Silvermine, Connecticut
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Silvermine is a neighborhood extending into three southwestern Connecticut municipalities -- Norwalk, New Canaan and Wilton.
The name "Silvermine" comes from old legends of a silver mine in the area, although no silver has ever been found. Silvermine was long an art colony and remains the home of the Silvermine Guild Arts Center. The Silvermine Tavern, an inn occupying several historic buildings, also remains in the neighborhood. Silver Hill Hospital is at the northern end of the neighborhood, in New Canaan near the Wilton border.
There are two community groups specific to Silvermine: The Silvermine Community Association and the Norwalk Association of Silvermine Homeowners (NASH).
The Silvermine Golf Club is a 27-hole course at 95 N. Seir Hill Road, Norwalk (and extending into Wilton).
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[edit] History
The area has been settled since at least the late Seventeenth century. In the eighteenth century, the Silvermine River was used for 12 or 13 mills in the neighborhood because it fell steeply enough for the water power to be profitably harnessed. The mills included a leather tanning works, sawmill, and spool works.[1]
Solon Borglum, a sculptor, moved to the New Canaan part of Silvermine in 1906[2] and built a hillside studio. He was one of the leading figures in an emerging community of artists in the neighborhood and helped found the "Knockers Club" (so named because when they would meet in Borglum's studio and discuss their art, a lot of frank criticism came out, knocking one another's work[2]) that later became the Silvermine Guild, one of the largest and oldest art centers in New England. Other artists in the neighborhood were Addison Miller, Howard Hildebrandt, Bernard Gutman, Putnam Brinley, R.B. Gruelle, Carl Schmitt, Frank Townsend Hutchens, Richard Daggy, Hamilton Hamilton, Murray McKay, Sam Otis, Leo Dorn, John Cassell, Clifton Meek and Adele Klaer.[3]
Spencer Tracy, the actor, stayed in Silvermine and "holds the record for eating the most waffles at one sitting" at the old Grist Mill of Silvermine Tavern, when that building was a waffle shop in the 1930s.[2]
[edit] Boundary of the neighborhood
The following description of the neighborhood is illustrated in the "Neighborhood Map" linked to in the External Links section, below.
According to the Silvermine Community Association, the northern boundary of the neighborhood is Huckleberry Hill Road in both Wilton and New Canaan. The neighborhood includes both sides of Thayer Drive and Wardwell Drive in New Canaan, and (in New Canaan) Silvermine Road (and streets off of it) east of the intersection with Carter Street and Canoe Hill Road. Carter Street is not in the neighborhood, but all of the streets east of it are.
In Norwalk, the neighborhood includes a bit of New Canaan Avenue near the New Canaan line (and Purdy Road), Comstock Hill Avenue and streets off of it, Silvermine Avenue just north of its intersection with Bartlett Avenue, Cliff View Drive, James Street and Riverview Drive, Perry Avenue north and west of Route 7 and North Seir Hill Road, south of its intersection with Vespucci Road (which is also in the neighborhood).
In Wilton, the neighborhood includes both sides of Seir Hill Road north to its intersection with Old Boston Road, the west side of Old Boston Road to its intersection with Highfield Road, both sides of Old Boston Road north of that to its intersection with New Canaan Road, the west side of Old Boston Road north of that to Huckleberry Hill Road, and the south side of Huckleberry Hill Road in Wilton and New Canaan.
[edit] Notable people, past and present
- Faith Baldwin, a writer, was a resident
- Solon Borglum, a sculptor, was a resident (New Canaan)
- Carl Schmitt, a painter and poet, was a resident (Wilton) Many of his descendents still live in the Silvermine area.
- William Boring, designer of Ellis Island and Columbia University dean of architecture, lived in "Sun House"[4]
- Johnny Gruelle, an artist and creator of Raggedy Ann, was a resident (Norwalk)
- Verneur Pratt, inventor of the microfilm reader, lived in the Keeler-Pratt House in thye 1920s. His laboratory and studio was the 1876 carriage barn on the property. [4]
- Spencer Tracy, the actor, was a visitor
- Brian Walker, who writes (but doesn't draw) the "Hi and Lois" comic strip, lives and works in Silvermine. He lives in a house formerly owned by the Gruelle family.[5]
- Richardson Wright, writer, editor of House and Garden lived in "Sun House" (some time after Boring lived there).[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ [1]Silvermine Tavern Web site, Web page titled "A Short Walking Tour" accessed September 14, 2006
- ^ a b c
- ^ [2] Silvermine Tavern Web site, Web page titled "Silvermine Tavern History", accessed September 14, 2006
- ^ a b c Susan B. Cruikshank, "The Allure of Silvermine: Come step inside some historic homes," an artcle in The Home Monthly September 2006, published by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
- ^ [3]Silvermine Community Association Web site, Web page titled "Silvermine Cartoonists: Brian Walker", accessed September 14, 2006
[edit] External links
- The Silvermine Community Association
- Silvermine Guild Arts Center
- Silvermine Tavern
- Silvermine Golf Club
- Neighborhood Map
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