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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.

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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.