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Preservation Efforts Sought for Historic House

Town officials are looking for a way to preserve a historic home that local historians have called a lost piece of the Town’s Black history.

Last year, the Town purchased a small parcel intended to facilitate a critically needed rehabilitation of the Lake Quonnipaug dam; however, after an investigation by Town Historian Joel Helander, it was revealed that the property and the structure on it were likely the home of a freeman and possible formerly enslaved person, Ham Primis.

First Selectman Matt Hoey said the Board of Selectmen is interested in working with preservation groups to help preserve the most historically significant portion of the property.

“That is a position we’ve held from the outset, which is why we agreed to move forward with the study,” Hoey said. “The plans, as preliminarily conceived, make it impossible to keep the house where it is, so I think we’re far enough ahead of the curve that we can work with the respective preservation organizations to understand what options we have.”

The purchase of the property located at 3431 Durham Road was originally intended to address a long-standing issue with the dam at the Lake’s south end. The Town has been aware of the dam’s critical state for many years. After negotiations with the State over what entity should actually take on the burden of the repairs, the Town is forging ahead with efforts to repair the dam and reconfigure the triangle of roads that intersect next to it.

The property was purchased on the recommendation of Town Engineer Janice Plaziak to address the confusing Route 77, Lake Drive, and Hoop Hole Road intersection could be addressed and the dam repaired. When notified of the pending purchase, Helander, in a blitz of research, uncovered some of the property’s history and its importance to Guilford’s past. In the following investigation, Helander said the structure dated back to the time it was believed to have been constructed and was most likely tied to Primis.

“This is truly an independent and impartial discovery of facts, and that is the way historians proceed. So, now I’m not sure where we’re going,” said Helander. “It is the only existing dwelling house in Guilford connected to African Americans of that vintage, circa 1816,” said Helander.

According to Helander, the town records and tree/wood age data all indicate that the original house was owned and lived in by Primis.

“This house absolutely was Primis’ house. The date of 1816 intersects with all of the evidence…and it intersects with Ham Primis being on the federal census (1820) in that location in North Guilford at a very early date,” Helander said. “I don’t know of another house like it in town,” said Helander.

Tracy Tomaselli of the Guilford Preservation Alliance, a non-profit group whose mission is to preserve and protect the built and natural heritage of Guilford, said the BOS’s decision is exciting news that she and the organization are hoping it will lead to the property and home’s preservation, in some form.

Dennis Culliton, co-founder of the Witness Stones Project and member of the CT Freedom Trail, said there are so few examples of this type of home between New Haven and Old Saybrook that every structure, such as the Primis house, needs special consideration before demolition or re-siting.

Tomaselli also noted that moving the structure could negate its historical value to the point that it would render the site ineligible for CT Freedom Designation and/or funding.

“In light of the findings, we are discussing the property’s significance, its value to the Connecticut Freedom Trail, and its importance to the history of North Guilford,” Tomaselli said. “As with any significant property on the inventory, we are always hopeful of an alternative solution to a tear-down.”