'Turnback Tuesday' features Singer/Yudkin mansion in East Derby

Turnback Tuesday takes a look at the Singer/Yudkin Mansion, built in 1927 by Walter Randall & Olive Whitlock Randall on 200 acres of farmland. This impressive stone structure is over 4,000 square feet with five fireplaces. Olive’s grandfather was Isaac Merrit Singer, the inventor of the first practical sewing machine for home use. If you look at the chimney tops, they are decorated with spools of thread.

Harold and Ida Yudkin purchased the property in 1950. Harold was a housing developer in the area. Selma Yudkin, Harold’s second wife, donated the property to the Valley Community Foundation.

(photo courtesy of Marian O’Keefe)

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.