The Keeler Property

The Keeler Farm

David Lockwood (1767-1835) and Sarah Tryon (1767-1860) had two children, Jacob and Sally Ann. When David died on the 4th of December, 1835, his will left extensive land to his wife, and separately to his son and daughter. The daughter Sally Ann (1803-1874) had married Jeremiah Palmer Keeler (1803-1848), and her inheritance read as follows:

I give and devise to my daughter Sally Ann Keeler a tract of land containing one hundred and ten acres more or less bounded Northerly by the Connecticut Turnpike road, Easterly by Isaac Bouton The heirs of Samuel Bouton deceased & highway, Southerly by highway, Westerly by Chapman Smith and the heirs of Josiah Hoyt deceased during her life remainder to the heirs of her body.

I think the area being described here is roughly the land enclosed by what today would be Connecticut Avenue, Scribner Avenue, Flax Hill Road and Keeler Avenue. This area is about 190 acres in total, so her inheritance wasn't the whole thing, but certainly a substantial part.

Jeremiah Keeler died in 1848, so in the historical maps (1851, 1858 and 1867) Sally Ann shows up as "The Widow Keeler", living at the northern end of (what is now) Highland Ave and Flax Hill Road. She lived with her son George Isaac Keeler (1838-1895), although he also appears independently on the 1867 map. The 1870 Census finds Sally Ann living with George and two Irish servants. Their next-door neighbor was George Platt, who lived with his wife Mary, three children, and five Irish servants. That census said that Sally Ann owned 20 acres of improved land, 50 acres of woodland, and 20 acres of unimproved land, worth $10,000. George Platt owned 35 acres of improved land, 4 acres of woodland, and 16 acres of unimproved land, worth a total of $35,000.  They both had a few horses, cows and assorted other livestock. Neither report any crops aside from hay, so they both must have just kept animals. If Sally Ann did indeed inherit about 110 acres then she must have sold a few, presumably to Mr. Platt. Between the two of them they owned 145 acres, which would cover most of the area of interest.

George Platt (1812-1873) was a seller of interior furnishings and an architect. He was born in England and made his fortune selling window shades and blinds in New York City before moving to Norwalk some time in the 1850s. I think he may have bought the home of Ira Ford, Esq (seen on the 1851 map) when the latter died in 1858. Today there's a plaque on the stately home at 347 Flax Hill Road that commemorates George & Mary Platt living there since 1860. I think it's worth noting that the historical maps appear to swap the Platt and Keeler houses. It's strange that the error propagates through several years and two different publishers, but I do think those maps are incorrect, based on all the other details we'll cover below.

When The Widow Keeler died in 1874, she left all of her estate to "the heir of her body", her only son George. George was an ice dealer and a sand dealer. One hopes he kept those separate. The Norwalk Hour in 1887 reported that "George I. Keeler is buildng a large ice house, and Mr. Parsons a large addition to his already commodious stables. If these things continue, Brookside will be quite a village and maybe the people will get sociable."

Newspaper stories mention that George was a timer for Harness Races at the Gentlemen's Driving Park in Winnipauk (which you can see on the 1894 map). George never married and had no children, but he had several live-in servants. His obituary in the Hartford Courant, 15 May 1895, read as follows:

George I. Keeler died at his home at Roton Hill, Norwalk, Saturday, aged 57. He was a prominent ice dealer and an owner of fine horses. He was at one time a member of the Fat Men's Association and was a prominent Mason.

The Fat Men's Association eligibility requirements were a little loose, but generally implied at least 200 pounds. Their annual clambake at Gregory's Point drew crowds from across the region, and a special steamer brought fat men from New York City. At the event there was an optional weigh-in, and the heaviest men were reported in the newspaper. The article says their motto was "I've got to be good-natured; I can't fight and I can't run." They sound like a hoot, but they probably all died at 57 like George.

Comstock and Shaw

William Henry Comstock (1830-1919, Wikipedia bio) made a fortune selling patent medicines. He lived and died in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, and as far as I know he never spent any time in Norwalk. He comes into our story because he apparently bankrolled a lawyer named William George Shaw (1850-1934), who moved from Toronto to Norwalk right about when George I. Keeler died in 1895 to develop real estate. I don't know how they knew each other, but Shaw's wife Anna Estella Cossitt (1859-1932) was the sister-in-law of Comstock's daughter. As late as 1940 the newspapers were reporting that the Shaws were visiting relatives in Brockville.

Before we go any further we should note that these are the people for whom Shaw Avenue and Cossitt Road are named. Also, while Comstock is an old family name in Norwalk and Connecticut generally, as far as I know W. H. Comstock is unrelated to them.

Sale of Land on Roton Hill
Twenty-Five Acre Tract Acquired By the New Rochelle Realty Company
Purchase Price Said to Have Been $20,000
Will be Opened Up for Building Purposes -- Many Improvements Already Made.

Another very large real estate deal has been consummated in or near South Norwalk, back of which is another real estate and building scheme similar to that of Frank Miller, of Bridgeport, who has purchased forty acres of land near Taylor avenue and intends to improve it, as told in The Hour last week.

The new deal involves some twenty-five acres of land on Roton Hill, including the Platt place, the purchasers being the New Rochelle Realty company, the owners and creators of Harbor View Beach and Harbor View park, just outside the city limits, south of the Baxter baseball grounds [map].

The Platt place was purchased but a few months since by a man named Comstock from Brockville, Ont. He purchased the land that it might be opened and worked into lots by Attorney W. George Shaw, of Roton Hill. This work had already been undertaken and was well under way. Streets had been laid out and were being worked, woods were being leveled and cleared away.

It is said that the property was acquired but a few months since for $11,000 and that the Realty company pays $20,000 for it, which shows the demand for such tracts as this at present.

The Norwalk Hour, 10 December 1906.

This might sound like Shaw is selling out, but he's not -- he was entangled in the Roton Hill property until he died. It is perhaps a sobering lesson in real estate development that the aerial photos of this area from 1934 show that after more than 30 years of effort on Shaw's part, a total of only five houses had been built anywhere between Scribner and Keeler. Possibly one issue was the state of the roads:

Roton Hill People Want Better Roads

Another Meeting of Property-Holders Held Last Night to Discuss the Subject

Another meeting of the property holders and residents of West street and Roton Hill was held last evening at the home of Artist A. J. Rummler in the former Platt place on Roton Hill. Nine of the residents were present. The matter of better roads and better sidewalk was again considered, and it is hoped to have good walks all the way over the hill; also to have electric lights, either from the city of South Norwalk or the Connecticut company.

A special committee composed of W. G. Shaw, A. J. Rummler, Louis Von Gal, G. E. Sartain and John A. Hamilton was named to look up the matter of lights and to report at the next meeting. It is also intended to get Adams Express delivery to that section, if it is possible.

Another meeting will be held next Tuesday evening at the same place.

The Norwalk Hour, October 30, 1907

Norwalk residents complaining about streets and sidewalks? Shocking.

The Rummlers referred to in this story are Alexander J. Rummler (1867-1959, Wikipedia bio) and his wife Maria Richmond Bonner (1870-1959). Alexander Rummler was an artist who lived in 347 Flax Hill from about 1907 to the early 1920s. Rummler painted a number of murals on display at City Hall, and was an active member of the Norwalk Board of Education. Mrs. Rummler was the first woman elected to the Norwalk City Council.

In 1912, tragedy struck:

Shaw Home, Roton Hill, Is Destroyed
Disastrous Blaze Early This Morning Does Damage to Extent of $5,000
Family's Narrow Escape From Incineration in Bed
No Way of Checking Flames and South Norwalk Dept. Did Not Respond

Aroused from their beds by the cries of fire given by a passing milkman, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Shaw and their two daughters and two sons, barely escaped with their lives from the seething furnace into which their home at Roton Hill was turned when fire broke out in their parlor shortly before daybreak this morning. The house was burned to the ground and all the furnishings and clothing destroyed. Taylor & Golden carried $2,500 insurance on the building and $1,000 on the furnishings.

House Was in Flames. Driver George Banks of the Borden Condensed Milk company happned to be driving past the Shaw home early this morning, when he noticed the glare of the flames in the homestead. Smoke was pouring from the windows and the old structure was being consumed like tinder in the flames.

Thought of Family. Mr. Banks immediately realized that the Shaw family were unaware of the fact that their home was burning and that they were peacefully sleeping while the blaze was reaching, by leaps and bounds, their sleeping quarters in the second story of the dwelling.

Rushed to the Door. Jumping from his seat on the wagon, Mr. Banks rushed to the house and pounded on the door. There was no answer, and, almost frantic, the Borden man rushed around the side of the building, shouting "Fire." and telling the family to arise.

"Get Up, Get Up." "Get up, get up, you'll all be burned in your beds." was the cry which first aroused Mrs. Shaw. Sleepily turning in her bed, she gazed around her. Smoke was pouring into the room and in a moment she realized what was happening.

Leaped From Bed. Leaping from her bed, she awoke her husband and then her toughts turned to her children in the other rooms. She hurriedly ran to the rooms, screaming for them to get up.

Had Fed Clothes. Grabbing up what few clothes they could in the face of the danger which beset them, they rushed down stairs in their night clothes and bare feet, into the frigid atmosphere of the morning. Frightfully cold was the air as they fled to the home of A. J. Rummler, a neighbor and aroused the Rummler family. Here they found shelter.

Tristrams Aroused. Driver Banks did not stop at arousing the Shaw family, but summoned W. H. Tristram and family and in short order practically every male resident on the hill was working like a beaver. Forming a bucket brigade and getting water from every available place, they poured he fluid into the fiery furnace, but it was useless.

Telephoned Fire House. Meanwhile, telephone calls were sent into the South Norwalk fire department. Putnam Hose company officials claim that the call was not sent into their house, but to Old Well quarters.

Did Not Respond. However, the residents of the hill claim that the firemen refused to go up to the fire, inasmuch as it was outside the city limits. They are indignant over the matter and this morning Chief George W. Bogardus spent his time making an investigation.

Six in House. When the fire broke out, there were six in the house, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, two sons, Norman and Godfrey and two daughters, Enid and Elaine. All escaped, but were compelled to leave everything behind them with the exception of what few clothes they could grasp as they rushed from the burning structure.

Floor Caved In. As an evidence of how narrow was the escape of the family, it is cited that barely had they rushed from the their sleeping rooms, when the floors caved in. Had they remained five minutes longer, they would have been pitched into the seething mass of flame which was raging with terribly destructive force in the rooms below.

Tried to Save Things. An effort was made to save part of the furnishings and the clothing but the intense heat, the smoke and the flame prevented even the slightest attempt to get into the building.

Volunteers Worked Hard. The volunteer firemen worked with might and main to save some part of the building, but it was useless. The burning pyre was too far gone, even when Mr. Banks first saw the flames and after working like beings possessed, the volunteers were compelled to sand and watch the dwelling rapidly eaten by the voracious flames.

Old Landmark. The Shaw home was an old landmark and was known as the Keeler homestead. It had been built in revolutionary times and had withstood the wind and weather for years without crumbling. Seasoned timber, far superior to that used in modern dwellings, had made up the structure, and although the insurance was but $2,500 on the building, it is safe to say that a similar structure built today would cost far more than that amount. The homestead was a 12 room structure, with two stories and an attic.

Are at Rummlers. The Shaw family is at the present time being housed at the Rummler home, pending their finding of other permanent quarters.

The Norwalk Hour, 27 January 1912

Shaw rebuilt the house, which still stands at 341 Flax Hill Road. In 1921 Shaw and his family moved down to the other side of the tracks, to what is now 64 Rowayton Avenue.

In 1913 Shaw petitioned the city for water service to Roton Hill. He was described in the newspaper as "promoting a land improvement scheme in Roton Hill." The city said that if he paid for the installation himself, but allowed it to be overseen by the city engineer and subject to the approval of the council, then the city would refund the installation costs once the annual receipts had reached 12% of the cost of installation. Provided the city had funds at that time, of course.

Litigation

William G. Shaw didn't build many houses, and one of the reasons behind that is that he was embroiled in litigation for the last decades of his life.

Begin Big Foreclosure Suit

A $40,000 foreclosure action was filed in the superior court this morning by James G. McLaughlin of Rye, N. Y., who sues William G. Shaw, Godfrey C. Shaw and others of Wilton. The property is located in Norwalk and is alleged to have been given as security for a loan to the late Thaddeus Guyer of Norwalk, of whom the defendants are heirs. McLaughlin says only $5,000 was paid on the loan and the interest charges bring the total to $40,000.

The Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer, April 30, 1917

There was a whole string of Thaddeus Guyers who lived down Flax Hill Road, toward the Fodor place. Thaddeus Guyer Jr (1815-1890) seems to have died too early to be involved. Thaddeus Guyer III (1843-1927) was a butcher, and still alive. So that leaves Thaddeus Guyer IV (1874-1901), who was quite young to be dealing with that kind of money. In the 1900 Census he's living with his parents and doesn't even list an occupation.

Suit for $40,000 Much Involved

Defense Sets Up Counter Claim -- Wants $30,000

Rather involved, with many claims and counter-claims is the suit brought in the superior court and heard today before Judge Howard J. Curtis, in which James McLoughlin seeks to recover from William G. Shaw, trustee, on a mortgage and note for $40,000. Property of 123 acres in Norwalk formerly known as the George I. Keeler farm, and later Roton Hill, originally held in trust for two children, and a number of houses in Brooklyn figure in the complaint.

The claim is made by the plaintiff that the deed and mortgage was duly executed some six years ago; that payment is long past due and foreclosure should be granted. The defense states that fraudulent representation was made to the defendant trustee as regards the Brooklyn houses. The claim is made that no consideration was received for the mortgage.

The Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer, June 3, 1919

An article The Norwalk Hour in 1920 covering the appeal of the case above says "The case arose when William G. Shaw mortgaged property in Flax Hill road. On foreclosure Judge Curtis of the Superior court decided that the property belonged to the children, wards of Shaw, and that being trust property it could not be mortgaged."

In 1925 the newspaper reported that William G. Shaw had sold Highland Park to Abram Spelke of Stamford (New York Times Obituary) for $70,000. Spelke immediately offered to donate 100 feet of the land along the Connecticut Turnpike to the state, if they would expand the road to that width. As he said in the newspaper, "Now is the time to do this -- while the section is unsettled -- not afterwards when the land is all built up. You can't overemphasize the value of big wide roads, both to property owners and to the prosperity of a city. It is the first consideration -- and it comes before everything else." The same article describes the property as having 1,400 feet of frontage on Connecticut Avenue. The distance between Scribner and Rampart is about 1,900 feet, so that gives a sense of how much land he had purchased. By December the deal was done.

It might be my imagination, but it does appear that Connecticut Ave. is a little wider between Scribner and the ShopRite entrance than it is elsewhere, and that distance is just about 1,400 feet.

True to form, by 1928 the Shaws were suing Spelke to invalidate the deeds. Or, confusingly, Estelle Cossitt Shaw was suing Spelke, John S. Keating and her own husband to invalidate the deeds. In one way or another the Shaws and Spelke were in court until William G. Shaw's death in 1934. Shortly afterward a decision was handed down in favor of Spelke.

Godfrey Shaw

Godfrey Cossitt Shaw (1888-1968) was born in Toronto, but grew up in Norwalk. He and is brother Norman enjoyed sailing, and the newspapers were full of the their races and harrowing escapes. When he filled out the Connecticut military census in 1917, it asks whether he can handle a boat, power or sail? Yes. Any experience with High Speed Marine Gasoline Engines? Yes. Are you a good swimmer? No. No? He was sailing across Long Island Sound and out to Block Island, but wasn't a good swimmer?

In this period Shaw was working at Bishop & Earle, a real estate company whose headquarters was at 64 Wall Street, in the Bishop building. William F. Bishop served as a character witness on Shaw's citizenship application. Many years later, Shaw would go on to build a house for Harry W. Earle on Westview Lane.

In the end Shaw didn't have to serve in the U.S. Army because he was, in fact, still a Canadian. But if I'm not mistaken, he was therefore drafted into the British Expeditionary Forces. I'm not entirely sure about that, but later he would say that while in England he met his future wife, Alice Emma Jackson (1897-2002). When he returned he went straight to Sapulpa, Oklahoma, perhaps to seek his fortune in the emerging oil business. I don't know if that happened, but while he was out there Alice joined him, they married, and had a son.

By 1926 Godfrey and Alice were back in Norwalk, living with his parents in Rowayton. In the late 1920s Godfrey advertised himself as a contractor doing road and driveway grading work, and much like George I. Keeler he was a supplier of sand and gravel for construction. But somewhere in the late 1920s Godfrey stepped up a level. He built a home for himself on Westview Lane, a stone house made of material found on the site that still stands as 15 Westview Lane. Shortly afterward he built what is now 2 Westview Lane for Clement & Lula Wells -- he was a Dun & Bradstreet executive. In 1931 Shaw sold #15 and started work on 4 Westview Lane, another stone house made of material from the site.

Shaw worked with architects, but he had a distinctive personal style. He would later say that in this period he was able to hire excellent craftsmen to do the work, since demand was low due to the depression. He went on to build many other houses on Westview. He built houses elsewhere, too -- I'm under the impression he built 8 Topping Lane for Grace Topping Spooner in 1931, for example.

Alice Shaw had an independent career as a photographer. In the mid-1930s she worked at the photography studio of Mgrdich Manugian (1886-1975; that's not a typo) on Main St. in South Norwalk. Manugian did portrait photography and postcards, and notably was the dealer for Charles d'Emery, the official photographer of the construction of Mount Rushmore.  Alice was a portrait photographer and managed the shop. In the mid 1930s Godfrey and Alice built a little photography studio for her near their home, which is now 51 Rampart Road. She could get to the studio from their house at the top of Westview. When she took a trip back to England in 1947 the paper described her as a "prominent photographer of children".

In 1941 the Shaws built their permanent home at 23 Westview, at the north end of the lane. They lived there until Godfrey's death in 1968, after which Alice moved to eastern Connecticut to be closer to her son and his large family. Alice Shaw lived to be 104. Many years after they moved out, the house at 23 Westview burned. The rebuilt house that stands today is largely new, but incorporates some of the original building's features.

Chatham Homes

In January of 1940, Chatham Homes, Inc. was founded by A. F. Deichsel, Charles Wendt, and Emanuel Gisondi. They set up shop at the Bishop building and quickly got to work. In March they announced that they were creating a new "small home colony", and "a finely constructed home in this group can be bought for as little as $4,260, payable in monthy installments just like rent." Another ad notes that with an FHA loan, the monthly charges on a $4,000 mortgage would be $30.44, including taxes, insurance, amortization and interest. The median household income in Connecticut in 1940 was about $1,600 per year, so this payment would be 22% of the median income. Today the median household spends 34% on housing.

The house plans developed by architects Cram & Parette of Norwalk included an 11.4 by 18.8 foot living room, a 9x10 dining room, and two bedrooms, one 11x12 and the other 10x15. There was also an attached garage, and a cellar large enough for heating equipment. Chatham promised that "the homes will be placed in a manner that will avoid any of the damaging symmetry that is sometimes found in connection with a new real estate project."

These are the homes between Rampart and Scribner, described as "39 acres of the former Spelke property". If I measured correctly, 39 acres would be all the land between Rampart and Scribner, and Flax Hill and Cossitt Road. The project got off to a bumpy start when the material chosen for the external cladding turned out not to be waterproof; the first 16 homes were uninhabitable. But Chatham Homes obviously got past that and arguably completed the project that William G. Shaw had started some 40 years earlier.

So that's the story of the Keeler Farm. We now know where the names Keeler Ave, Shaw Ave, Cossitt Rd, Chatham Drive and probably Scribner Ave come from. And we know lots of ways to delay construction for a few decades.