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New Canaan Now & Then: The Alma Colbron House [Part 1 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. The 1765 Alma Colbron House located at 4 Beacon Hill Lane (what was then East Avenue) is one of the oldest homes in New Canaan. 

It was built by John Benedict and his son, John Benedict Jr. of Norwalk. The Benedicts acquired land as early as 1702, and the house is listed in land records as owned by  John Benedict Jr. in 1765, when he was 89 years old.  The house has a traditional center chimney that serviced several fireplaces and a brick oven in the kitchen. The porches and rooms were added at a later date, but the house is largely a traditional colonial saltbox. 

The rich history of the house is reflected in the many owners that were influential figures in New Canaan history. John Benedict sold the home to Samuel Lawrence from New York, who traded in country real estate.

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New Canaan Now & Then: Karl Chevrolet

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. As most people know, the Karl family has a long history in New Canaan, which began when John Karl opened his own garage at 10 South Avenue in 1915. 

John was the eldest of the Karl brothers who had lived in Milford, Connecticut, on the family farm before settling in New Canaan. Before striking out on his own, John had been the vice president and manager of the Central Garage. In February 1915, a contest organized by the Colonial Theater was held for the most “popular garage man” and, in December 1915, John Karl was in the lead with 145 votes, followed by Ed Nidd (130), William Simmon (75) and the Johnson Brothers (65). In March 1920, John purchased the grounds of the New Canaan Cab Company on Railroad Avenue and moved his business there.

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New Canaan Now & Then: The Armory

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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 Armory or “Armory Hall” was built by Noah Hoyt, the postmaster, as a two story shirt factory in 1840. 

The factory was used to make uniforms for the Northern Army during the Civil War and, when the war ended, the space was used to store arms and other war materials. The Armory stood at the rear of the post office building on the west side of Main Street opposite East Avenue. A photograph by Syd Greenberg  in the 1930s shows the buildings in the vicinity of the armory, including the iconic Cody Drugstore. In the 1930s James Cody owned the armory hall building.

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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.