Pre-Revolutionary Landmark Preservation: Nehemiah Brainerd House

The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation together with William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty held a rare open house of three remarkable and co-located residences in Haddam, Connecticut on this rainy, grey morning in August 2018. Pre-registered guests were invited to experience the award-winning features of the Nehemiah Brainerd House Bed & Breakfast on its stunning property, previously featured on HGTV and with Yankee Magazine. Tour and talk highlights included an overview of the main homestead originally constructed in 1765; a three-car garage carriage house with loft apartment built in 2015; and a 1932 secluded writer's studio cottage along the Haddam Valley Railway Line. Together the buildings sit on five, park-like wooded acres overlooking the Connecticut River and Haddam Meadows State Park.

Formerly the home of novelist Katharine Brush (1901 - 1952), the present-day meticulously landscaped grounds include mature crab apple trees and verdant grape vines cascading along carefully crafted stonewall overlooks and stunning patios. The current owners hold a long and esteemed history in New England preservation and fully demonstrate commitment to renovations with an eye toward livability and future adaptive re-use.

Work on preserving and restoring the property required a sacrifice of every weekend for multiple years. The estate has been commercialized as a turn-key bed and breakfast and event venue, with a proven track record of active involvement in the local Historic District and Connecticut tourism. Although the buildings do not hold true to period styling, all three homes are lovingly finished with just the right amount of exterior and interior contemporary editing, complete with a pleasing and adaptable color palette for any design aesthetic.

With a history including colonists, deacons, quarrymen, and novelists, The Brainerd family estate was prominent in Haddam during the 18th and 19th centuries. Novelist Brush is credited with moving the main structure to its present site in the midst of the 1932 depression, and many of her books, movies, and photographs are evident in the central house today. Of particular note to this writer was a four-season sun room with a naturalist's dream-view of rolling hills; an interior loft apexed ceiling with streaming light in the carriage house along with a surprisingly elongated bathroom suite connecting opposing end bedrooms; and the Frank Lloyd Wright-era arts and crafts furnishings and layout of the writer's cottage.

While the present owners stated they hope to remain in Haddam once the property is sold (potentially to another aspiring and dedicated bed and breakfast proprietor), in brief remarks about the history of the home and renovation efforts, they took a moment to credit the work of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. The Trust offers grants and other financial vehicles for saving properties, advice and consultation expertise at all stages, and collaboration with community investment and state historic preservation projects. Recent Trust projects include: Seaside Sanatorium in Waterford, CT; Portland Silk Company in Middletown; and the Bishop House in Woodstock.

The combination of history, nature, and comfort make the Brainerd property an easy and intelligent selection for wedding and event venues. With an excellent guest review history, and a convenient location for nearby high-end attractions, visitors repeatedly cite the bed and breakfast with its lower valley Connecticut offerings as a premier and preferred stay. Little is known of pre-revolutionary Nehemiah Brainerd outside his attendance at Yale College, premature death, and his zealous Calvinist ministry. The Haddam Historical Society shared brief remarks including an ongoing commitment and receptivity to historical items of interest for the entire community.

Shauna Lee Lange writes about sacred spaces, sacred places, and creative placemaking - especially in the New England corridor. She is the founder of Sacrosanct Gallery and Sacred Art Squad, working to match innovative art programs to communities, congregations, and artists to save and preserve church history.