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TORRINGTON–When City Hall officials put the 18th century Jacob Strong, Jr. House out to archaeological and site survey bid in August, the plans were already in the making for the city to acquire the house at 1167 Highland Ave., with the goal in mind of preserving its associated cultural history and resources.
Earlier this month, City Councilors followed a recommendation by Zoning and Inlands Wetlands Officer Kimberly Barbieri to award the bid to architect Mark Thaler, who will be paid through a $13,500 grant for his assessment and consultation of the project, followed by infrastructure work on the property. Thaler, who was one of four bid finalists, was awarded the bid because of his “great expertise,” Barbieri said.
“He was able to point out things that nobody else pointed out to us,” Barbieri said.
City officials would like to know the extent and scope of the work needed to maintain a house listed on the State Register of Historic Places, and with the Strong House and accompanying barn in need of serious restoration work, they are considering a lease back to the current property owner subject to a maintenance and upkeep agreement. Thaler’s plan states the grant money will “help determine what work needs to be completed and by when.”
Officials in City Hall were approached by the house’s current owner and have been in discussions about the city taking over the property, with hopes of preserving one of the last remnants of Torrington’s original English settlers.
Discussions between the property owner, listed as the Lippincott family, and the Torrington Historical Society have been “largely private,” according to Thaler’s outline, “However, the volunteer Conservation Commission has given their full support of the project pending the assessment findings, as well as the Mayor’s office, the Torrington Historical Society… agreed this is an extremely valuable site to be protected on a side of town that does not have many sites preserved.”
In August, Torrington Historical Society Executive Director Mark McEachern said houses like the Jacob Strong House, which possibly was constructed as early as the 1740s, are rare in Torrington.
So rare in fact, that in comparison to neighboring Litchfield or Harwinton, only two other houses within Torrington’s municipal lines date back to the mid-18th century, McEachern said.
Part of Torrington’s Plan of Conservation and Development identifies historic preservation, so obtaining the Jacob Strong House and attempting to preserve it would “work toward meeting the goals outlined” in the plan, the bid plan states.
Options discussed by City Hall include creating “a working relationship with a historical preservation group or historic organization” to deliver programs from the house and barn, along with agricultural plans and possibly a walking or hiking trail through its 22 acres of farm and woodland atop the Litchfield Hills. Continued…
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