NewCanaanite.com (https://newcanaanite.com/historic-ferris-hill-home-to-be-rented-back-on-market-in-several-years-39627)
Crew of volunteers cleaning up the home this Tuesday. L-R: G. Warfield "Skip" Hobbs, Martin Skrelunas, Rose-Scott Long-Rothbart, Janet Lindstrom, Lesley Cousley, Christopher Wigren, Tom Nissley, Susan Serven, Scott Law. Credit: Sarah Maddox
Inside the home at 8 Ferris Hill Road. Credit: Sarah Maddox
Inside the home at 8 Ferris Hill Road. Credit: Sarah Maddox
Inside the home at 8 Ferris Hill Road. Credit: Sarah Maddox
This fireplace is a major staple to the historical home. Credit: Sarah Maddox
A main room on the bottom floor of the home. Credit: Sarah Maddox
Renovated kitchen in the Ferris Hill residence. Credit: Sarah Maddox
Side of the Ferris Hill home. Credit: Sarah Maddox
Now that the property has been safely transferred, volunteers spent several hours Tuesday afternoon cleaning up a historic farmhouse on Ferris Hill Road in order to make it rentable in the next couple of months.
Tom Nissley, who holds title to the property with his wife, Emily, said his long-term goal is to sell the 1735-built house at 8 Ferris Hill Road, though it could be “several years” before it’s ready to go on the market again.
“Somebody who loves history is going to have to buy the house,” Nissley said. “My theory is that everything sells. There is always a buyer for things, and there are a lot of people who are interested in history.”
That’s a major reason why the historic farmhouse still stands.
Its prior owner in March applied to demolish the property following years of frustrating ownership where he wasn’t able to develop the 2.14-acre parcel while preserving the existing structure. Nissley and a handful of others—including representatives from the New Canaan Preservation Alliance and the New Canaan Historical Society—quickly mobilized and devised a plan to acquire the property.
They had it listed on the State Register of Historic Places and Nissley on the day the house was slated for demolition, went to contract with its former owner.
The volunteers swept, wiped and scrubbed throughout the house—which has been vacant for several months—and the only major work needed involved repairing at least two windows that had been broken as a result of vandalism.
Volunteers included Martin Skrelunas, Rose Scott Long, Janet Lindstrom, Lesley Cousey, Christopher Wigren, Nissley, Susan Serven, Charles Robinson, Lea and John Cromwell, Warfield “Skip” Hobbs and colleagues, Libby and Tom Butterworth, Lisa Hill, Chris Schipper and John Harrington.
The historic aspect of the Ferris Hill home will be its biggest selling point, according to Nissley.
Though the original saltbox of the home remains, other parts of it represent later additions, according to Robinson, who owns one of New Canaan’s oldest homes and has overseen historically sensitive renovations to it. In fact, Robinson said, his Carter Street house could be used to inspire a future renovation at Ferris Hill.
The Ferris Hill Road home “would’ve been a working farm family’s house,” Robinson said.
“What makes it special is the absence of most of these [types of houses] now,” he said. “It makes it all the more worth preserving if you want to have any sense of how people lived back in the day.”
The Ferris Hill property was a small area of land that was owned by the sons and nephews of Joseph Hoyt, according to a history written in 1947. The Hoyt family helped begin Canaan Parish, which was the first church in the area that allowed people to avoid the long commute from Norwalk or Stamford to attend services. Later owners of the Ferris Hill property played large roles in the development of New Canaan as we know it.
Congratulations on saving this amazing property!! When we tear down historic homes our town loses it’s soul. Thank you for working so hard and diligently!!
Ditto above comment!
I am happy that’s couple stepped up to save this house. i have driven by this place for decades only to see it go down hill and was sad when I saw the demolition sign posted. But am curious why the previous owner who in this article wanted to develop this property conserving this house ran into problems? I am fearful that even though it will be rented for now and will be sold in the future to a person who “will keep the house” what are the guarantees down the road the next owner won’t demolish it? Or his/her family if it is inherited? So for now you are biding time but maybe you should look into protecting the house for decades if possible. Like they did the old school house on Carter Street.
Thank you, Mary. The plans are for an easement to be placed on the outside of the house. This will ensure it cannot be taken down. We’ve also been placed on the Connectucut State Registry of Historic Places. Please follow us at Save8FerrisHill on Facebook for updates on the house!