Open House Events Kick Off Historic BLT Fundraiser

Have you ever driven by the Land Trust House in Stony Creek and wondered about its history? Curious about what’s inside this historic building that has been part of our town since the late 1800s? Now is your chance!

To kick off a $300,000 fundraiser for desperately-needed renovations, the Branford Land Trust welcomes the public to two free Open House events: Sunday, September 10 from 1pm - 4pm, and Saturday, September 23 from 1pm - 4pm at the Land Trust House, 26 School Street, Stony Creek. (Parking is available in the municipal lot on School Street behind the firehouse.)

The Land Trust House is part of the Stony Creek Thimble Islands Historic District, and is comprised of two connected structures, a schoolhouse built in 1865 and a firehouse built in 1901 and expanded in the 1950s. The Open Houses offer a rare opportunity for the public to tour the House and learn about its storied past.

Since 1983, the House has served as the BLT headquarters and is critical to the management and maintenance of more than 1,400 acres in more than 130 parcels and 30 miles of hiking trails in town.

Today, the Land Trust House is undergoing desperately-needed renovations that includes repairing structural problems, resolving an obsolete electrical system, removing hazardous materials, and replacing the failing septic system, as well as addressing the energy inefficiency of buildings that are more than a century old.

Based on professional estimates, the project will cost approximately $500,000. A large portion of the funding will be provided by matching fund grants from the Connecticut State Office of Historic Preservation and the 1772 Foundation. Together, these grants will provide $210,000, leaving the Land Trust to raise $300,000.

You can make a donation today by visiting the BLT website, or come to the Open House events and learn more about the Land Trust House — Where Land Conservation Meets Historic Preservation!

For more information, visit www.branfordlandtrust.org.