The Simsbury Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has received a 1772 Foundation Connecticut Matching Grant for Historic Preservation in the amount of $10,000 to restore windows in the circa 1771 Capt. Elisha Phelps House, also known as the Phelps Tavern. The grant was awarded by Preservation Connecticut, a nonprofit organization chartered by the State of Connecticut to preserve, protect, and promote the buildings, sites, and landscapes that contribute to the heritage and vitality of Connecticut communities.
The centerpiece of the Simsbury Historical Society’s site, the Capt. Elisha Phelps House is listed on national, state, and local historic registers. It was the home of Elisha Phelps and later, his brother, Noah. Both men played key roles in the Revolutionary War. Capt. Elisha Phelps died in July 1776 while serving in the Continental Army. Noah survived the war, purchased the house from his brother’s estate, and became a tavern keeper in 1786. Four consecutive generations of the Phelps family served as tavern keepers until 1849. The house remained a private residence until Phelps descendants bequeathed the family homestead to the historical society in 1962.
“We’re grateful to Preservation Connecticut and our members,” stated Jane Spatcher McAlpine, executive director of the Simsbury Historical Society. “With member donations, we qualified to apply for the full $10,000 matching grant and have engaged an expert in the field to restore several damaged windows– work that’s essential to our ongoing preservation of the historic Phelps Tavern.”
In addition to raising $10,000 in requisite matching funds, the Simsbury Historical Society completed a rigorous application process to qualify for the grant from The 1772 Foundation. Stephen C. Marshall from Coventry, Conn., has been contracted by the Simsbury Historical Society and approved by Preservation Connecticut to restore the period windows in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
“Member support and grants are foundational to our organization, allowing us to develop programs and events and to maintain our site, archives, and collections– including the Phelps Tavern”, added Tony Braz, Simsbury Historical Society president. “It’s an honor to be recognized as one of only seventeen Connecticut nonprofits to receive a 1772 Foundation historic preservation grant this year.”
Simsbury, Conn. was established in 1670. Founded in 1911, the Simsbury Historical Society is the town’s official historian. The nonprofit organization partners with many community groups and works closely with the town’s school system, private organizations, and the public to preserve and promote Simsbury’s rich and diverse history while enhancing historical perspective and building community pride through engaging experiences, educational programs, curated collections, and archives. Donations are welcome.
About The Simsbury Historical Society (SHS)
Established in 1911, Simsbury Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Simsbury, Connecticut, a picturesque New England town founded in 1670. SHS owns and maintains twelve historic and modern buildings and structures on nearly three acres of grounds with period gardens and native plantings in the Simsbury Center Historic District, making it unique among local historical societies in size and scope. It offers community activities and programs for all ages throughout the year. Hours of operation are Thursday through Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Public tours of about 45 minutes duration are offered Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Group tours and research assistance are available by appointment. For more information, visit simsburyhistory.org.
About Preservation Connecticut
Preservation Connecticut is a nonprofit organization, formerly named Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, established by special acts of the State Legislature in 1975 and 1985 to preserve, protect, and promote the buildings, sites, and landscapes that contribute to the heritage and vitality of Connecticut communities. Since then, the organization has become a successful champion of remarkable community assets across the state. Preservation Connecticut has been headquartered since 1989 at the Eli Whitney Boarding House in Hamden. For more information, visit preservationct.org.