecticut Hall,
Yale's oldest building, still stands today.
Also notable are
the Farnam Memorial Gardens and the Farnam Neighborhood House
given to New Haven by other family members.
The Farnams
built this lovely Georgian Colonial, 616 Prospect Street, in 1934 and
moved here when their residence, 43 Hillhouse Avenue, was bequeathed to
the president of Yale.
In 1950
Professor Farnam's son, Henry W. Farnam Jr. and his wife, Eleanor Dow
moved to this house. In 1970 Henry Jr. died and nine years later, Eleanor
sold her home to us, Anthony and Elizabeth Lopez, your Innkeeper