3 Forest St.
1944 photo of Johnson's Garage, courtesy of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society.
Johnson’s Garage, pictured here in 1944 on the corner of Forest Street and East Avenue, was reported to be the oldest continuous business operating under one family name in the village proper.
The Johnsons, Elias and Henry, started the business in 1876 as farriers, shodding horses and oxen. After they purchased the land, they quickly mortgaged it in order to build a wooden barn to work from. Eventually in 1878, the brothers bought out John Fancher’s carriage building business and also started a general blacksmithing shop.
The big door on Forest Street was a popular viewing spot for children to watch the three forges at work. The second generation of Johnsons—Howard, Herbert and Horace—continued the tradition of excellence along with their cousins, Henry and Edwin, who were the sons of Henry senior. Their reputation for custom built carriages became known statewide and business was so good that they tore down the original wooden barn and built the current brick building in 1908. The Johnsons continued to keep up with technology by offering motor cars starting in 1909.
The Johnsons seem to have been somewhat mercenary in what cars they sold over the years. From just a brief survey of ads in the Advertiser, they were at least at one point agents for EMF, Studebaker, Flanders, Cadillac, Ford, Overland, Dodge, and Plymouth. In 1929, a Shell gas station was built behind the garage in what is now the parking lot on East Ave. This addition must be the explanation for the Shell gas pump that is in the lower left of the picture directly on the curb of Forest Street.
Unfortunately, the good times could not last, and in 1953 the Johnson Garage went out of business. The building remained empty until 1955, when the space was leased to New Canaan Motor Sales, a Ford dealership. In 1959 the Johnsons sold their garage to the Silliman Farm Store which was located directly next to the garage. The driving force behind the purchase was the parking lot located on East Avenue, but the Farm Store also expanded into the garage.
When Silliman’s closed in February 1981, the property was purchased for $700,000 and the interior was remodeled for office space. However, plans to use the building as an office fell through when it was pointed out to the town that the building would not have enough parking for this change of use. In the 1980s, 3 Forest St. became home to the Forest Street Center, a “gallery of distinctive shops” and the first shopping mall in New Canaan. The shops included a video rental store, antique store, dance studio and gift store. The grand opening was Dec. 27, 1984.
Prior to the opening, co-owner Arne Thune paid for sidewalks and granite curbs to be installed on Forest Street. The town donated the curbstones and Thune anticipated planting trees to complement the improvements made to the exterior. In June 1988, the building was repainted the current earth tone color, covering the previous white facade. The Athletic Shoe Factory was an occupant of 3 Forest St. before it moved next door in 2006 and was replaced by The Summer House. The Summer House sold Swedish antiques and contemporary decor. The space is now occupied by Mattress Firm.
“New Canaan Now & Then” is presented in partnership with the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society.