Annual Meeting, October 23, 7:00 p.m., at the Killingworth Firehouse
Our Historical Society is online! Please plan on joining us for our annual meeting which will be a presentation of how to access our online collection as well as other town collections. Presently we have over 300 items listed and will be adding more as time allows.
We recently joined ctcollections.org, a state-wide site of local museums and historical societies. A representative from CT Humanities will explain how to access and navigate the site plus answer questions. Join us for this great demonstration.
A very brief business meeting, including a vote on board members whose terms are expiring will be held prior to the presentation.
The program is free and refreshments will be served.
Our Historical Society is online! Please plan on joining us for our annual meeting which will be a presentation of how to access our online collection as well as other town collections. Presently we have over 300 items listed and will be adding more as time allows.
We recently joined ctcollections.org, a state-wide site of local museums and historical societies. A representative from CT Humanities will explain how to access and navigate the site plus answer questions. Join us for this great demonstration.
A very brief business meeting, including a vote on board members whose terms are expiring will be held prior to the presentation.
The program is free and refreshments will be served.
Historic House in Killingworth Threatened with Demolition
A historic house at 44 Parker Hill Road Extension is threatened with demolition. The proposed removal of the 1700’s house is part of an impressive effort by owner Pattaconk Farm to restore dozens of acres to their original farmland state. Demolition of any structures over 75 years old, however, is by law subject to review by Killingworth’s Historic Review Committee. After extensive review and a public hearing, the committee found the house to be historically significant and imposed a 180-day delay of demolition. It is now using that time to find ways to save the house.
A Killingworth original: This property that the house is on can be traced to Edward Rutty who was one of the original settlers of present Killingworth in 1716 (Killingworth originally consisted of Clinton and present Killingworth). A Rutty is shown in the house on the 1859 map. The house is a central chimney Cape Cod house. While the house has had many alterations, what remains is still a significant example of the earliest houses in Killingworth. The post-and-beam framing, large stone chimney with fireplaces upstairs and down, original plank floors and staircase are intact. Its date is uncertain, but it was most likely built by Edward Rutty, Jr. who received land in 1737. Many Ruttys lived in the northeastern part of town and are buried in the Parker Hill District cemetery.
Alternatives to demolition: Killingworth has adopted mechanisms to provide owners with alternatives to demolishing a historic house. Zoning ordinarily allows only one residential house on a property. In 2021, the Planning and Zoning Commission passed a regulation that would allow a historic house to remain on a property in addition to the primary residence. In addition to this, in 2024, a tax abatement ordinance was adopted that would permit tax relief on a historic house that would otherwise be demolished. It is hoped the owners of the house would take advantage of one of these methods to save the house.
Encouraging preservation: Historic houses contribute much to the historic and rural residential character of Killingworth and surrounding towns. The loss of a historic house permanently erases a connection to the past for future generations and diminishes the town’s heritage. The town welcomes any input in support of its preservation efforts and saving this house.
Thomas L. Lentz, Killingworth Municipal Historian
Elizabeth Disbrow, Chairperson, Historic Review Committee.
A Killingworth original: This property that the house is on can be traced to Edward Rutty who was one of the original settlers of present Killingworth in 1716 (Killingworth originally consisted of Clinton and present Killingworth). A Rutty is shown in the house on the 1859 map. The house is a central chimney Cape Cod house. While the house has had many alterations, what remains is still a significant example of the earliest houses in Killingworth. The post-and-beam framing, large stone chimney with fireplaces upstairs and down, original plank floors and staircase are intact. Its date is uncertain, but it was most likely built by Edward Rutty, Jr. who received land in 1737. Many Ruttys lived in the northeastern part of town and are buried in the Parker Hill District cemetery.
Alternatives to demolition: Killingworth has adopted mechanisms to provide owners with alternatives to demolishing a historic house. Zoning ordinarily allows only one residential house on a property. In 2021, the Planning and Zoning Commission passed a regulation that would allow a historic house to remain on a property in addition to the primary residence. In addition to this, in 2024, a tax abatement ordinance was adopted that would permit tax relief on a historic house that would otherwise be demolished. It is hoped the owners of the house would take advantage of one of these methods to save the house.
Encouraging preservation: Historic houses contribute much to the historic and rural residential character of Killingworth and surrounding towns. The loss of a historic house permanently erases a connection to the past for future generations and diminishes the town’s heritage. The town welcomes any input in support of its preservation efforts and saving this house.
Thomas L. Lentz, Killingworth Municipal Historian
Elizabeth Disbrow, Chairperson, Historic Review Committee.
Rutty House, Parker Hill Road Extension
New Barn Provides Much Needed SpaceThe Historical Society barn, located behind the farmhouse, is a welcome addition to the Parmelee Farm. It took many years of fundraising to secure the monies to build the barn, but it was worth the wait. The post and beam structure is appropriate to the farm and has allowed the Society much needed space for its growing collection of artifacts. Additionally, the barn is used for events like school programs and the Annual Christmas Fair.
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Clara E. Parmelee
Clara E. Parmelee (1869–1948), organist for 44 years.
©Thomas L. Lentz, Municipal Historian
Clara Parmelee (1869–1948) was the organist from 1904 and Clerk of the church from 1916. She was the daughter of Leverett Parmelee and Florinda Barnum Parmelee. She was born in and lived frugally her entire life in her home “Four Firs” across the road and a little north of the church. She taught for a few years at the Chestnut Hill School. She was an essential part of the church and the community playing the organ for nearly 45 years for morning and evening services, Christmas carol services, weddings, baptisms, and funerals. She played the organ the Sunday before she died. She was the “mother” of the church and was loved by all.
In 1944, the Rev. Coburn paid tribute to Miss Parmelee’s service.
Congratulations are especially to be extended to Miss Clara E. Parmelee for her years of faithful service as organist. The general feeling on the part of all our people found expression in a Sunday of celebration for her on Aug 6th in honor of her forty years of service as organist of the church. In addition to the morning service in her honor a special fellowship dinner was given at the town hall and a purse of $200.00 was presented to her. It was a very happy & felicitous occasion. Rev. Woolsey Couch, a former minister of the church, made the presentation. Nearly a hundred of Miss Parmelee’s friends attended.
The church was filled to capacity at her funeral conducted by the Rev. Luther Coburn and the Rev. Milton Liebe. There was a profusion of flowers and bouquets at the service. Mrs. George Dreyman who had assisted her as organist softly played the organ. Mrs. Evan Wilkinson sang “In the Garden” and Mrs. Edward Fisher sang “One Sweetly Solemn Thought.” Burial was in the family plot in the Evergreen Cemetery.
Clara Parmelee (1869–1948) was the organist from 1904 and Clerk of the church from 1916. She was the daughter of Leverett Parmelee and Florinda Barnum Parmelee. She was born in and lived frugally her entire life in her home “Four Firs” across the road and a little north of the church. She taught for a few years at the Chestnut Hill School. She was an essential part of the church and the community playing the organ for nearly 45 years for morning and evening services, Christmas carol services, weddings, baptisms, and funerals. She played the organ the Sunday before she died. She was the “mother” of the church and was loved by all.
In 1944, the Rev. Coburn paid tribute to Miss Parmelee’s service.
Congratulations are especially to be extended to Miss Clara E. Parmelee for her years of faithful service as organist. The general feeling on the part of all our people found expression in a Sunday of celebration for her on Aug 6th in honor of her forty years of service as organist of the church. In addition to the morning service in her honor a special fellowship dinner was given at the town hall and a purse of $200.00 was presented to her. It was a very happy & felicitous occasion. Rev. Woolsey Couch, a former minister of the church, made the presentation. Nearly a hundred of Miss Parmelee’s friends attended.
The church was filled to capacity at her funeral conducted by the Rev. Luther Coburn and the Rev. Milton Liebe. There was a profusion of flowers and bouquets at the service. Mrs. George Dreyman who had assisted her as organist softly played the organ. Mrs. Evan Wilkinson sang “In the Garden” and Mrs. Edward Fisher sang “One Sweetly Solemn Thought.” Burial was in the family plot in the Evergreen Cemetery.