by Jeffrey Bingham Mead
Greenwich Time, Greenwich, Connecticut
Wednesday, July 30, 1986. Page A9.
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.
Hello Jeff, great story. I was curious about the year '1986' used in your story for the moving of the house.and it's significance, because the move took place in late May or early June in 1977 shortly before we were let out of school that year. The house itself was amazing. Prior to the move all the chimneys and fireplaces including a very large one with an old steel or iron swing arm for holding a large pot or kettle and an old beehive oven, all made with old brick. Some were brittle and broke when they fell. Other fire places had been remodled back in the victorian era. Some with fancy wood carvings with mirror and glass. They all had to be dismantled by hand, and it was a lot of physical labor, I know personally. They were still all original, with rock, mud and straw. I was surprised they lasted for so many years. In the cellar we discovered an old well. Apparently at one time there was a second home or an addition built on or next to the original home. When they built it they covering the well and creating indoor plumbing! LOL! At one time an elevator was added to the home and it only needed a minimal amount of work to operate again. Replacing some of the antique brick proved to be a bit of a chore and it took a few trips around new england to acquire. Social media sure would have helped back then. Another object I found very interesting were the old large heavy hand cut and carved beams in the roof and attic. You could see all the cuts, strikes and strokes from the old hand tools.
ReplyDelete