Two historic Connecticut houses are ensured of permanent protection thanks to preservation easements recently donated to the Connecticut Trust. 

The Adam Stanton House (ASH) in Clinton is one of Connecticut’s oldest house museums. Built in 1791 by a prosperous merchant, the house is large and imposing, featuring a center hall with hinged partitions that open to the front rooms on either side. The side ell housed a store, while a rear ell and outbuildings accommodated service functions. The house is located in the Clinton Village National Register district.  In 1916 Adam Stanton’s descendants left the property in trust to be a museum. After 100 years the bank that administered the trust transferred the property to the newly-formed Adam Stanton House, Incorporated (ASH), which will be better able to raise funds, maintain the property, and operate the museum. The Trust has advised ASH during the transfer and is represented on the organization’s board. The easement will help ASH continue to fulfill the Stanton family’s goal of preserving the property.

The second new easement covers the Oliver West house in East Hampton. Built between 1801 and 1818, the West house is much more modest than the Stanton house, reflecting Oliver West’s status as a carpenter, lumberman, stonecutter, and farmer. He also supplied lumber to shipbuilders in the nearby river port of Middle Haddam. A State Register nomination is being prepared.  In the 20th century, the house was bought and restored by Charles and Violet Murphy. Mrs. Murphy’s estate donated the property to the Connecticut Trust, at the generous recommendation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In August, we sold the house to a private owner who is enthusiastically looking forward to making needed repairs and upgrades with the Trust’s guidance.  

Click here for more information about preservation easements!