The Legendary Tale of Stephen Hopkins Smith

Popular folklore surrounding the construction of Hearthside states that in the early 1800’s, Stephen Hopkins Smith, a fellow in his 20’s, began to court a young lady from a “prominent Providence family”. Smith was a member of a noted Lincoln family that made its living in the local agricultural industry. Although he was a Quaker and lived the simple life, he circulated in the social circles, which is how he met the woman he set his heart on marrying. She was a little cautious about their future together though and told him that while he was an attractive man, she was looking for a gentleman suitor “of substantial wealth who could provide a lifestyle she was used to”. The Smith family was far from wealthy. But one day, in answer to his prayers, Smith won a lottery, netting him a jackpot of $40,000----an equivalent of $8.6 million by today’s standards.

Smith kept his winnings a secret, and schemed to build a breathtaking home to sweep “Miss Prominent” off her feet. Construction on Hearthside got underway in 1810 and was completed in 1814. Meanwhile the courtship continued. When the house was done, Smith took a horse and buggy and went to Providence and asked the girl to come with him for a ride. As they approached the bend of Great Road, the girl clapped her hands and said, “What a beautiful house, but who would ever want to live way out in the wilderness.” Smith was heartbroken. He drove her back to Providence and never called on her again. In fact, he never married. This story has been told through the years and even made it into the publication, Ripley’s Believe It or Not. It was referred to as the “Heartbreak House”, due to its rejection by the woman it was built for.