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New Canaan Now & Then: Calvin Kiessling House

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. The stone house at 1 Wahackme Lane was built in 1930 by architect Calvin Kiessling. Mr. Kiessling was born in Boston and practiced there for a few years. He moved to New Canaan in 1921 and, a year later, spearheaded an effort to rebuild part of the business section of town to make it more attractive. The Colonial Revival Style that Kiessling favored is evident in the New Canaan Playhouse and the bulk of modern day Elm Street.

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New Canaan Now & Then: The Watts Comstock House

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. The house at 66 Seminary Street was built for the first Baptist minister by Watts Comstock, the first president of the New Canaan First National bank and a founder of the First Baptist Society. 

The parcel of land was acquired by Hiram Terrell (a house carpenter) in lieu of a debt. Mr. Terrell sold the land to Watts Comstock and although there is no record to prove that any of the Baptist clergy lived at 66 Seminary, according to historian Mary Louise King that was his intention. Comstock deeded the land, new dwelling and barn with another parcel of land to his son Edwin in November 1875. Seminary Street was designated as a “highway” in the earliest land records and it was later known as “Brooks Street’ because brooks cross under it.

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New Canaan Now & Then: The ‘Next to New’ Shop

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. In 1922 the brick building located at 31 Grove Street housed the laundry business of Mrs. Millie Williams. The business changed hands within the year and was owned by Benjamin Mouzan (known as the B&L Mouson Laundry).  By July 3, 1924, the business had expanded to include housekeeping. In 1935 the business was transferred to his wife, Louise F. Mouzon. 

By the late 1930s, Frances Warren lived at 31 Grove Street. Ms. Warren was born in Boydon, Va. on March 10, 1872 and was the chef of the Ardsley Inn for 27 years.

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New Canaan Now & Then: Marshall L. Walker House

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. In honor of Juneteenth, we are highlighting 125 East Avenue which was once owned by Marshall L. Walker, a Navy veteran and the former president of the local NAACP chapter. Mr. Walker and Nannie married in 1939 in the Community Baptist Church.  At first the couple lived in a house on Locust Ave, but it was a “cold water flat,” which meant that all hot water had to be heated on the stove.  When the couple heard that 125 East Avenue was up for sale, they tried to secure a bank loan, but they were denied.  Luckily they were able to secure funding from local resident Alice King, and in 1954 the Walkers bought the house. Mr. Walker started his housekeeping business Walker and Walker in 1946. He was elected president of the NAACP on January 28, 1965.

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New Canaan Now & Then: The Chichester Estate

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. The property located at the corner of Greenley Road and Ponus Ridge was originally part of the estate of Stephen Chichester. 

In his will, dated November 23, 1841 the property was deeded to his son, James Harvey Chichester. The house was constructed in 1840. During the course of the construction “a crowbar was thrust into the ground in the hope of locating water with which to mix the mortar, a boiling spring was found, in this way. Which spring still supplies all the needs of the family.” 

The property was owned by Aminda Butler from 1900 to 1910.