Easton Road Toll House
- Property Overview
- Inventory List
- Property Map
- Historic/Common Name:
- Goodsell-Grumman Toll House, McCoy House
- Address:
- 151 Easton Road
- Town:
- Westport »
- Year:
- c. 1760
- Historic Designation:
- LHP, SR
- Property Authority:
- Historic District Commission
- Features:
- Building
- Historic Use:
- Residence
- Present Use:
- Residence
- Architectural Style:
- Colonial
- Era:
- 18th Century
- Map:
- {# if eligible_for_tax_credits}
- Eligible for Historic Home tax credits:
- Yes {/if #}
- General description:
The solid, 1 1/2 storey, three bay, central chimney, saltbox survived basically unaltered into the mid-1930s, but since then it has been extensively reworked in the Colonial Revival style. Bay windows replace the original/early six-over-six sash on the south facade (original front), and the rear slope of the roof has been raised to a full two stories. The east or street front remain unchanged, but a large ell has been added to the west elevation. The chimney stack was stone in 1935. [3]
- Significance of the property:
The date of the house is based on a brick found in the chimney bearing the inscription '1760'. It was built by John Goodsell II (1730-79) and Lewis Goodsell, sons of the Rev. John Goodsell, first minister of the Greenfield Hill Church. He served from 1726-1763. The first Goodsell known to occupy the house was John III (1753-1814) who married Ann Smith. It remained in the Goodsell family for five generations. The house originally stood on Catamount Road located to the east of the house. It was the second road laid out across the long lots. In 1817 a private highway, the present Easton Road, was constructed to provide the Aspetuck valley and Greenfield Hill farmers with a route to the market port of Saugatuck. Although one of the few remaining saltboxes in Westport, according to George Jennings, after 1935 it has been extensively reworked in the Colonial Revival style by the addition of a large wing to the west and raising the roof, but the original shape is still discernable. [3]
- Relationship with the Surroundings:
Located in a residential area, the house is sited close to Easton Road and is oriented towards the south. The house predates the road.
- Ownership:
- Private
- Owner:
- Brown Nancy D Et Als Trustees
- Sources:
Assessors information retrieved from the website www.visionappraisal.com.
[1] Historic Property information retrieved from the town of website http://www.westportct.gov/.
[2] Easton Road Toll House/Goodsell/Grumman/McCoy House, Historic Property Study Report, 2008, SHPO library, Hartford.
[3] McCahon Mary E., Goodsell-Grumman Toll House, Historic Resources Inventory, 1988, SHPO library, Hartford.
[4] Historic District handbook accessed in the town website [http://www.westportct.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=280].
GIS information retrieved from http://www.westportct.gov/index.aspx?page=538.- Date of Compilation:
- 12/31/11
- Compiler:
- Manjusha Patnaik, CT Trust for Historic Preservation
Map of the historic property retrieved the online GIS map, accessed from the town website.
View photo