Editorial Staff.
On Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the all-purpose room of the building formerly known as Haddam Elementary School, there will be a Planning & Zoning Commission meeting to discuss the demolition of a house at 140 Dublin Hill Road in Haddam.
The property at 140 Dublin Hill Road in Haddam is listed on the “Haddam Survey of Historical and Architectural Resources.” The owner has applied for a demolition permit to remove that structure. After a house was demolished to make room for Dollar General in Tylerville, Section 15A “Historic Preservation by Special Permit” ordinance was added to Haddam’s Zoning regulations. The demolition of a structure on the Haddam Survey of Historical and Architectural Resources now requires the granting of a special permit from Haddam’s Planning and Zoning Commission. The purpose of the regulation is to ensure all feasible and prudent alternatives to the demolition have been considered.
“Historic buildings are essential to the identity and unique character of a community,” explained Elizabeth Malloy, Director of the Haddam Historical Society. “The Haddam Historical Society opposes the demolition of the building and has filed an objection which has initiated the Delay of Demolition Ordinance. We do this because our mission is to preserve and promote the history and heritage of Haddam for present and future generations.”
“Ideally the best solution would be to see the building preserved on site or relocated on its existing plot,” said Ms. Malloy. “Another viable option could be moving it to another location in town and restored. Other alternatives could be relocating to another town or dismantling and putting in storage for future reconstruction.” She went on to say that “the owner has been cooperative and has met with HHS and the staff from Preservation Connecticut. He is willing to make the building available at no cost but the interested party would be responsible for moving it to another site.” The owner, Tim Brewer, declined to comment when asked by this newspaper.
The Haddam Historical Society describes the structure at 140 Dublin Hill Road like this: “The Leverett Spencer House is one of the best and most well-preserved examples of workers’ housing in Higganum reflecting the growth of the area’s industry during the second half of the 19th century and development of neighborhoods for employees at the factories. Although other factory housing remains in the area, most have been significantly altered. The house at 140 Dublin remains untouched, and although a modest cottage, it does exhibit ‘Gothic Revival’ architectural details that give the building character and is a humbler version of the more ornate managers’ or factory owners’ dwellings. This tangible link to the working-class families of our town represents those who labored in the local mills and factories and put Higganum on the map in the 19th and 20th centuries. It illustrates how families came from foreign shores with little in their pockets and were able to toil and save to achieve the American dream of owning a home in which to raise a family.”
