Innovations Keep History on the Move: Ebenezer Mead House Moved from High School Campus (1986)

by Jeffrey Bingham Mead

Greenwich Time, Greenwich, Connecticut

Wednesday, July 30, 1986. Page A9.

With the costs of Greenwich real estate going up and the proliferation of commercial development around town, one must wonder sometimes whether the preservation test is possible. It was 10 years ago that the historic Maher house, built by General Ebenezer Mead in the 18th century, was moved from the foot of Put's Hill on East Putnam Avenue to the new site on Salem Street in Cos Cob.

From Frederick A. Hubbard's book Other Days in Greenwich, we are told "it was from the front porch of this house in the early morning of February 26, 1779 that General Ebenezer Mead saw General Israel Putnam make his famous escape from the British dragoons." It was Ebenezer Mead who later established the first Greenwich Library in the house and served as its president.

At the time Mr. Hubbard visited the house it was owned by Theodore Mead, grandson of the general. Theodore Mead was the one who had transformed the meadow behind the main house into a pond. It was known for many years as "Ten Acres," a place for leisurely ice-skating and ice harvesting during the winter months. A mill site was located close by at Brothers Brook. Many homes in Horseneck and Cos Cob were warmed by firewood from Theodore Mead's woods.

After his death in 1876 the property was sold in 1881 with Cornelia Mead, widow of Theodore, given a life use of the house and four acres of land. She died in the autumn of that year, and the property subsequently went to Henry Webb and then sold to John Maher.

Many years passed until the Board of Education purchased the property for the new high school campus. In doing so the board permitted a life use for Dorothy Maher, who passed away in the autumn of 1974.

The Board of Education formed the Maher House Committee, which is chaired by H. Edward Hildebrand, Jr. The purpose of this group was to "conduct a study to explore the possible alternative long-term and short-term uses for the Maher House… and to make specific recommendations to the Board of Education."

The committee found the house unsuitable for educational purposes and too expensive to turn into a museum. The recommendation, which was rejected by the Board of Education, stated that it should remain a private residence. Subsequently the house was turned over to the Board of Selectmen.

Then-First Selectmen Ruppert Vernon reconvened the Maher House Committee. In a vigorous effort to preserve the house, he asked the committee members to review their findings, emphasizing the desire of the Board of Education for a speedy resolution of the fate of the house so that a use for the land underneath could be found. With the committee again recommending the house stay as a private residence and upon receiving the proper legislation from the RTM, the selectmen began to accept bids on the house.

They excepted the bid of Charles Danks in April 1976 for the timely price of $19.76.

Mr. Danks, a mortician by profession, decided to relocate the house to Salem Street behind his proposed funeral home. The move itself, reported to cost about $50,000, was not without problems. The roof was removed so that the house could pass under high tension wires, with a new roof to be built according to current building codes. It was also necessary to move some traffic signals and telephone wires.

On the day of the house moving many bystanders lined the post Road to witness the event. At the time I was among those who saw the majestic house traverse its route to the new site. As I recall the relocation went smoothly on the late spring sunny day. A number of police officers detoured traffic. The house, raised on cribbing, took several hours to make its journey.

The task of moving historic houses is not new but can be of great importance. A house of historic value is preserved but the original site can be used for other purposes. The relocation of the Maher House is an example of an innovative way for individuals and government to work together for the common good of maintaining the physical aspect of our past.

Jeffrey be Mead, who lives in Greenwich, is a direct descendent of one of the founding families of the town. He is a freelance writer and a member of the Greenwich Historical Society.