Round-headed Windows, Chamfered Post and Jigsaw Details: That's Historic!

The Italianate style of the George Keeler house gives it the architectural features which make it historically significant, but the home wasn't originally built with those details, according to historical architect James Sexton.

"It has the feel of something from Greek Revival (style), a rectangular structure," Sexton told the Historic District Commission during a public hearing on Tuesday. He said the home could date back as early as the 1830s to 1840s.

It's the additions to the home, however, sometime before 1882, that Sexton said lend the house it's lasting importance: 

• Low-pitched roof and deep overhand
• Wrap-around porch with chamfered post and jigsawn details
• Two-story bay window
• Round-headed windows in the gables 

Plans to renovate the home at 166 South Main St. are being reviewed by the commission which must decide whether a certificate of appropriateness will be approved for the building which is in the Town Center Historic District.

Developer Paul Bowman is requesting approval to renovate the 3,600-square-foot historic house to include a coffee shop, offices and two apartments.

The review by the commission also includes the construction of new building to a replicate the Keeler Stove Shop building which was demolished in April. 

Jay Willerup of Jacunski Humes Architects LLC of Hartford told the commission he toured both buildings in October and took photographs and made measured drawings of the structures.

"We want to restore and recreate the buildings and have them be part of Cheshire center," Willerup said. He said the goal is to restore and recreate the facades of the homes. "We don't have to make a statement, the buildings make the statement," he added.

Prior to the public hearing on the Keeler property, the commission voted to have member Eric Anderson recuse himself from the review. 

Chairwoman Jeanne' Chesanow told the commission that Town Attorney Dwight Johnson had requested that Anderson recuse himself based on comments he made and emails he sent concerning the development. "You had a definite opinion. You can't think clearly and vote on this application," she said.

Anderson didn't voluntarily recuse himself, instead asking for a vote by the commission. "For over a decade in Cheshire, in the preservation effort, I've been staunch and consistent," he said.

The commission voted 3-to-0, with one abstention by Joseph Dattilo, to remove Anderson from the review of the Keeler project.

In March, Anderson was also asked by the Town Attorney to recuse himself when discussion of the demolition of the stove shop was before the commission. However, Anderson did not follow the advice and continued to comment on the issue.

The public hearing by the historic commission was continued until August 1. The Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its public hearing on the site plan for the development on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.