Now & Then
Pave Paradise and Put Up Morse Court: New Canaan’s Birdsall House
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For the better part of the 20th Century to the present-day, Morse Court has been a busy, filled-to-capacity parking lot by day and teen hangout by night. Despite the large amount of people who use it in some capacity, it’s safe to assume that most are unaware of the New Canaan landmark, which once occupied the site: the late, great Birdsall House. In the early-to-mid 19th century, historians say, New Canaan was a popular summer destination for wealthy New Yorkers, seeking the fresh air, peace and quiet— leisurely lifestyle that “The Next Station to Heaven” provided. One such summer transplant was Gilbert Birdsall, vice president of the Third Avenue Railroad in Manhattan. Birdsall owned a house on Canoe Hill Road and also purchased the burgeoning New Canaan Hotel on Main Street, a popular destination for out-of-town businessmen and travelers alike.