Crissey Place has a new owner

By Doug McDevitt

Sometimes a good thing just can’t be kept down, even in the form of a house. A very old house. It’s located just inside the village green as you travel north towards Maple Street. It’s the first house you see on your right and it is a handsome example of a French Second Empire design better known as Crissey Place. This spacious 4,891 square foot home features 14 rooms and two fireplaces plus a cupola.  The most remarkable aspect of the house, however, isn’t necessarily its architecture, which is outstanding, but rather its evolution with the town.

In 1738, 53 tracts of land were offered for sale by the Colony of Connecticut. To most people at that time, the area didn’t seem like a great place to put down roots. It was literally too rocky and swampy. As time went on, slowly a few settlers were interested and in 1758 the town was incorporated. Through a very tough New England work ethic, Norfolk became an agricultural and industrial center with saw mills, gristmills, iron works and a number of other businesses. An east/west road called Greenwoods Road, (Route 44 as we know it today), stretched from Hartford to the Hudson River, allowing travelers convenient access that aquatic highway, delivering all manner of mercantile to markets throughout America and the world. Because of that, Norfolk saw several taverns spring to life and offer respite to these industrious business people. 

In 1795, Darius Phelps built a Georgian Colonial home and later opened Phelps Tavern, which was to become Crissey Place when later purchased by Ralph Crissey. 

As Norfolk grew throughout the nineteenth century, Crissey Place grew with it. The house was redesigned into the now familiar look of the French second empire home featuring the mansard roof and the ornamental flare which became popular at that time. 

 In 1866, the Connecticut Western Railroad Company was chartered, and a railroad was opened in Norfolk in 1871. The era of the iron horse brought a new reason for people to visit as they discovered the tranquility, fresh air and outdoor life the region had to offer. Ann Havemeyer, Curator of the Norfolk Historical Museum, says that Cora Brown opened a boarding house at Crissey Place and took in guests who came to rejuvenate in the clean air and relaxing atmosphere that is Norfolk. As the town became noted for its appealing nature, cottagers from Hartford and New York began purchasing land in the area, building cottages to summer here. 

Crissey Place, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, was last occupied by Peter Vosburgh and fell into disrepair after 2016, when Vosburgh moved to Geer Village in Canaan. The house then went into foreclosure and was bought back by the bank. Crissey Place was valued at $480,000 in 2016, but repairs were estimated to be in the realm of $500,000, leaving its future much in question. 

But a good thing is hard to keep down. The house has recently been purchased by a private owner and, while the new owner has been unavailable to comment on its ultimate use, one thing is certain, Crissey Place now has a much brighter future. The history of Crissey Place has reflected the development of Norfolk over the last two centuries, growing, changing and maturing as Norfolk has. It’s more than a landmark, it’s a reflection of the town’s history and when we pass by it we can reflect on Norfolk’s development over the centuries and be optimistic for our future and for the future of Crissey Place.