“In addition, the town of Norfolk (the home is located within walking distance of the quaint center of town and the Yale Summer School of Music) is positioned for strong growth in the real estate market,” says McGowan. The floor plan of the house also affords “something most unique,” with its multiple stairways, abundant bedrooms and baths and separate "public" rooms, which make it “the perfect country house” for entertaining and privacy. McGowan says to find a historic home set back off the road with a sprawling front lawn and approach is also difficult, as these houses were almost always built very near roads for easy access during winter. To build this home today to its exacting standards would cost twice the asking price.” Also the construction of post and beam is not done today with rare exception, such as post and beam barn homes, which are also rare. Today, trees are harvested prior to their growing large enough to even be cut to those dimensions. “To duplicate the wide chestnut, oak and pine floors and paneling is virtually impossible. “The property is unique because so much of it is original,” he explains during a recent interview. Realtor Tom McGowan speaks to the historical significance of the home and property. The Wilcox Tavern, which sits on 3.42 acres, is currently for sale with an asking price of $589,000. A “keeping room” with its massive fireplace remains a center of activity in the house. Almost all of the floors and woodwork in the home are original as are the fireplaces. It was later moved back down a driveway on the property and a Dutch Gambrel rear wing attached. The Wilcox Tavern, which has 3,795 total square feet of space, originally sat close to Greenwoods Road East, as did most homes in the 1700s. Though the number of stage routes in the state declined with the growth of railroads, service operated in some towns into the early 20th century. Stagecoaching was actually the fledgling United State’s first transportation subculture, the means by which a considerable number of citizens became mobile and in touch with neighboring states and different cultures. From 18, “stagecoaching” was a major enterprise and a source of livelihood for a number of individuals. Tavern stops were typically 12 to 18 miles apart, and it was not unusual for stage proprietors to have a financial interest in the locations where passengers were to stop for food or to spend the night. The focal point of stagecoach travel in Connecticut towns at the time was the local tavern, usually run by a person of standing in the community. It was once common, especially on farms on main roads, that when the man of the house died and children grew and left the homestead, widows would open a tavern/inn to be able to maintain the home and keep a place for themselves to live. A sign outside a side entrance to the home proclaims "The Widow Wilcox Proprietor," and she must have enjoyed a modicum of success as a tavern owner and innkeeper despite Jay’s less than flattering opinion as the property later became the Bigelow Hotel. For some reason, Chief Justice Jay did not approve of the widow Wilcox’s tavern. At times, as one can imagine, complaints were issued for keeping disorderly houses of entertainment.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |