The Town of Salisbury
Historic District Commission
The Town of Salisbury Historic District Commission has as its main purpose the preservation of the character of the village centers, and of the architectural integrity of the buildings under its jurisdiction. Members are aware, however, of the changes that characterize any viable community. They provide a forum for discussion and negotiation when the need for change arises. The process also includes a hearing so that the public is assured of the right to comment before a Certificate of Appropriateness is issued. The Commission works with the Planning and Zoning Board and other town bodies where there are projects of mutual interest.
Another important part of the Commission's work is to add to the architectural and historic record of the town through research and photographic documentation. The first phase of these materials is available now and more of the survey will become available on this site during this year.
The Historic District Commission is appointed by the Board of Selectmen and operates under Connecticut statutes and local ordinances. The five members and three alternates serve five-year terms on a rotating basis. Meetings are held monthly at the Town Hall (via zoom from 2020 to present during the pandemic) where the Commission has an office. Members serve without pay. The work of the Commission is funded by the town.
2023/2024
Commissioners
Carol Mason (appointment through 11/2026) Chairman
Tom Callahan (appointment through 11/2024) Vice Chairman
Robert Highsmith (appointment through 11/2028)
Heidi Hoeller (appointment through 11/2027)
M. C. Taylor (appointment through 11/2025)
Alternate Commissioner
Howard Sobel (appointment through 11/2024)
Advisory Board
Candace Cuniberti (appointment through 11/2024)
Elyse Harney (appointment through 11/2024)
Recording Secretary
Georgia Petry
Summary of requirements:
1. To serve, a member must be registered to vote in Salisbury, CT.
2. One or more members to live in the historic district. (when possible)
3. 5 members, 3 alternates.
4. 5-year terms. (Appointments are made in November).
5. The term of one member is to expire each year.
6. Each member/alternate may be appointed for another
term or terms.
7. Officers: Chairman, Vice-chairman, Clerk/Secretary
We are very grateful to those who have served on this Commission to help take history forward. Their contributions brought understanding about the contemporary value of Salisbury Historic District Commission and its architectural heritage from the Colonial period to the present. Their clarity is and was focused on how the historic environment establishes a sense of grace and decorum in our environment. This purpose is the foundation of the work of this Commission, to maintain this quality of life for ourselves and future generations.
The following is list of those who have served on this Commission.
Click to open a year. Click to close a year.
Commissioners:
Carol Mason, Chairman
Tom Callahan, Vice Chairman
MC Taylor
Robert Highsmith
Elyse Harney(January – September)
Heidi Hoeller (October – December)
Alternate:
Heidi Hoeller (January – October)
Howard Sobel (October – December)
Advisory Board member:
Candace Cuniberti
Elyse Harney (October – December)
Secretary
Georgia Petry
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Carol Mason, Chairman
Tom Callahan, Vice Chairman
Robert Highsmith
Elyse Harney
MC Taylor
Alternate:
Kathy Voldstad (January - August)
Heidi Hoeller
Advisory Board member:
Candace Cuniberti
Secretary
Georgia Petry
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Carol Mason, Chairman
MC Taylor
Tom Callahan, Vice Chairman
Robert Highsmith
Elyse Harney
Alternate:
Kathy Voldstad
Leon>Leon McClain
Digby Brown
Advisory Board member:
Candace Cuniberti
Secretary
Georgia Petry
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Carol Mason, Chairman
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan, Vice Chairman
Kathy Voldstad
Elyse Harney
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Advisory Board member:
Candace Cuniberti
Secretary
Georgia Petry
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Carol Mason, Chairman
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan
Kathy Voldstad
Elyse Harney
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Advisory Board member:
Candace Cuniberti
Secretary
Georgia Petry
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Carol Mason, Chairman
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan, Vice Chairman
Jane Fitting
Elyse Harney
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Advisory Board member:
Candace Cuniberti
Secretary
Georgia Petry
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Elyse Harney, Secretary
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan,
Jane Fitting
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Elyse Harney, Secretary
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan,
Jane Fitting
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Elyse Harney, Secretary
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan
Jane Fitting
Arthur Taylor
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Elyse Harney, Secretary
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan,
Jane Fitting
Arthur Taylor
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Elyse Harney, Secretary
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan,
Jane Fitting
Arthur Taylor
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Website Designer
Carol Mason
Commissioners:
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Elyse Harney, Secretary
Digby Brown
Tom Callahan,
Jane Fitting
Arthur Taylor
Alternate:
Leon McClain
Commissioners:
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Elyse Harney, Secretary
Digby Brown
Elvia Gignoux
Arthur Taylor
Leon McClain
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Elyse Harney, Secretary
Digby Brown
Elvia Gignoux
Arthur Taylor
Leon McClain
Commissioners:
Candace Cuniberti, Chairman
Lou Burgess
Digby Brown
Elyse Harney
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
Candace Cuniberti
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
John Sherwood
M.C. Taylor
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
Candace Cuniberti
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Ginger Gilman
John Sherwood
M.C. Taylor
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
Candace Cuniberti
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Ginger Gilman
John Sherwood
M.C. Taylor
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
Candace Cuniberti
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Ginger Gilman
John Sherwood
M.C. Taylor
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Ginger Gilman
John Sherwood
M.C. Taylor
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Ginger Gilman
John Sherwood
M.C. Taylor
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Ginger Gilman
John Sherwood
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney
Digby Brown
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Ginger Gilman
Lou Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney
Digby Brown
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Ginger Gilman
Richard Walsh
Lou Burgess, President
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Candace Cuniberti, Alternate
John Eide, Alternate
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Digby Brown
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Candace Cuniberti, Alternate
John Eide, Alternate
Digby Brown
David Elwell
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Candace Cuniberti, Alternate John Eide, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Candace Cuniberti, Clerk
Digby Brown
John Eide
David Elwell, Alternate
Richard T. Fitzgerald
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Candace Cuniberti, Secretary
Joseph Brennan
Digby Brown
John Eide, Alternate
David Elwell, Alternate
Carol Magowan, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Candace Cuniberti, Clerk
Joseph Brennan
Digby Brown
David Elwell, Alternate
Carol Magowan, Alternate
Judy Murphy, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Candace Cuniberti, Clerk
Joseph Brennan
Digby Brown
Candace Cuniberti, Alternate
Carol Magowan, Alternate
Judy Murphy, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Joseph Brennan
Gloria Buckley
Virginia Gilman
Digby Brown, Alternate
Candace Cuniberti, Alternate
M. Higginson, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Else Harney, Vice Chairman
Gloria Buckley, Clerk
Joseph Brennan
Virginia Gilman
Digby Brown, Alternate
Kenneth R. Frederick, Alternate
Marged Higginson, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Gloria Buckley, Clerk
Joseph Brennan
Kenneth Frederick
Virginia Gilman
Else Harney, Alternate
Marged Higginson, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Hugh McMillan, III, Vice Chairman
Gloria Buckley, Secretary
Kenneth Frederick
Virginia Gilman
Else Harney, Alternate
Joseph Brennan, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Hugh McMillan, III, Vice Chairman
Gloria Buckley
Kenneth Frederick
Virginia Gilman
Richard Alexander, Alternate
Joseph Brennan, Alternate
Frank G. Garretson, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Hugh McMillan, III, Vice Chairman
Kenneth Frederick, Secretary
Frank Garretson
Virginia Gilman
Gloria Buckley
Richard Alexander, Alternate
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Hugh McMillan, III, Vice Chairman
Kenneth Frederick, Secretary
Frank Garretson
Virginia Gilman
Gloria Buckley, Alternate
Richard Alexander, Alternate
Victor Grohmann
Lou V. Burgess, Chairman
Hugh McMillan, III, Vice Chairman
Kenneth Frederick, Secretary
Virginia Gilman
Gustavus D Pope
Frank Garretson, Alternate
Gloria Buckley, Alternate
Victor Grohmann
Millard Sessions, Chairman
Lou V. Burgess, Secretary
Hugh McMillan, III, Vice Chairman
Penelope G. Grant
Gustavus D Pope
Robinson Leech, Alternate
Gloria Buckley, Alternate
George D. Kellogg, Jr.
Millard Sessions, Chairman
Lou V. Burgess
Hugh McMillan, III
Penelope G. Grant
Gustavus D Pope
Robinson Leech, Alternate
Gloria Buckley, Alternate
Virginia D. Dildine, Alternate
Millard Sessions, Chairman
Lou V. Burgess
Penelope G. Grant
Gustavus D Pope
Robinson Leech
Virginia D. Dildine, Alternate
Millard Sessions, Chairman
Lou V. Burgess
Penelope G. Grant
Robinson Leech
Virginia D. Dildine, Alternate
Hugh McMillan, III , Alternate
Millard Sessions, Chairman
Lou V. Burgess
Violet Oppenheimer
Robinson Leech
Virginia D. Dildine, Alternate
Penelope G. Grant
S. Norton Miner, Chairman
Millard Sessions
Katherine Kiefer
Violet Oppenheimer
Robinson Leech
Virginia D. Dildine, Alternate
Laura J. Ames-Aurell
S. Norton Miner, Chairman
Millard Sessions
Katherine Kiefer
Violet Oppenheimer
Robinson Leech
Virginia D. Dildine, Alternate
Laura J. Ames-Aurell
To come
L.A. Spalding McCabe, Jr., Chairman
S. Norton Miner
Norman W. Gardner
Mrs. Violet Oppenheimer
Robinson Leech
Guido F. Verbeck, Alternate
Mrs. Mary P. Milmine, Alternate
Mrs. Ann Hoskins, Alternate
Joseph Fudali, Alternate
S. Norton Miner
Robinson Leech
Norman W. Gardner
Mrs. Violet Oppenheimer
Guido F. Verbeck, Alternate
Mrs. Mary P. Milmine, Alternate
Mrs. Ann Hoskins, Alternate
Joseph Fudali, Alternate
L.A.Spalding McCabe, Jr.
Richard A. Kimball, Chairman
S. Norton Miner
Robinson Leech
Norman W. Gardner
Mrs. Violet Oppenheimer
Guido F. Verbeck, Alternate
Mrs. Mary P. Milmine, Alternate
Mrs. Ann Hoskins, Alternate
Joseph Fudali, Alternate
L.A.Spalding McCabe, Jr.
Richard A. Kimball, Chairman
S. Norton Miner
Robinson Leech
Norman W. Gardner
Mrs. Violet Oppenheimer
Guido F. Verbeck, Alternate
Mrs. Mary P. Milmine, Alternate
Mrs. Ann Hoskins, Alternate
Joseph Fudali, Alternate
L.A.Spalding McCabe, Jr.
Richard A. Kimball, Chairman
S. Norton Miner
Robinson Leech
Norman W. Gardner
Mrs. Violet Oppenheimer
Guido F. Verbeck, Alternate
Mrs. Mary P. Milmine, Alternate
Mrs. Ann Hoskins, Alternate
Joseph Fudali, Alternate
L.A.Spalding McCabe, Jr.
Richard A. Kimball, Chairman
S. Norton Miner
Robinson Leech
Norman W. Gardner
Mrs. Violet Oppenheimer
Guido F. Verbeck, Alternate
Mrs. Mary P. Milmine, Alternate
Mrs. Ann Hoskins, Alternate
Joseph Fudali, Alternate
L.A.Spalding McCabe, Jr.
www.cga.ct.gov
CHAPTER 97a*
HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES
*Cited. 196 C. 596; 227 C. 71.
Cited. 29 CA 28.
Sec. 7-147c (d)
The Historic District Commission established under the provisions of this part shall consist of five regular and three alternate members, who shall be electors of the municipality in which the district is situated holding no salaried municipal office. The ordinance shall provide that one or more of the members or alternates of the historic district commission shall reside in an historic district under the jurisdiction of the commission, if any person reside in any such district and are willing to serve on such commission. Such alternate members shall, when seated as provided in this section, have all powers and duties of a member of the commission. If a regular member of said commission is absent of has a conflict of interest, the chairman of the commission shall designate an alternate to so act, choosing alternates in rotation so that they shall act as nearly equal a number of times of the times as possible. If any alternate is not available in accordance with such rotation, such fact shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The method of appointment shall be fixed by ordinance. The appointments to membership in the commission shall be so arranged that the term of at least one member shall expire each year, and their successors seal be appointed in like manner for terms of five years. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term and in the same manner as the original appointment. The commission shall elect annually a chairman, a vice-chairman and a clerk from its own number. Each member and alternate shall continue in office until his successor is duly appointed. All members and alternates shall serve without compensation. Any member or alternate may be appointed for another term or terms.
The Charter Oak, oil on canvas, Charles De Wolf Brownell, 1857. Wadsworth Atheneum
Charter Oak Tree
The Dutch explorer Adrian Block described, in his log in 1614, a tree, at the future site of Hartford, understood to be this one. In the 1630s, a delegation of local Indians is said to have approached Samuel Wyllys, the early settler who owned and cleared much of the land around it, encouraging its preservation and describing it as planted ceremonially, for the sake of peace, when their tribe first settled in the area. Scions of the tree still grow in Hartford and many other towns around Connecticut. -- Wikipedia
