Historic district sought

Officials say the designation will help maintain property value and aesthetics.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

BROOKFIELD — People here have long enjoyed tranquillity and beauty around the village green, and now the area may get a new designation that would preserve this peaceful setting.

Township trustees are planning to have the area around the Brookfield Center Village Green recognized by the state and federal government as a historic district.

The area around the green, on state Route 7 a short distance from state Route 82, is familiar to most township residents, and to those who frequently pass through the area. The centerpiece is the landscaped and shaded park. Historic homes run alongside the park area.

There are several buildings around the green, some dating back to the early- or mid- 1800s with very little change in curb appeal over the years. Those buildings include two churches, a former grocery store that now serves as a video store, a funeral parlor and several residential homes.

Interesting history

Trustee J. Philip Schmidt said it’s not only the physical buildings around the green that need to be preserved, but the told and untold history of these buildings as well.

He said there are many interesting facts — such as one house being built by a Civil War colonel, and another house being used as a stop on the Underground Railroad for blacks escaping slavery in the South before the Civil War.

“There is a tunnel underneath the house that was used as a stop-off point [for escaped slaves]. It’s sealed off now, but it is still there,” he said.

Trustee Gary P. Lees said trustees are planning to increase the aesthetic appeal of the area with 10 new decorative pole lights around the green, additional landscaping and some new sidewalks.

The benefits

It is the historic landmark designation, however, that Lees says is most essential to maintaining the historic appeal. The district would be overseen by a five-member panel in charge of making sure any changes are in compliance with rules established for the district.

“Homeowners would have to maintain the same aesthetic look of their homes. Any changes made would have to be approved by the committee. Everything would have to fit the area,” he said.

Lees said homeowners would benefit from the historical designation in ways other than aesthetics.

“The biggest benefit of this is that it will keep the value of these homes up,” he said. “That is one of the things that we are looking for, is to keep the property value up and also keep it looking like this. We don’t want to lose this.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com