Connecticut Landmarks to host final Forge Farm tour in Stonington
Stonington — Connecticut Landmarks will host its final Community Open House at the Forge Farm property from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, with presentations on the restoration work at 12:30 and 2 p.m.
The community is invited to tour the Al Harvey Road property and view the finalized interior and exterior restoration work before the house is occupied by a tenant.
The organization said the open house represents the culmination of months of planning, work and community outreach.
“I’m thrilled with how the entire restoration has turned out, we really have done some amazing work on this property,” Patrick Pinnell, the preservation architect who oversees the restoration, said in a news release. “The public has been a tremendous supporter of this project. I’m very pleased with the feedback we have received throughout the project.”
“We had a tremendous turnout at our last open house. Over 130 people came to see the restoration work and talk with Patrick,” added Sheryl Hack, executive director of Connecticut Landmarks. “We were delighted to meet the many people who have been following this project. We are excited to show the finished Forge Farm restoration to the public.”
Connecticut Landmarks last year was criticized by Forge Farm neighbors and residents, who said the organization had badly neglected the house despite an endowment of more than $1.5 million. In addition, critics claimed the organization had made repairs not in keeping with the historic character of the house, such as vinyl replacement windows.
The attorney general's office had launched an investigation of the nonprofit organization's finances after the complaints and a series of stories by The Day's columnist David Collins that raised questions about the group's care of the two homes and use of endowment funds. In January, the state attorney general's office found that Connecticut Landmarks did not misappropriate any charitable funds in its stewardship of Forge Farm in Stonington and a historic home in East Haddam.
It added, though, that it would like Connecticut Landmarks to better address the intent of donors and preservation of properties under its control.
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