This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Funds Sought to Preserve Stratford's 'White House'

Councilman Matt Catalano says work would prevent further deterioration while the town applies for historic preservation grants.

Town officials are proceeding with work on the "," the historic residence that once housed an actors’ training program for the former , using money already appropriated.

Town Council member Matt Catalano told the building needs committee Monday that the work was aimed at stabilizing the house for the winter.

Historic preservation grants were being sought to restore the building located at 1850 Elm St., which is considered the finest example of mid-19th Century Greek Revival architecture in Stratford, he said.

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Catalano, a Republican, represents the 3rd District, which is where the White House is located. He is also the chairman of the public works committee, which met immediately after the building needs committee.

Building needs members asked if new windows might be part of the winterizing work, and Catalano said they weren’t needed. New windows were installed about 10 years ago during an aborted attempt to revive the theater by Louis Burke.

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When that failed, the state Department of Environmental Protection executed a "reverter clause" in the contract with Burke and seized control of the theatre property. In early 2005, the state transferred control of it to the town, although with restrictions to prevent it from being sold to a private developer.

Catalano acknowledged that the building "looks like crap on the outside," but what it really needs is a new roof and structural repairs to replace rotting floor joists in the basement.

Approximately $1.5 million in bond funds are available for the building. Catalano wants support from the building needs committee to use up to $350,000 on the repairs, although he said the actual cost would probably be much less.

No decision on the funding was made at the meeting Monday.

Catalano told Stratford Patch that he and others hope to convert the White House into a center for the arts and a museum.

For that to happen, he said, the house may have to be incorporated into the Stratford Historic District, a move which would help provide the property protection from demolition and open up state and federal grants to restore and revive the house through the Historic Restoration Funding Program. Currently, the White House is only recognized by its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places and within the federal historic district of the town.

Since May the Town Council has tabled a proposed resolution by the historic district commission to include the house in its historic district at the town level.

Catalano said some items related to the building’s storied connections with the theatre were recently rescued and will be displayed at the Fairfield Museum and History Center on Beach Road, Fairfield, starting this weekend (and through March 18).

The display focuses on the theatrical history of the American Shakespeare Theatre, which was run by famed producer John Houseman and featured performances by Katherine Hepburn and many other stars, along with the White Barn Theater and the Westport Country Playhouse.

A Gala Preview Party this Saturday is expected to include a number of famous film and theater celebrities as guests.

Stratford Patch editor Jason Bagley contributed to this article.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?