Annual Preservation Awards
The annual preservation awards recognize historic preservation work that preserves the historic character and charm of Torrington while and contributing to its viability as an attractive and livable small city. The awards recognize the restored historic buildings as well as the owners who have accomplished the historic preservation work. The awards are given each year for a residential and commercial property.
2023 Historic Preservation Awards
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Residential Property
Agard-Taylor House 417 Prospect Street Owned and restored by Tom & Heidi Taylor This substantial residence was built by Hotchkiss Brothers Company in 1896 for Charles Agard, owner of a hardware store in downtown Torrington. Architectural historians have noted that the house is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture in downtown Torrington. Noteworthy features include the home’s irregular massing, the small tower with a conical roof, a wraparound front porch with its tall fieldstone foundation, and detailed siding and trim. The house was purchased by the Taylors in 2016. It was the dream home they had been looking for. It was a simple decision for the couple who has family the area and sought to get away from the busy city life in West Haven. When the couple took ownership the house during the summer of 2016, the property was showing signs of deferred maintenance in many areas. While Tom and Heidi tackled the dining room and flooring in the rear entrance and kitchen areas, they contracted professionals to restore and paint the exterior of the house. First steps included a new roof and gutters. Then they had the house professionally abated for lead paint and repainted. Original wooden window sash were glazed and repainted. The couple chose a medium gray body color, white trim, and accents painted in red and black. More recently, the couple has done extensive work to save the historic carriage house on the property. The preservation award was especially deserved for the sensitive exterior restoration which preserved the historic appearance of the original siding and trim, the signature front porch and the preservation of original window sash. The Taylors enjoy the challenges of renovating a historic home and they have a true respect and love for the history and features of their historic home. |
Agard-Taylor House at 417 Prospect Street
owned and restored by Tom & Heidi Taylor |
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Commercial Property
Historic Torrington Firehouse and Bad Dog Brewery 117 Water Street This preservation award is awarded jointly to J.R. Laliberte, owner of Torrington’s Old Firehouse, and Bad Dog Brewery, the business which operates a business there. Both recipients made significant investments in the firehouse to bring it back to life. Torrington’s Old Firehouse was erected in 1900 and opened in 1901. It was designed by Torrington architect Charles S. Palmer and built by Hotchkiss Brothers Company for the Mutual Fire Company, an all volunteer, firefighting organization. In its early years, the Firehouse held horse-drawn fire apparatus on the ground floor. The specially trained horses were stabled across the street at the E.J. Kelly Company. There were meeting rooms and sleeping quarters above on the second floor. The building eventually became the home of the Torrington Fire Department and was in service until 1978. The structure was scheduled for demolition to make way for a Police and Fire Department complex when Preservation Torrington began advocating for its preservation and reuse. In 1987, Preservation Torrington sponsored a successful application to place the Old Firehouse on the National Register of Historic Places, encouraging the city to place a preservation restriction on the building and sell the building to a private developer. J.R. Laliberte purchased the Old Firehouse shortly thereafter and made extensive repairs to shore up the structure. It would take many more years before the perfect user, Bad Dog Brewery, was secured. To complete its transition to a brewery, the Firehouse needed extensive upgrades to the interior and additional repairs to the exterior. Important factors leading to the preservation award were the construction of three, large, mahogany doors that were installed for the fire equipment bays. The doors are a prominent element of the building façade and are appropriate for the historic building. Replacement windows were also an important consideration since they were designed to replicate the appearance of the original window sash. Laliberte’s team worked through many phases of the project including most of the demo, rebuilding, and flooring to produce a finished turnkey product for the Bad Dog Brewery. The brewery is a family business run by two generations of the Tkac family. Spokesperson Matt Tkac noted that the interior structure needed to be rebuilt in very substantial ways. Matt and his partners reused the original flooring and materials from the building to build all the tables, bar, taps, and as much of the trim and decorative elements as they could from the old materials. They successfully kept much of the character of the building interior intact. Matt went on to say that the greatest thing about opening the business in Torrington is how easy everyone made the process and how a deep community connection was developed. Matt is constantly amazed at the level which the community cares about what happens downtown. A visit to the brewery is not only for a beer, but it is an experience. Bad Dog Brewing Company at the Old Firehouse is a tour through history, and a fun and comfortable place to hang with friends and share stories of the history of Torrington. |
Old Firehouse - Bad Dog Brewing CVo.
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