By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — The town’s history took a front-row seat Thursday as the Historic District Commission presented awards to property owners who have lovingly restored or preserved the historic value of their homes or businesses. 

The annual recognition ceremony took place Thursday evening in Town Hall.

The presentation of two new Legacy Business Preservation Awards also recognized enterprises with longtime Westport legacies that continue to create memories today.

The Porch at Christie’s, 161 Cross Highway, and the building’s owner, Tim Purcell, were honored with the new award “for preservation of a beloved local landmark.” Christie’s Country Store, established in 1926, was run by the Maisiello family for decades and continues to sell food today, focused on providing job opportunities for people of all abilities.

The second Legacy Business Preservation Award honored the Old Mill Grocery & Deli, 222 Hillspoint Road, and the Soundview Empowerment Alliance, a team of Westporters who banded together to save what the Historic District Commission called “the oldest continually operating retail and food store in Westport.”

Chris Tait, a member of the alliance and a Representative Town Meeting member, called the small grocery and restaurant “an anchor for the town.” The group raised $1.3 million to buy the building through a community effort with more than 500 donors, according to the alliance’s website.

“We weren’t just saving a building; we were saving a part of Westport,” Tait said at the ceremony.

Another group effort — this one to restore and rehabilitate Green’s Farms Church — was also recognized with a Preservation Award. The congregation organized a multi-million fundraising campaign to restore the Hillandale Road church, established in 1711.

Historic District Commission Chairwoman Grayson Braun presented the awards to the honored property owners, many of whom commented on what the history of their properties means to them, and how challenging a historic restoration or rehabilitation project can be.

David Vynerib, of CCO Habitats, said restoring the Colonial Revival house at 8 Mayflower Parkway, was one of the hardest projects that he, a professional home builder, had ever taken on.

John Hudson, representing his parents Julie and John Hudson — owners of 21 Danbury Ave. — said that for his family “it means so much to be part of Westport’s history.”

First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, who welcomed the honorees to the Preservation Awards event, said that she and her husband had been presented a Preservation Award in 2014.

“Preservation is near and dear to me,” she said.

The 2023 award-winning properties are:

19 SOUNDVIEW DRIVE, Blanca and Sunil Hirani, owners 

The original cottage, built in 1920, is in the Compo-Owenoke Historic District. The house was remodeled in 1931 and 1948. The current owners, who purchased the home in 2020, were honored for saving the historic house from demolition.

21 DANBURY AVE., Julie and John Headland, owners

Located in the Compo-Owenoke Historic District, the home was built in 1922 and is an example of a Colonial Revival bungalow. The owners were honored for their commitment to preserve the structure.

8 MAYFLOWER PARKWAY, David Vynerib, CCO Habitats

This large house, “distinguished by its classically inspired portico, exemplifies the Colonial Revival style,” according to the award, was built in 1926. The extensive renovation of this property “restores the home to its former glory.” 

35 POST ROAD WEST, Peter Cadoux, owner

The Federal-style house, near the corner of Post Road West and Riverside Avenue, is now the office of Peter Cadoux Architects. Constructed in 1825, the Davis Taylor House originally was a single-family residence, but over the years served many other purposes. The Preservation of Historic Building Award “is being given in acknowledgement of Cadoux’s faithful supervision of this property.”

39 CROSS HIGHWAY, Amy Gay and Matthew Burrows, owners

The original house at was built in 1772 by Phineas Chapman, a lieutenant in the Connecticut Militia. It burned in 1877 and was rebuilt by his grandson, Charles Chapman, in 1878 and remained in the Chapman family for over 180 years. The Chapmans were involved in the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars, and early development of Westport’s farming trade. The current owners recently completed a renovation of the property.

71 HILLANDALE ROAD, Green’s Farms Church 

Green’s Farms Church was established in 1711 when Westport was part of the colonial settlement of Fairfield. The church was burned by the British in 1779.

The existing sanctuary dates from 1853 and has been expanded several times. The most recent project included repairing the original foundation, restoring the steeple and overhauling the organ. 

161 CROSS HIGHWAY, The Porch at Christie’s, Tim Purcell, property owner

Christie’s Country Store was established in 1926 by the Masiello family to sell the produce grown on their nearby family farm. In 1958, the market was enlarged and since then, the site has served as home to Westport’s northernmost retail food establishment, according to the award, and is currently home to The Porch at Christie’s. The Legacy Business Preservation Award was given “in honor of this tradition of service to the community.”

163 CROSS HIGHWAY, Jean Masiello, owner

The house, built in 1922, has been in the Masiello family for more than  100 years and is an example of Colonial Revival architecture. A Preservation Award for Excellence in Ongoing Care and Maintenance was given in honor of “loving conservancy of this wonderful, family home.” 

222 HILLSPOINT ROAD, Old Mill Grocery & Deli, Soundview Empowerment Alliance, owner

Constructed in 1919, the building was designed as a small grocery store to serve what was then the developing neighborhood around Compo Cove and was known through the years as “The Old Mill Store,” “Dirty Kenny’s,” “Grubbs,” “Elvira’s” and “Elvira Mae’s & Joey’s.” The team that renovated and reopened the building as the “Old Mill Grocery & Deli” was honored with a Legacy Business Award “to commemorate both the preservation of this building and their dedication to maintaining this piece of Westport’s heritage.”

276 MAIN ST., Kristin Schneeman and Ezra Greenberg, owners

Constructed in 1869 by Patrick Rice, a local builder, the house in the Gorham Avenue Historic District “is one of the finest examples of Italianate style in Westport,” according to the Historic District Commission award. The current owners were honored for “meticulously maintaining and improving this property since they acquired it in 2011,” with the 2023 Helen Muller Preservation Award. The citation is given to “a property within a local historic district where there is a demonstrated excellence in the restoration and/or preservation of the property.”

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist and journalism teacher for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman newspaper for 10 years and teaches journalism at Southern Connecticut State University.