Manchester Homes Recognized For Historic Character

MANCHESTER, CT — A trio of homes in Manchester has been recognized for historic maintenance and renovation “in a manner that preserves historic values and character.”

The awards were recently presented at a reception at Northwest Park by the Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District Commission, an advisory commission appointed by the town to promote, encourage, and secure the preservation and rehabilitation of the District.

The Commission has presented local awards since 2001. The awards were presented by Starr McLean, who chairs the Commission's awards committee, and Mayor Jay Moran.

Here are the winners:

A Dutch Colonial

A Dutch colonial house, built in 1957 for Dr. and Mrs. Lundberg, 264 Boulder Road, owned by Ryan and Christina Lauzon, who have been renovating the house with help from her father, builder John Parla, who, with his wife, Janice, won a 2011 preservation award for their Porter Street house. Ryan and Christina bought the house in 2019 and noted that during the Covid epidemic and working from home they were able to do all the painting themselves. The nine-room house, set on a wooded property, has wooden clapboards. The house was re-roofed with traditional
cedar shingles in the fall of 2020.

A Chalet

A unique chalet-style house, built in 1967, at 263 Blue Ridge Drive, owned by Dana and Rachel Schnabel, since 2019. The eight-room house sits on a wooded hill, and has natural accents, such as the river-rock chimney, wooden siding and balcony, and a hip-style gable, creating an unusual roofline. The homeowners said they liked the house immediately when they saw it, “after looking at about fifty other houses.”

A Bungalow

A craftsman-style bungalow, c. 1916, at 78 Lyness Street, owned by Jeffrey and Mary Matheny since 1985. They are pictured here with, left to right, Mayor Moran, their son Andrew, who has been instrumental in restoring the house, Mary and Jeffrey, and Starr McLean. The six-room house sits on a corner lot, and has tan-painted clapboards with cream and burgundy trim, Craftsmen-style columns with natural stone bases framing the entrance, a glassed-in porch, and manicured gardens.