2010 2 March
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Connecticut Preservation News March/April 2010 Volume XXXIII, No. 2 Courtesy of DEP, Division of State Parks and Public Outreach From Stone House to Glass House Connecticut’s House Museums By Karin Peterson, Museum Director, Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism ew England is well known for its many historic N house museums and Connecticut alone has over 200. The Commission of Culture & Tourism invites the public to view an exhibit on Connecticut’s historic houses, “From Stone House to Glass House” in its gal- lery at One Constitution Plaza (second floor), Hartford during business hours. The exhibit opens April 1 with a special viewing between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. and contin- ues through May 28. This exhibit tells the collective story of the state’s historic house museums by focusing on the opening of select museum houses and linking them to personalities, organizations and legislation. Women’s groups led the earliest efforts to save historic houses from uncertain futures. Town chapters of the Tour guides at Gillette Castle State Park, circa 1950. Daughters of the American Revolution began forming in Connecticut in 1892 and the National Society of Colonial General Assembly passed a resolution in 1899 naming it the State Dames, led by Elizabeth Colt, established a Connecticut Society Historical Museum. Shortly thereafter, a group of concerned in 1893. These fledging organizations were especially active citizens purchased the Knapp Tavern or “Putnam Cottage,” in in the first part of the 20th century. Their preservation efforts Greenwich, the 1779 headquarters of General Israel Putnam, to focused on saving old buildings associated with illustrious citi- save it from demolition. Connecticut’s historic house museum zens or events. movement was on its way. The Henry Whitfield Museum in Guilford was one of their Historical societies also were early involved with historic house successes and the museum house starts the exhibit time line. making as they sought to preserve landmarks important to their Long recognized as an story. In 1907 the New London important relic from the County Historical Society past, it seemed to many that In This Issue... undertook a fund drive to pur- the house should be pub- _____________________________________________________ chase the Shaw Mansion and all licly owned and preserved its contents from the last fam- Preservation_____________________________________________________ Grants 4 forever. In response to a ily member living there. The petition from the Colonial Around_____________________________________________________ the State 8 house had been the headquar- Dames, the Connecticut continued on page 6 Modern_____________________________________________________ Buildings on the National Register 10 Connecticut Snapshots: Booth Park 16 The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit organization. ISSN 1084-189X At the Trust From the Executive Director hirty-five years House to Glass House,” which recounts New Haven City Hall and supplemented by T ago this past the development of house museums in the public events, “The Preservation Movement February, a group state, in its own gallery (see page 1). The Then and Now” will reach an audience of concerned Westport Historical Society continues with beyond the usual faithful preservationists preservationists “Westport Modern: When Cool Was Hot, and, we hope, bring new allies into the fold. gathered in a living “about that town’s legacy of Modernist What better birthday present could we hope room in Middletown architecture (see page 7). We were pleased for? and formed the Connecticut to contribute to the exhibit a digital walk- —Helen Higgins Trust for Historic Preservation. Through though of the Micheels house, designed the leadership of Harlan Griswold, chair- by Paul Rudolph in 1972, now demol- man of the state’s Historical Commission, ished. Stephanie Tryzk of Stephen Lazar the State Legislature passed Special Act Architects designed the program as part of 75-93 that officially chartered the orga- their pro bono work for the Trust. Upcoming Meetings of the nization. He believed that Connecticut The Connecticut Trust has been busy, Connecticut Historic should have a private agency concerned too. In partnership with Historic New Preservation Council with the preservation of this state’s built England (HNE) and the New Haven April 7, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. environment that could act in ways impos- Preservation Trust, and with funding from May 5, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. sible for an arm of the state government, the Connecticut Humanities Council, we the Historical Commission. Then as now, are displaying HNE’s exhibition, “The State Historic the relationship between the state’s Preservation Movement Then and Now,” Preservation Board historic preservation office, now at the which tells the story of historic preserva- March 18, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. Commission on Culture & Tourism, and tion in New England (see insert). The the Trust is complementary and extraordi- Connecticut Humanities Council also All meetings take place at the narily strong, as Mr. Griswold envisioned. funded our creation of an additional Commission on Culture and Tourism The Trust will celebrate this anniversa- panel specifically about preservation in Main Conference Room ry specifically on April 7 but more gener- Connecticut. Installed in the atrium at 1 Constitution Plaza ally all year long. We have commissioned For more information call (860) 256-2800 a special logo for the year which you can see above and on the cover of CPN. In our The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit statewide membership organization established by a special act of the State Legislature in 1975. Working with local preservation groups and individuals as well as statewide annual appeal for membership renewal organizations, it encourages, advocates and facilitates historic preservation throughout Connecticut. that went out the 1st of March we empha- Board of Trustees Gubernatorial Appointees Connecticut Preservation News is Theodore F. Ells, Branford published bimonthly by the Connecticut sized the important role that longstanding Officers Trust for Historic Preservation, 940 Whitney Jeffry Muthersbaugh, Chairman, Bethel Natalie Ketcham, Redding Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut 06517. members have played in strengthening the Edmund Schmidt, Vice-Chairman, Darien Edith Pestana, Hartford Publication is made possibly by support of the members of the Connecticut Trust for Trust. We celebrate you during this 35th Adrienne Farrar Houel, Secretary, Bridgeport Advisory Council Historic Preservation and by funds provided Edward W. Munster, Treasurer, Haddam Martha Alexander, New Haven through the Community Investment Act, anniversary year. Public Act 05-228, Connecticut Commission Walter Fiederowicz, Assistant Treasurer, J. Barclay Collins, Sharon on Culture & Tourism, State of Connecticut, The Trust’s Historic Barns survey Litchfield William R. Crowe, Canton M. Jodi Rell, Governor. The contents and Jared Edwards, FAIA, West Hartford opinions stated herein do not necessarily project received statewide attention when Additional Members of the reflect the views and policies of the State of Board of Trustees Inger Elliott, Stonington Connecticut. The Connecticut Trust Scott D. Bates, Stonington Gerald Farrell, Jr., Wallingford for Historic Preservation assumes no Connecticut Magazine asked experts in responsibility for the advertisements. Serena Bechtel, Greenwich Mimi Findlay, New Canaan various fields to select their favorite things Glenn Geathers, Hartford This program receives State financial James Blansfield, Danbury assistance for identification and protection for the magazine’s January issue. As one Sara C. Bronin, Hartford John Herzog, Southport of historic properties. Under Title VI of William W. Crosskey, II, AIA, Bolton Lee Kuckro, Wethersfield the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section of the experts, Trust barn researcher Stephen S. Lash, Stonington 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Leroy Diggs, Danbury U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits Charlotte Hitchcock picked her favorite Robert Faesy, Wilton Charles T. Lee, Greenwich discrimination on the basis of race, color, Lynn Friedman, Madison Peter Malkin, Greenwich national origin or handicap in its federally barn. She chose the Darling House Barn, assisted programs. If you believe you have Ruth Harvey, Glastonbury Cesar Pelli, FAIA, New Haven been discriminated against in any program, in Woodbridge. The barn and house, she Bill Hosley, Enfield The Hon. Andrew Roraback, Goshen activity, or facility as described above, or if John W. Shannahan, Suffield you desire further information, please write says, “form a natural gateway out of New Charles Janson, Darien to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Theresa Kidd, Haddam Staff Department of the Interior, Washington, Haven. As I city dweller, I love how I Ralph Knighton, Bloomfield Helen Higgins, Executive Director D.C. 20240. Rebekah MacFarlane, Westport Christopher Wigren, Deputy Director © 2009, Connecticut Trust for Historic know that I’m in the New England Preservation. All rights reserved. James McLaughlin, Durham Brad Schide, Connecticut Circuit Rider ISSN 1084-189X countryside as soon as I pass by this Donald Poland, Hartford Gregory Farmer, Connecticut Circuit Rider barn.” As of February, the barns survey George Purtill, Glastonbury Jane Montanaro, Preservation Services Officer The Hon. Kelvin Roldan, Hartford Kathleen von Jena, Membership and Office Manager