'Underground Railroad' Home In Farmington Pegged For Preservation

FARMINGTON, CT — Local leaders earlier this month voted to add two old Farmington properties to the town's historic district, including one believed to be part of the 'Underground Railroad."

The designation, unanimously approved by the Farmington Town Council on June 9, provides an extra layer of protection should those sites be pegged for future development.

Since both sites are owned by the Farmington Historical Society, their preservation is all but guaranteed in perpetuity.

Technically, the council voted to amend Farmington's historic properties code by adding the two sites to the Farmington Historic District.

'Underground Railroad' Home

One of the properties is the "Elijah Lewis House," which is owned by the Farmington Historical Society and located at 1 Mountain Spring Road.

Built in 1790, the home features the "Colonial Revival" style of architecture, according to a report by the Farmington Historic District Commission.

The home was built by Capt. Judah Woodruff for Elijah Lewis at what is now 778 Farmington Ave., with Lewis operating a store inside the home.

Lewis' son, Elijah L. Lewis, eventually inherited the home upon his father's passing in 1856, with the younger Lewis believed to have been active in the "Underground Railroad," which aided slaves from the south and helped them achieve their freedom in the north.

The historic home was eventually relocated to its current site in 1978 to allow a nearby car dealership to expand, according to a town report.

Mary Barney Carey House

The other property approved for inclusion in the town's historic district was the "Mary Barney Carey House" at 729 Farmington Ave.

Built in 1926 in the Tudor architectural style, this house was built by a prominent Farmington family.

The property was sold from D. Newton Barney to his daughter, Mary Dunham Barney Carey, who married Hiram Bissel Carey.

Carey was president of the Collins Co. in nearby Canton (the sharp tools manufacturer in a neighborhood named after the company.)

After passing through generations in the family, the home was owned, at different times, to the nearby Miss Porters School and the Alzheimer's Resource Center of Connecticut.

In January, the ARCC sold the home to the Farmington Historical Society, paving the way for the home's future preservation as a historical site.

Farmington Assistant Town Planner Garrett Daigle gave a presentation on the historic district group's report the council meeting June 9.

The public, meanwhile, had nothing but support for the action during a public hearing that same night.

Jay Bombara, chairman of the Farmington Historic District and a member of the Farmington Historical Society, thanked town staff for their work helping to achieve the designation.

"It worked out very well, as you know," he said. "Obviously, preservation is critical, and I really appreciate all the people who have served in the roles that you guys have served for years that have built this district out."

He said the long-term goal is to have the Mary Barney Carey House become the headquarters for the Farmington Historical Society.

Council members, with no discussion, quickly approved the measure.

For the minutes of the June 9 Farmington Town Council meeting (and the historic district commission report), click on this link.