This stately Main Street mansion was built in 1896 by a former governor of Connecticut, Phineas C. Lounsbury. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lounsbury House is one of Ridgefield’s greatest assets. A rare example of turn-of-the-century architecture, it enhances the beauty of our town and is truly considered one of Ridgefield’s town treasures.

Visit LounsburyWeddings.com for more details about your special day!

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Were you married at Lounsbury House? Read on!

We are planning a future historical event revolving around your wedding at Lounsbury House. This should be special! We will be displaying pictures of past weddings at Lounsbury House, bride's wedding dresses and much, much more. If you were married at Lounsbury House, please contact us by phone or email (click on the 'Contact Us' button) or just drop in. We'd love to tell you more about this special event and how your wedding could be part of it!

A message from Di Masters, our Executive Director

2012 is especially significant for the Ridgefield Community Center because we are celebrating our 50th year of hosting the longest continuously running outdoor Antiques Market in New England.

This year, to tie in with the history of the Lounsbury House, the official name of this magnificent mansion, we have added elements of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Why was the 1893 Fair so important and why do we care? Our relationship with that infamous World's Fair is forever bound because of Connecticut Governor Phineas Lounsbury's love of his state and passion for the beaux art architecture which moved him to erect a replica of the Connecticut Exhibit Building on the Main Street property in Ridgefield as his retirement home. This preserved in time an important piece of history, as the original Exhibit building was lost in the fire which destroyed all of the beautiful white buildings at the Chicago in 1894. The World's Fair was renowned for the many innovations, inventions and new consumer goods which were introduced in a time in American history when optimism was scarce. The huge audience at the 1893 Fair responded positively to the innovations and was transformed by the new consumer products. These ideas went on to influence entire generations.

Providing innovations that were introduced at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, also known as the World's Columbian Exhibition, we hope to bring the fun to the entire community as we usher in the next fifty years: Cotton Candy, Cracker Jacks, Carbonated Soda, Pickles, Hamburgers, Juicy Fruit Gum, Hershey Chocolate, Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix, Cream of Wheat, Shredded Wheat Cereal, Poland Springs bottled water, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer just a few of the many products that we still use today.

We at Ridgefield Community Center celebrate the fifty years of our Antique Market success and the spirit of innovation and optimism of the 1893 Fair.

See you there,

Di Masters
Executive Director