Stephen Tyng Mather Home 04-23-17

Historic Mather Homestead in Darien Prepares to Open as a Museum

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One of Darien’s oldest houses, raided by Tories during the American Revolution and later the summer home of the first director of the U.S. National Parks Service, is getting ready to open to the public later this year. The home at 19 Stephen Mather Road was built in 1778 by Joseph Mather, a church deacon (and son of the Rev. Moses Mather, then minister of Darien’s Congregational Church). Joseph Mather chose a spot for it in the north of town thought to be less likely raided by Tories. Mather’s descendants have owned it until now.  

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for May 5 to mark the transfer of the property from the Mather family to the new Mather Homestead Foundation. The foundation will open the house to small groups of visitors by appointment sometime this spring, said foundation Executive Director Anna Denoyer.