Historic Home Crumbling in Farmington

0:00It's April 20th, Hartford News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. A historic gem in Farmington, Connecticut, the Chancy Brown House, is crumbling right before our eyes. Built starting in 1666, it's one of the state's oldest homes and part of the Connecticut Freedom Trail. Sitting vacant for at least 15 years along a busy avenue, it's overrun by vines, with broken windows, sagging gutters and peeling paint. Thousands drive by daily without a second glance. This spot ties deep into American history, especially the Amistad Rebellion. Back in 1841, a young men-day survivor named Timmy from that slave ship revolt lived here temporarily. A Newington business bought it in 2007 for $895,000, then tried to tear it down in 2018. Preservationists blocked them move temporarily, and the owner backed off, but plans for a bank fell through too. Locals are fired up about the neglect. Zach Gomez spotted it recently, dug into its past, and pushed preservationists for hope only to learn their zero plan to save it.

1:07Portia Corbett, from the Farmington Historical Society, calls it a shame, a key piece of town heritage vanishing. Folks see it as irreplaceable old-growth timber work, getting trashed for modern junk. Recent checks show no progress since 2018. Todd Levine from the Freedom Trail reached out to town officials this week at Gomez's urging, but the owner's still not biting on grants or tax. Credits for fixes. The sights worse now, debris everywhere, kicked indoors, rotting wood, and no one stepping up. It's frustrating to watch four centuries of history fade like this, but voices like Gomez's could spark a town push before its bulldoze for good. Stay tuned as preservation battles heat up in spots like Farmington.