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Phases of Historic Relevance *****************ECRWSS**** Local NON-PROFIT Postal Customer U.S. POSTAGE PAID HARTFORD, CT PERMIT NO. 5126 EastAN INDEPENDENT Haddam COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER COVERING MOODUS, News LAKE HAYWARD, HADLYME AND EAST HADDAM December 24, 2020 Copyright ©2020 East Haddam News Free weekly Well lit for the season: This house on Beebe Road is quite beautifully decorated for the Holidays. It is one of just dozens of homes taking part in East Haddam Fantasy Lights throughout town this month. These festive displays will be all lit up in the evenings through January 4. See Page EH3 for more information about what homes are participat- ing as well as a special scavenger hunt for the young and the young at heart. And Happy Holidays to all our faithful readers and advertisers from your Hometown Newspaper! 2020 IN REVIEW Remembering a year we’d all like to forget By David Holahan nouncement that Nutmeg Pharmacy Group would Humanitarian of the Year his is part one of a two-part look back at set up a pharmacy in Moodus; it opened February Brad Parker was named the Humanitarian of the 2020. This year might be better forgotten, 10. The town had been without a pharmacy since Year by the Connecticut Lions for District 23-C. some would argue, but there were highs October 2019, when Nathan Hale Pharmacy closed The honor cited his love for East Haddam and his as well as lows to report, not to mention its doors after serving townspeople for nearly 50 penchant “to see what is good and beautiful about Tinteresting residents to profile, and accomplishments years. our town.” by young and old alike that were worthy of note. Music man steps down Biz of the month Everyone’s hope is that next year will be way better. Michael O’Flaherty, Resident Musical Director at Curtin Construction was named East Haddam Busi- All of what follows here, and much more, can be read Goodspeed Musicals announced he was leaving the ness of the Month for its 50 years of contributions to in its entirety on our website, www.easthaddamnews. theater after 28 years and some 90 musicals. the town. org, where PDFs of every issue from the past year New nonprofit (and previous years) reside. Grander Grand List The Internal Revenue Service approved the nonprofit The town’s Grand List inched up thanks to improve- January status of the East Haddam News, something our ments that Eversource made on its property. The new bookkeeper had been aware of for years. When dead trees were the big issue total was $894,795,125, well on the way to a billion dollars. In recent years the Grand List total has been The year hadn’t gotten weird yet, so the big news that February “pretty flat,” according to Assessor Loreta Zdanys. the selectmen were grappling with was dead and dy- Controversial proposal ing trees along town roads because of drought and Gennaro to depart insect infestations. Soon enough this would seem A zone change proposed by Banner Lodge Enter- Goodspeed Musicals announced that Michael Genn- like the good old days. prises that would have allowed it to develop about aro, its executive director, would retire at year’s end. 20 small apartment units drew opposition from Pharmacy on the way He had served in the post for five years after replac- residents and existing owners of property in Banner ing Michael Price. The year started on a positive note with the an- Estates. No change was made by year’s end. Continued on page EH6 In This Issue: Village Plan Scrutinized, Page EH3 • To the Editor, Page EH4 • Calendar, Page EH5 Winter Provisions More Winter Prep.. py N Hap ew ! The Pros @ Shagbark are Pick-up & $2699 Save Year ready to help you prepare Delivery 18” Poly $5 Available! Save $5 with a tune up! Snow Shovel Nebo Rechargeable Galvanized Steel Wear Head Lamp Strip, 18" W x 13" H Save A powerful, rechargeable, LED head Blade, Poly Coated, lamp and flashlight that features a Buy a Blower from Ribbed 1-1/8" Steel 10% 1,000 lumen Turbo Mode and new Shagbark and Receive Core (R) Shaft, 48" Smart Power Control . reg 34.99 sku Overall Length, D Grip. Gerber Knife Sets 7001 reg. 18.99 sku 277806 your First Winters 2021 Xtra! Tuesday Tune Up Free! Save 10% Save $1 On In-Store Purchases UPS Shipping Frostbreaker, Form Fitting, Offer Excludes: Thermal We Deliver Sale items, Special Gloves Since 1986 Fuel Pellets Orders, Large Premium Wood Pellets 6.99 animal feed, We - Hard Wood - $255/Ton ber, Heating Fuel, Shagbark Soft Wood - $295/Ton Keep your hands warm & Tell Cashier: Lumber, power ”Don’t forget my Lumber & Farm Supplies, Inc. We Deliver protected when out In the tools. Offer ends elements! 172665 Reg. 7.99 hot toddy!” 01/02/21 Mt. Parnassus Rd. And Route 82. East Haddam, CT Call or see web for directions 860.873.1946 LOCAL ARCHITECTURE Phases of Historic Relevance: Palmer-Warner House By George Fellner upkeep of numerous topiaries with their ornamental It is rare for a significantly historic house to share shapes within the landscape, as well as the adjoining two unique phases over its multi-century lifetime. gardens. He was also involved with the collection The first phase began with John Warner, from and placement of statuaries, strategically placed on Hatfield, Massachusetts, who married Mehitable the property. Metzger continued to live there until Chapman Richardson, daughter of landowner John his death in 2005. Chapman. She had inherited one thousand acres The Palmer-Warner house was placed on the Na- from her family. This sizable land area became the tional Register of Historic Places in 1987. The house site for their house on Town Street in East Haddam with its 50-acre property is presently owned by Con- that was built in 1738. necticut Landmarks and they are in the process of John Warner himself was a farmer; however, his cataloguing the extensive collection of letters, diaries, son and grandson were reputable blacksmiths and photographs, artworks, and furnishings that reflect they produced the hardware, including the latches This photo of the Palmer-Warner House is courtesy of Con- the lives of Palmer and Metzger. and hinges, for their home. It is interesting to note necticut Landmarks. A recently completed project was the restoration of the 18th century barn on the property involving that the Warner family of blacksmiths also pro- walls, as described by architect Patrick Pinnell, FAIA. duced the unique wrought iron latch hardware for its disassembly and meticulous reassembly with One of the interior modifications, most likely by both salvaged elements and new structural elements the entry doors of the 1794 First Church of Christ, Oliver Warner, was the addition of ornately detailed Congregational in East Haddam. The house was through the associated efforts of architect Patrick corner wood columns in the dining room, according Pinnell and Mike Einsiedel of Yankee Restoration owned by generations of the Warner family through to Erin Farley, Connecticut Landmarks collections the Civil War days. & Remodeling LLC. Connecticut Landmarks’ next manager and Palmer-Warner project manager. goal is the renovation and conversion of the barn The Colonial Georgian Style predominated the The second phase of this house began in 1936 English colonies from 1700 through 1780 and this and attached carriage house into a Visitor Welcome, when the property was purchased by Frederic Program and Exhibition Center, along with eventu- house fits into that category. The two and a half story Palmer and his mother, Mary Brennan Palmer. She box form with central chimney and side-gabled roof, ally opening the house to the public. According to died in 1943. An architect noted for restoration and Aaron Marcavitch, executive director of Connecticut wood clapboard siding, and symmetrically aligned preservation, Palmer restored the house with a series single windows are representative of this style. The Landmarks, “Ultimately, the interpretation of the site of modifications and updates. A notable change was is in development and testing, though plans include interior multi-fireplace construction, woodwork and the work done to the summer kitchen with porch paneling, and the many details certainly express the elements of the historic colonial era of the Warner at the rear of the house. He also added electricity family, along with a deeper understanding of the flavor of colonial times. and plumbing along with three new bathrooms. The As with many historical homes, the Palmer-War- contemporary, non-traditional story of Palmer and stair was relocated, the kitchen was modernized, Metzger.” ner House was modified with the present exterior and stenciling on the walls was added in the dining features dated to 1790 and attributed to Oliver The Palmer-Warner house is certainly a unique room. Palmer also replaced all the original door treasure that expresses phases of historic relevance, Warner. The Federal Style was prevalent during 1780 latch and handle hardware, although the original through 1820. There are exterior elements that can simultaneously offering facts, stories, connections, door hinges were left in place and are still present architectural lessons, and significant insights for the be identified with this style, notably the central entry today. Many of these modifications were discovered with a modestly-sized pedimented porch with finely community. by reviewing his old photographs of the interior that Note: Many of the historical family facts, along detailed cornice supported by round columns. In were taken prior to the changes, as noted by Farley. addition, the wide corner pilasters and the cornice with information regarding ongoing works, are Along with numerous interior design updates, he credited to the websites of “Historic Buildings of with modillions are telltale elements, although these added paint to imitate brick and mortar joints on the characteristics are also shared by the earlier Colonial Connecticut: Palmer-Warner House (1738)” and to stonework adjacent to the main cooking fireplace, “Connecticut Landmarks: Palmer-Warner House.” Georgian Style.
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