How does a house earn an historic plaque?

Says town historian Carol Russell, “People say, ‘My grandfather built my house, and I don’t want someone to buy it and tear it down.’ If they apply and receive an official historic designation, the house can’t be demolished. They can build an addition, but it needs to look like it’s always been there.” However, while Wilton currently has six official historic districts, it has zero official historic homes. That’s right, zero. The Wilton Historic District and Commission, which oversees districts and structures officially registered with the town as historic, decides if a property or neighborhood is historically significant. Wilton’s four official historic buildings are registered on the national register, and overseen by the U.S. Department of the Interior, not the town. 

 

Then how does a house earn a plaque? For that, says Russell, you have to ask the Wilton Historical Society. “There is a difference between ‘official’ historic designation and the Historic Society plaque program. One is a town commission and the other is a private, non-profit organization.” 

 

The Historical Society has a list of about 300 homes deemed historically significant. Most are older homes, but some are newer ones, such as the Round House on Olmstead Hill Road. Residents who can prove their home is historic can apply with the committee for a plaque; those whose homes qualify can then purchase one—the $300 fee includes a one-year membership to the Historical Society. “Some people hesitate to apply because they think it will restrict them from renovating. That’s not the case; it doesn’t dictate construction or alterations,” reassures Randy Hatch, Historical Society trustee.  

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