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Grumman-St. John House, 93 East Avenue

Update: A legal agreement between all parties to the lawsuit was signed Thursday, August 12, at a press conference at the Norwalk Inn featuring NPT President Tod Bryant, Rep. Larry Cafero, Sen. Bob Duff, and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. See News for details.

In February 2008 State Superior Court Judge Thomas Nadeau granted a temporary injunction halting the proposed demolition of the Grumman-St. John House at 93 East Avenue. The property was purchased by the Norwalk Inn in 2001 and allowed to deteriorate. Following the injunction, the house fell into further disrepair, with doors left open, windows broken, and two porch columns knocked from their bases. This deplorable condition was stabilized by a further court order in January 2009 to force the Inn to board up the house and perform emergency repairs. The following chronology provides a brief history of this historic building and the lawsuit to save it from demolition:

  • 1724 - Samuel Grumman buys the property at Grumman Hill, known as Rail Hill at the time.
  • 1750 - The first record of a house on the property is in Samuel Grumman’s will, leaving it to his son Thomas Grumman and his wife Deborah (Deolf) Grumman.
  • 1779 - 93 East Avenue witnesses General Tryon’s orders to burn Norwalk. The house may have been partially or completely burnt.
  • 1797 - Thomas Grumman, a farmer, deeds 93 East Avenue (house and land) to his son, William Grumman.
  • 1802 - Stephen Buckingham St. John buys the house and land from William Grumman for $1400.
  • 1811 - Stephen Buckingham St. John marries Charlotte (Isaacs) Bush of Greenwich (this name is linked to the Bush-Holley Historic Site) and brings her to live in his East Avenue home.
  • 1831 - "The widow Buckingham St. John" and children, George, Elizabeth, and Frances Bush, inherit the house.
  • 1865 - The St. John children sell their shares of the house to their sister, Elizabeth (Mrs. James A. Hoyt).
  • 1870s - The house is expanded and updated to its present architectural style.
  • 1891 - Elizabeth Hoyt passes the house on to her children: Buckingham Hoyt, Fanny Buckingham Hoyt, Louisa Day, Gould Hoyt, and Frederic Hoyt.
  • 1912 - Buckingham Hoyt sells his share of the house to Fanny Buckingham Hoyt.
  • 1925 - Estate of Fanny Buckingham Hoyt passes ownership of 93 East Avenue to Steven and Joseph Nagy.
  • 1928 - Steven and Joseph Nagy sell the house to Eric and Margaret Erikson. The house is converted to four apartments.
  • 1930 to 2001 - The house is owned by the Singewald sisters and operated as rental units.
  • 1987 - 93 East Avenue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Norwalk Green Historic District.
  • January 2001 - Martin Wiegand (inheritor of the house from the last surviving Singewald sister) transfers ownership of 93 East Avenue to the Norwalk Inn.
  • August 2001 - Zoning variance granted to the Norwalk Inn to reduce front and side setbacks in order to allow for the necessary parking for the extended wing and addition of 58 rooms. Neighbors appeal the variance.
  • August 2001 - Norwalk Green Historic Alliance is organized.
  • November 2006 - Norwalk Inn applies for demolition permit for 93 East Avenue.
  • December 2006 - Norwalk Preservation Trust (NPT), with help from the Commission on Culture and Tourism (CCT), brings suit under the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act.
  • February 2008 - Superior Court grants a temporary injunction on the basis that "prudent and feasible alternatives" to demolition have been shown. See the Memorandum of Decision.
  • January 2009 - Superior Court clarifies the responsibilities of the Norwalk Inn with regard to the house under the terms of the temporary injunction: "The defendants are obligated to maintain and repair the building until the final hearing." In addition, the judge orders the Inn to "(1) lift and stabilize the porch roof... ; (2) repair or board up all windows, doors, and other points of entry into the building; and (3) lock all entries to the building" within 60 days and allow the plaintiffs (NPT and CCT) "reasonable opportunities for inspection of the buildings." See the Memorandum of Decision.