Connecticut Site Among 11 Most Endangered Historic Places

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses in Bridgeport have been listed among the 11 most endangered historic places for 2018. The National Trust for Historic Preservation released its 31st annual list Tuesday, which highlights important examples of America's architectural and cultural heritage that are most at-risk of being destroyed or sustaining "irreparable damage."

The Freeman Houses, built in 1848, are the oldest Connecticut homes built and owned by blacks, according to the Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community. The houses are the only two surviving buildings out of the original 33 structures in so-called "Little Liberia," and are recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for their significance to African-American and women’s history. According to the Bridgeport Library, Mary Freeman and Eliza Freeman were sisters.

Eliza’s home is a Greek Revival "half house," the library said on its website. Most of its major rooms contained mantelpieces of simple Grecian styling. A fire damaged the building in the 1980s.

Mary’s house, the interior of which is virtually intact, is an "Italianate-styled double house or duplex," built over a high brick “English” basement. Its main entrances are located under a second-story piazza, the library said.

"The double-house design provided for rental income—Mary’s usual tenant was the pastor of Bethel Church," the library said.

But the National Trust, based in Washington, D.C., says the houses have been vacant for many years and are "badly deteriorating."

Stephanie K. Meeks, president and CEO of the group, said in a statement she hopes the list inspires people to speak out for their most "cherished places" in their communities.

"For over 30 years, our '11 Most Endangered Historic Places' list has called attention to threatened one-of-a-kind treasures throughout the nation and galvanized Americans to help local communities save them," Meeks said.

"From the East L.A. Chicano Student Walkout schools to Route 66, America's Mother Road, to historic resources in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands severely damaged by last year's hurricanes, this year's list reflects both the diversity of America's historic places and the variety of threats they face.

Other sites that made the list include the Annapolis City Dock Area in Maryland; the Isaiah T. Montgomery House in Mound Bayou, Mississippi; and Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado.

Click here to see the entire list and see what you can do to support them.

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