Tag Archives: Westport Historic District

Historic District Honors Non-Teardowns Of The Day

Posted on May 5, 2023 | 15 comments

Westport is a town filled with — and known for — teardowns. Thankfully, some building owners invest time, energy, care, concern — and money — to preserve our history.

Last night at Town Hall, the Westport Historic District Commission honored the men and women who persevere, to preserve.

WHD Preservation Awards went to the owners of 6 private homes, 2 neighborhood restaurants, an office and a church.

Kudos to:

8 Mayflower parkway

Built in 1926, and distinguished by a classically inspired portico, 8 Mayflower Parkway (off Compo Road South) was saved from demolition by David Vynerib, founder and principal of CCO Habitats. His extensive renovation restored the home to its prior glory.

19 SOUNDVIEW DRIVE

The “Stevens Cottage” was built in 1920, and is part of the Compo-Owenoke Historic District. Blanca and Sunil Hirani purchased it in 2020 — just before it was torn down — and then enhanced the entire streetscape of the beach exit road.

21 danbury avenue

Another home in the Compo-Owenoke Historic District, this bungalow was built in 1922 by Gertrude May Allen. It was bought in 2019 by Julie and John Headland, who preserved it in the midst of other teardowns in the area.

35 POST ROAD WEST

Built in 1825, the Davis Taylor House was a single-family residence that evolved into a multi-family dwelling from the 1920s through ’60s. Today the Federal style structure is home to Peter Cadoux Architects, who faithfully restored it as their office.

39 CROSS HIGHWAY

The original house was built in 1772 by Phineas Chapman, a Connecticut Militia lieutenant. It burned in 1877 and was rebuilt by his grandson, Charles Chapman. It remained in the family until 1927, when his last descendant died. It later served as a nursery school. Designated as a local historic property by Deborah Howland and her son Galen Murray in 2018, new owners Amy Gay and Matthew Burrows recently completed an extensive renovation of the property on a very visible road.

71 HILLANDALE ROAD

Green’s Farms Congregational Church was established in 1711, when Westport was part of Fairfield. A meetinghouse was raised near what is now the Sherwood Island Connector commuter parking lot. The church’s 3rd building was constructed in 1853, on Hillandale. It expanded in phases. In 2019 — with the structure needing major renovation — the congregation quickly raised funds to repair the original foundation, restore the steeple and overhaul the organ. Click here for a full story.

161 cross highway

The Masiello family opened Christie’s Country Store in 1926, to sell produce grown on their nearby farm. They gave up farming in the late 1940s, but continued the business and added a gazebo moved from Redding Road. In 1958 the market was enlarged. It has gone through various incarnations — including, briefly, a dry cleaner’s — but longtime owner Tim Purcell renovated it. It now houses the popular Porch @ Christie’s restaurant.

163 CROSS HIGHWAY

This property, built by James Masiello in 1922 for his wife Mary, has been in the family for over 100 years. The Colonia Revival home has been lovingly conserved by Jean Masiello.

222 HILLSPOINT ROAD

Built in 1919, this is the oldest continually operating retail and food store in Westport. Designed as a small market to serve the area around Old Mill Beach, it was known variously as “Old Mill Grocery,” “Kenny’s,” “Elvira’s” and “Joey’s by the Shore.” A year ago, when sale to a residential developer seemed imminent, a group of residents formed the Soundview Empowerment Alliance. They saved it from destruction, renovated it, and turned it once again into a beloved “Old Mill Grocery & Deli.” Click here for a full story.

276 MAIN STREET

The Patrick Rice House (aka the Gray-Coley House and the Lamar Webb House) is one of the finest examples of Italianate style in Westport. Believed to be built in 1869, it is part of the Gorham Avenue Historic District. It has been lovingly maintained by a long history of owners. Current stewards Kristin Schneeman and Ezra Greenberg have meticulously maintained the property since buying it in 2011.

The Historic District Commission is chaired by Grayson Braun. She and Donna Douglass wrote all the narratives for the awards. Bill Harris donated the printing of the programs for the ceremony through his organization, the Army Aviation Associated of America.

The awards were organized by coordinator Donna Douglass; former member and house researcher Bob Weingarten; former chair and current member Bill Harris, who donated the printing of the programs through his Army Aviation Association of America, and HDC members Scott Springer, Wendy Van Wie, Martha Eidman and Elizabeth  Bolognino. 

(Westport’s history — and real estate — are among the most popular topics on “06880.” Please click here to support the work of your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)

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Posted in Beach, Local business, Real estate, religion

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Over Hillandale

Posted on December 21, 2009 | 4 comments

Early last century, Michael Calise’s grandparents came to New York from Ischia, a small island near Naples.  They spent summers in Westport, and liked the town so much that in the 1920s they bought a 10-acre farm on Hillandale Road.  The land extended from what is now Cumberland Farms, down to Torno Lumber, and out to what is now the center median of the Post Road.

The cost was $25,000.  The mortgage was 100 percent.

Calise’s grandfather — also named Michael — grew vegetables in an enormous garden, and raised pheasants.  He loved his beautiful trees, and great hedges.

But when the Depression hit, he went back to work.  He opened Westport Fish and Poultry Market across the Saugatuck River, near National Hall.  Later — when Prohibition ended — he added a liquor store.

The bank called the mortgage on the 10-acre farm.  But the highest bid was only $11,000.  He kept the property, and eventually paid off the mortgage.

In the 1950s he sold the corner of his property, on Hillspoint Road, to Gulf, which built a gas station.  He then built a small shopping center, and moved his grocery and liquor stores there — much closer to home.

Michael and his wife, Caterina, maintained the farm until the early 1980s.  They added a barn, but made no changes to the house.   After they died, relatives lived there for more than a decade.  Eventually they died, and the Calise family heirs planned to sell the property.

But they did not want to lose its historic nature.  They searched for a builder who would restore it.  They found Anthony Ialeggio.  He’d done a lot of restorations in town — including the original Masiello homestead on Cross Highway.

The Calises formed a partnership with Ialeggio.  He designed 2 homes, on either side of the original.  One was Italianate; the other a Federal- style Colonial, with a barn and garage.

“He could have divided the property into 4 lots, but then he’d have had to demolish my grandparents’ house,” Calise said.  “He kept them, and now there’s a wonderful streetscape.”

13 Hillandale Road -- the original Calise farmhouse. (Photo by Dave Matlow/WestportNow.com)

The home Ialeggio restored retains the original porches, roof line, even window placements.  Most trees were saved too, including 2 magnificent magnolias.  The current owners — Peter and Stephanie Durette — received a Westport Historic District Preservation Award last fall.

“By restoring the farmhouse, and building 2 new ones in the older vernacular alongside it, it looks like they’ve all been there 100 years,” Calise said.  “It’s not a subdivision street; it’s a period street.”  Other homes on the road — including A.E. Hotchner’s nearby — date from the early 1900s too.

Calise called the project “a lesson for what builders can do.  This could have turned into an 8000-square foot monster, totally out of character for the area.  Instead the houses are attractive, and nicely proportioned.”

Calise — who owns Settlers & Traders Real Estate — knows that bigger homes mean bigger bucks for builders.  Buyers want big homes too — these days, in these parts, 4000 square feet is considered small.  With most buyers paying $280 to $300 per square foot, many builders build big to amortize the cost of land.

But 1 of the 2 new Hillandale homes sold quickly.  The other lagged a bit, because of the overall market.

Calise is delighted that his grandparents’ house has been so handsomely restored — and that now it’s surrounded by equally attractive, and well-proportioned, homes.

“People always stop and stare,” he said.  “They like what they see where my grandparents lived, and up and down the road.”

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Posted in History, People, Places, Real estate

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