New Canaan Now & Then: Beechway [CLARIFICATION]

‘Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. The property located on Greenley Road was purchased on May 13,1929 by W. Rutger J. Planten. Mr. Planten hired New York City architect F. H. Hutton of 101 Park Avenue to design his home, which he called “Beechway.”

Mr. Planten was born in Brooklyn in 1877. He was the son of John R. Planten, the Consul General for the Netherlands in New York City, a position he held for 25 years. Both Mr. John R. Planten and his wife were born in Holland.

New Canaan Now & Then: 65 Locust Ave.

‘Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. The parcel of land at 65 Locust Avenue was purchased in a few transactions in the late 1930s by the Cerretani family. On August 11, 1937 Amelina Cerretani purchased the largest parcel that is closest to Locust Avenue  (only 400 feet from the road) from the New Canaan Savings Bank. On June 25, 1938, Ms. Cerretani purchased the easternmost portion of the land which was roughly 50 feet wide and included a right-of-way from Charles W. Bartow. 

Charles Bartow was a descendant of one of the earliest families in town. His parents were Harriet Webb Seeley and Mr. George Bartow.

New Canaan Now & Then: ‘Le Beau Chateau’ (the Huguette Clark Estate)

‘Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. “Le Beau Chateau” (beautiful country house) was built in 1937 for former U.S. Senator David A. Reed of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Reed was a United States senator from 1922 to 1935. Along with Congressman Albert Johnson, Senator Reed was co-author of the Immigration Act of 1924, the purpose of which was to restrict the movement of Eastern and Southern Europeans into the United States, and prohibit Asian immigration in its entirety. Mr. Reed purchased the property in 1936 and the house was designed by Voorhees, Gmelin & Walker of New York. The contractor was the Miller-Reed Company of Norwalk (and New York).

New Canaan Now & Then: The Kellogg Property

‘Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. The property has a long history of being part of the holdings of the Kellogg family. 

Mr. Samuel Kellogg was born on Feb. 19, 1673 and was the son of Daniel Kellogg, a Norwalk settler and Ms. Bridget Bouton (for more information on the Bouton’s of Norwalk see Now & Then dated Sept. 19, 2024). 

Samuel was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, served as the Norwalk collector in 1703, and was selectman of Norwalk in 1705 and 1714. On June 3, 1723, he was appointed to a committee seat in the new meeting house.

New Canaan Now & Then: The Jewett Estate [Part 2 of 2]

‘Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. [Part 1 of this two-part installment can be found here.]

Mr. Robert Jewett, like his father and brother, attended Tabor Academy and he went on to Rockford College. After completing a Masters of Fine Arts in Ceramics in 1972, he began a 41 year teaching career at Saint Paul Academy and Summit School in St. Paul, Minnesota. His work was exhibited throughout the midwest and on Martha’s Vineyard.