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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.

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New Canaan Now & Then: Briggs Property

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. According to the 1850 Census, Gilbert Briggs, the owner of the property that would later become 23 Talmadge Hill, was married to Mary Burtis. Mr. Briggs, who was 25 in 1850, was one of the 344 shoemakers in New Canaan at the time. He and his wife had one child, Stephen, who was born in 1851. Ms. Burtis passed away three years later.

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New Canaan Now & Then: The ‘First’ Methodist Church

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. Spiga Wine Bar & Salumeria, located at 134 Main Street directly across from the Morse Parking Lot was built in 1833 as the first Methodist Church in New Canaan. It was originally located on the corner of Church and Main Street, but it was quickly too small for its growing congregation and in 1850 was moved by ox teams up Main Street to its present location. In its new location, the second floor was remodeled into a concert hall and the first floor was remodeled as a retail space.  The concert hall could seat 500 people and was used for amateur theatrical productions and for political speeches. P.T. Barnum, the well known entrepreneur and entertainer, produced a show in the venue and the former editor of New York Tribune, Horace Greeley, addressed a Republican meeting there.

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New Canaan Now & Then: The Gerrish 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. John B. Gerrish was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College in 1871. Gerrish became a partner at the firm of Noyes, Bauscher & Gerrish that was the “selling agent” for the Amoskeag Mills Cotton Manufacturer.  He lived in Brooklyn Heights and spent his first summer in New Canaan in 1889.  On October 6, 1891, he purchased ten acres of land in New Canaan from Joseph F. Silliman.  Over the next few years, Gerrish added to his property and built an estate that was described as “one of the largest and best furnished summer residences” in New Canaan. The Gerrish Estate was an integral part of summer life in New Canaan. It was used as a location for plays, including the “Taming of the Shrew” in 1911, which featured an all-female cast of local women.  Mr. Gerrish also allowed the use of his lawn for the county fair in September 1910 and the proceeds ($1100) were donated to the Library Fund.  The Boy Scout Annual Track meet was held on the lawn of the Gerrish Estate in July 1923.

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New Canaan Now & Then: The Mulliken Property [Part 2 of 2]

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. [Part 1 of the “The Mulliken Property” installment can be found here.]

The Mulliken property was west of Oenoke Ridge and extended north from West Road all the way up to Route 124 (Pinney Road). One majestic feature of the property was a huge elm tree that was reported to be the second oldest in the state, dating back to colonial times. The tree was known as the “Great West Road Elm.” Mulliken went to great expense caring for this tree, retaining a tree specialist to spray and guard its health. It was a major undertaking to climb a tree of that size.