CONNECTING WITH THE PAST takes on a
whole new meaning when it involves marrying
brittle 179-year-old beams with the code-compliant
framing of a new structure. Just ask Gordon Jacobsen,
the project manager overseeing the construction of
This Old House’s 2019 Idea House.
“This is the hardest part,” he says, pointing out the
hand-hewn beams now sandwiched between crisp new
2×6s. When the work is complete, those beams—along
with a number of surviving windows and trim
sections—will be all that remains of the Greek Revival
that has been a fi xture on Main Street in downtown
New Canaan, CT, since at least 1840. The house taking
its place will retain its familiar architectural style while
incorporating updated materials, technology, and
design elements that will carry it into the next century.
It took developer Arnold Karp nearly fi ve years to
purchase the derelict house, which stood vacant for
eight years and was in foreclosure. The roof leaked,
and raccoons had taken up residence inside. With the
Main Street event
Our 2019 Idea House steps back in time with the total overhaul of a circa-1840
Greek Revival that’s a well-loved fi xture in a historical Connecticut downtown
BY DEBRA JUDGE SILBER
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID YELLENTOP: The oldest surviving section of the c. 1840 house—on the
left—holds the main entry. Missing six-over-six windows,
transoms, and fanlights, as well as portions of the exterior trim,
will be restored and reused on what is an all-new structure.
BOTTOM: A rendering shows how the rebuilt house will retain its
signature Greek Revival elements. The redesigned home will
feature modern building materials and a family-friendly interior,
while preserving the exterior’s traditional look and feel.
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40 YEARS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 THISOLDHOUSE.COM 41
idea house preview