SAVE HOYT-BARNUM  -- RECOVERING A LOST SOUL

One of the more surprising aspects of the story about the Hoyt-Barnum House is how much it has been neglected.  Neglected by the Stamford Historical Society, the city government, and yes, the public; like a geriatric community member shuffled from authority to authority in order to receive  SOME kind of care, the Hoyt-Barnum House, has become an annoying burden when it should be revered and lauded as a symbol of Stamford's endurance as a city.

A visit to the lot tells you immediately of that neglect and even abuse.  There is litter all over the lot, a piece of rotting wood from the house lying on the ground, a beat up shed in the back.  It is obvious that no one visits and does anything to care for it. No one.  Also, the ground is used for overflow parking for the police station.  Another act of disrespect and disregard.

From those first few lots, to the present day, this house is the one remaining example of a time long gone. 317 years predates American independence by 77 years, three generations.  That counts for something.  Can you imagine the generations that lived and died in that house?  Can you imagine the marriages, the children they had, the lives they lived?  Those lives were like drum beats that marked the passage of time as our nation grew, right there in Stamford.

The Hoyt-Barnum House symbolizes so much.  The plan to move it is a huge mistake from the word go.  You cannot separate a building from it's place, it's origins, and still call it history.  It becomes the hollowing out of history; a form of decapitation.

So, to you the reader, our appeal is the same. Help us save this house.  Help us to convince the responsible parties that the smarter thing to do is to keep the building there.

SAVE HOYT BARNUM HOUSE - FIRST BLOG

SAVE HOYT BARNUM HOUSE - THE BLOG

Folks, Stamford, Connecticut is a strangely beautiful and disturbing city.  Most disturbing is their disregard for their own history.  We are here to fight that and create a more appealing environment for residents and visitors alike.

This battle starts now with the Hoyt Barnum House. Built in 1699, it is the oldest colonial era structure in the city.  There is a plan to "relocate" the building.  We firmly believe this is the worst possible decision for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the high risk associated with disassembling a building that is some 317 years old.

So, we have started this blog to inform the public, report on our efforts, and to solicit your involvement in this ongoing battle.  There are only a few months, so we are under pressure to get results asap.  We will be reporting out on various features of what is the Hoyt Barnum Media Project.

Stay Tuned....

Cort Wrotnowski
SaveHoytBarnumHouse