Upcoming House Tour Celebrates Trumbull Architecture

When driving around Trumbull, (when we aren’t experiencing high winds or strange fall blizzards) have you ever noticed those plaques on antique homes? They usually include a year and a date, serving as a small glimpse into the history of the home. Trumbull is lucky to still have a number of antique homes, many of which have been lovingly restored by their owners. 

My father is an architect who specializes in the restoration of historic homes. Ever since I was little I have loved going on house tours and in old house museums. Whenever he was invited to view a historic home, he would always ask me to be his guest. The other architects on the tour probably would wonder why I was there. Either my Dad forced me to spend the day with him or I was the youngest architect in the AIA.

If you are like me, there must be a house or two in Trumbull you are just dying to go explore. Perhaps you have favorites around town. Since I began working at the Historical Society, I have started digging into the history behind some of our most beautiful houses and more importantly the people who lived in them.

We can learn about the lives of the residents who lived in these houses through diaries and letters. These houses experienced celebrations, joy, hardship and loss.  The memoirs of Francis Walker Coe who lived in a saltbox on Main St in the mid 1800’s was given to the currents owners. Her memories give us a clue as to what it was like to live in Trumbull during the Civil War, “I remember the excitement when the Civil War was going on-the boys going to war and how anxious everyone was for news. The rejoicing when peace was declared and the mourning when Lincoln was assassinated. “

I think we can all agree that it has been a difficult few weeks. I was glad to hear about so many neighbors trying to help one another while residents lived without power, gas, or heat. We are lucky now to have many ways to communicate and find out if our loved ones are safe. Families didn’t have that advantage during the Civil War, but I’d like to think that they got through the wars and other disasters in much the same way, by pulling together and taking care of their neighbors.  

It is because of stories and houses like the one Francis Walker Coe had to tell that the Historical Society is having its first annual Holiday House Tour on December 8th. We will be featuring 7 unique locations that showcase Trumbull’s beautiful and diverse architecture.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 the day of the tour. For more information visit our website, www.Trumbullhistory.org. Tickets are available at Past and Presents Shop, the Town Clerks Office, Cityline Florist or by calling or emailing the Trumbull Historical Society.

Proceeds from the tour will help your Historical Society care for and maintain our own wonderful house and museum, so that we can continue to tell the stories of Trumbull and the families who have lived here.