Westport Historic District Announces 2017 Historic Preservation Awards

WESTPORT, CT - From the Town of Westport Historic District Commission Office: The Historic District Commission has selected the recipients of the 2017 Historic Preservation Awards. The awards will be presented by First Selectman Jim Marpe, Historic District Commission Chair Francis Henkels, and members of the Historic District Commission at a ceremony on Monday, October 30, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall Auditorium. The following is a list of the eight award recipients and a brief narrative explaining why these properties were selected.

6 Clover Lane
George White, Architect, c. 1966
Replication Saltbox
LJ & Lawrence Wilks

A well-known local architect is credited with designing and building this fine example of a saltbox style replication. According to House Beautiful magazine’s article in the 1969-1970 edition titled Traditional Forms, Sensitive Replica of the well-loved saltbox that “Our legacy of Colonial architecture dwindles every day…but here is an example of a charming saltbox designed and built by George White in Westport.” The article further states that “the building exterior, roof, windows, doors, central chimney, all correspond to the original saltbox design.” Although the house was built in 1966 it provides us with a view of the traditional houses that are associated with historic Westport. LJ & Lawrence are the third owners of the house and have taken special care to preserve the exterior of the house to represent the typical New England saltbox style house.

190 Cross Highway (Rehabilitation/Special Permit for Historic Residential Structures)
Meeker Barn, c. 1800
Wendy Van Wie and Mark Yurkiw

The historic barn at 190 Cross Highway was built by Benjamin Meeker after he came home from the notorious Sugar House Prison where he and his brother Daniel had been held prisoners-of-war during the American Revolution. He inherited the homestead, and was the second of five generations of Meekers who would live in the saltbox dwelling house and farm the land until 1917. For most of the 20 th century, the barn and dwelling house were owned by Mr. and Mrs. Willem Schilthuis, who made significant additions to both buildings. No longer needed for agriculture, the barn was adaptively re-used as a residence, and during WW II the attached caretaker’s cottage was expanded for family use. Little maintenance was done to the barn/cottage building in the latter half of the 20 th century however, and by the time the current owners bought the barn/cottage and saltbox dwelling house in 2003, the property was in foreclosure, abandoned, and the barn deteriorated over time.

The current owners rehabilitated the barn/cottage, using fieldstone from the grounds to apply a stone veneer to the base of the building. By personally seeking a zoning text amendment and obtaining a Special Permit 32-18 for Historic Residential Structures, they were able to subdivide the property. By placing the barn/cottage and the c. 1728 saltbox house, both prominent residential structures, on separate lots, it makes them more viable as independent structures and increases the likelihood of their being preserved. All of the buildings have been protected by perpetual preservation easements.

383 Greens Farms Road (Preservation)
Bulkley Barn, c. 1820
Lawrence Zlatkin and in memory of Maureen Whiteman Zlatkin

This English style barn was built in 1820 by Francis Bulkley after purchasing 13 acres of land in 1818 for his farm. Bulkley then transferred the land with the barn to his son, John Bulkley, in 1862. Public records indicate that the barn was rebuilt by neighbors following a fire in 1870.

In 2000 the Zlatkins purchased the property with the barn and since then have utilized it for civic gatherings, concerts and family events. They installed a new cedar shingle roof, reinforced the basement foundation and floor beams, replaced exterior siding and made various enhancements to the interior. All the work was done with meticulous care and with historically appropriate materials.

The work was spearheaded by Maureen with the support of her husband Lawrence. After the major preservation activities concluded Maureen passed away last month. After her death, her husband said that "Maureen loved her barn and she was proud to contribute to its preservation for us and for all of Westport.” He also stated that her major focus in preserving the barn was to inspire other Westport residents to preserve their historic treasures.

8 Charcoal Hill Road (Preservation)
Frazier Peters House, c. 1927
Jamie and Sam Febbraio

In October 1927 Frazier Peters and Albert Violet purchased 15.4 acres of land on which architect Frazier Peters designed and built his signature stone houses. Eight Charcoal Hill Road is a stone Tudor revival, a classic example of one of the homes he designed and constructed on Charcoal Hill Road.

The house is a marriage of a designed-to- last structure connected to the land its sits upon. The house is built of stone, is ideally positioned on a sloping wooden lot, set back from the road to blend in with its bucolic setting. The gravel driveway helps bond the one-and- one half story building to the land. To avoid a conventional look, the windows consist of metal frames casements and fixed sash in varying sizes.

When Jamie and Sam Febbraio bought the house in 2015 it was in its original state, but suffered from severe neglect. Mr. Febbraio’s family lived in Westport for three generations and was aware of the compelling appeal and historical significance of a Frazier Peters designed house. He said he would only move back to Westport if he could find and restore a Frazier Peters house. The Febbraios (who did most of the work themselves) meticulously restored the residence to its original form, adding 21st century amenities to create convenience and operating features. The renovations confirm Peters’ vision that his homes can be enjoyed for many generations to come.

101 Compo Road South (Rehabilitation)
Colonial Revival, c.1924
Jenny Ong

Although this property was identified on the Westport Historic Resources Inventory, it was neglected, and the current owner purchased it in 2015 “as is” from a bank with no inspection. Extensive water damage made it inhabitable. The exterior of the house was in dire need of repair with rotted and missing shingles, a collapsed roof, water damaged floors and subfloor, all of which were replaced.

The owner sought the assistance of a structural engineer and an architect’s design guidance. A new roof and dormer addition were added. The original footprint was maintained while new windows and doors were installed. Stone steps and a new driveway were constructed.

The owner of this 1924 Colonial Revival was committed to a quality restoration replacing all electrical and plumbing work to meet code. This rehabilitation replaced basement posts to secure the structure of the house as well as the first floor joists and flooring. Renovation of this "grand old house" confirms the effort which was made to preserve the interior and exterior of an abandoned historical property.

Wakeman Town Farm (Rehabilitation)

134 Cross Highway

Farmhouse, relocated carriage house/barn c. late 1800s and converted to a farmhouse c.1900 Town of Westport with special gratitude to the Wakeman Town Farm Committee, Architect Peter Wormser, and the Westport Public Works Department

Before the ranch house, the split level, and McMansions, farmhouses dominated the rural landscape of Westport. Little-noted onions, the edible, pungent herb, grew wild everywhere. In 1908 John Wakeman purchased the large acreage of farmland at 134 Cross Highway, which was to become a well-known supplier of the vegetable along with the familiar milk and eggs.

At that time, farm-to- table wasn’t anything special, but an everyday way of life, and that’s how the storied Wakeman farmhouse is described today. Its picturesque vernacular style of architecture features coupled windows sheltered by a verandah with turned posts and a projecting gable that defines the central entrance bay. Town records indicate the house was a converted carriage/barn which was relocated from across the street on its current site.

In 1970 Isaac Wakeman and his wife, Pearl, knowing their farm was an integral part of the community, offered to sell the historic property to the Town of Westport. Fortunately, their vision presented an opportunity the town couldn’t refuse. And today their farm thrives as a sustainability center, an organic homestead open to the public.

Wakeman Town Farm Committee member, Peter Wormser, long-time Westporter and architect, gifted his time and talent to the design of the Wakeman farmhouse while the Public Works Department oversaw the construction. The original front porch was rebuilt with replications of its turned posts and a new Galvalume flat roof instead of shingles. A gabled roof replaced a shed dormer on the second floor addition and a 1,500 square foot glass-enclosed educational kitchen and classroom are among the many added features.

Wakeman Town Farm is a model facility successfully repurposed by a community of Westport’s caring preservationist committed to propagating the culture and practices of sustainable farming.

37 Evergreen Avenue, c.1938 (Helen Muller Award for an Outstanding Local Historic District Property)

Evergreen Avenue Historic District

Martha Constable and Bruce McGuirk

The Helen Muller Preservation Award is being given in recognition of the sensitive renovation to the Colonial Revival House c. 1938 at 37 Evergreen Avenue located in the Evergreen Avenue Historic District. A successful element of the renovation was the removal of an existing later addition solarium on the front of the house and its replacement with a sympathetic addition within the existing footprint. The materials used and the overall design reflect and enhance the original character of the house. Throughout the design process the owners worked collaboratively with the HDC to insure that the work would be appropriate for the historic district. They are to be applauded for their stewardship of a cultural resource that contributes significantly to the character and streetscape of one of Westport’s Local Historic Districts.

159 Post Road East, Bedford Square (Rehabilitation)
Bedford Building, Tudor Revival, c. 1927
Bedford Square Associates, LLC

From the date in 1929 when it was constructed as the home of the Westport YMCA following the bequest of philanthropist, Edward Bedford, this Tudor revival edifice has anchored the central crossroads of downtown Westport. It helped to define the center of town by virtue of its prominent location, its civic stature and the social activity it supported. While not particularly reflective of the prevailing architectural styles in Westport, the building fit in downtown with a sensitive balance of scale, massing, form and the traditional architectural features popular at the time.

When the “Y” decided, after a long controversial decision making process, tor relocate to the Mahackeno campus, there was wide concern about how the change of ownership would affect this important structure and the center of town over which it presided.

The successful purchaser of the property was the real estate development consortium, Bedford Square Associates, LLC. They made a strong commitment to historic preservation as they faced a significant challenge in developing a viable project that could successfully incorporate the historic building with new construction. They engaged the prominent architectural firm Centerbrook Associates. With hard, creative work and collaboration with town agencies, this team has designed and built a mixed use complex that renovated and adaptively repurposed the Bedford Building while adding significantly more space with new construction that respects the character and scale of the original building and the streetscape of the Westport Center Village District.

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