It must be the day for Greenwich history: here's an article on what we thought was the Nathaniel Peck house, circa 1745; turns out, it’s even older than that
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Chris Franco, who has been involved with the preservation of a number of historic homes in town, including the oldest house in Old Greenwich and the oldest in Riverside, now owns, along with his wife Rachel, the home at 44 Sound Beach Avenue, and has written a fascinating piece on its newly discovered history, much of it unearthed by Franco himself.
Much too lengthy to excerpt it coherently, but very much not too long to read in its entirety, here’s how it starts:
To the thousands of drivers who pass 44 Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich, CT, every day as they drive up or down Sound Beach Avenue, the charming, five-bay Colonial house sitting proudly on its elevated knoll at the corner of Manor Road is simply a beautiful historical property.
Its clipped boxwoods, white picket fence, and massive central stone chimney collectively evoke a postcard-perfect vision of old New England. But behind its charming exterior lies a fascinating 323-year historical epic.
Far from being just an old family home, recent forensic architectural analysis and archival discoveries have officially recognized this structure as an authentic First Period architectural treasure.
Previously recognized by the Greenwich Historical Society as the c. 1750 Nathaniel Peck Jr. House, based on comprehensive new research the Historical Society has updated the historical record and now recognizes the house as the “Reynolds-Peck House, c. 1703”.
Definitely read the whole thing.
