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01/12/2022 08:19 AMSome recently restored houses in Clinton may be eligible for recognition from the Historic District Commission (HDC).
As befits a town that is almost 400 years old, Clinton is host to number of historic houses. However, some of the houses are in disrepair or have lost their historic character over the years. Recently, the HDC has began a program that salutes homeowners who have restored historic houses.
Under the Historic Property Restoration Recognition Program, homeowners who have restored the exterior of houses appropriately will receive a certificate from the HDC and have a photo of the work displayed in Town Hall.
HDC Vice President Peggy Adler explained that by “appropriate restoration,” the HDC means using materials that are consistent with the house time period.
Adler said that the HDC has so far recognized two properties under the program. The first property is 109 East Main Street, which houses an antique shop known as Old Beautiful and is situated on the corner of Liberty Street and the Boston Post Road. That house was built in 1850.
The second property is at the 148 Old Post Road and was restored by Megan and Bill Stine. The house at one time was Megan Stine’s maternal grandmother’s and was built in 1838. Most Clinton residents probably know the house as the one-time home of George Flynn.
Flynn was born in 1903 in the house, where he lived a frugal existence filled with a love classical music. When Flynn died, he left $2.2 million to provide free classical music concerts that continue to this day with the George Flynn Classical Concert Series.
Adler noted that despite the connection of Flynn to the town, the house was recognized purely on the restoration work.
“It’s just nice to have a house with some history. Megan and her husband have done a wonderful job and it looks great,” said Adler.
Adler, who lives in a historic home herself, said she was inspired to start the program with the HDC in part because she wants more people to consider preserving old houses.
“I would walk my dog and I would see houses in disrepair and I thought maybe if people knew they’d be recognized in some way they’d keep up the property,” explained Adler.
Megan Stine also echoed those sentiments when asked why she wanted to restore the house in the first place, a process that she said took about a year.
“I wanted to restore it because the house has been in my family for more than 100 years. It was my great grandmother’s house, and the one place my mother was happy as a child. I came here as a child myself, so it had deep sentimental meaning to me. My Uncle George was like a grandfather to me, and I wanted to continue the family’s legacy here,” said Stine.
Adler said that other people interested in having their restoration work recognized should contact the HDC.
“We have a list of some homes, but it could be years before we get to every one of them,” said Adler
“My hope is that people with historic homes, they fix it up and then they just let us know,” said Adler.
Residents can contact the HDC via a letter at Andrews Memorial Town Hall, 54 East Main Street, Clinton, CT 06413 or by attending an HDC monthly meetings held at 7 p.m. via Zoom, the third Tuesday of every month. For more information, visit clintonct.org.