Derby Historical Society Takes Step To Further Protect Granite ‘Howe House’

WIKIPEDIA

The John Ireland Howe House on Caroline Street in Derby. Image is from Wikipedia.

The Derby Historical Society is proud to partner with the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation in their joint effort to preserve the Dr. John Ireland Howe House, one of Derby’s finest historical gems. 

This preservation easement is a private legal agreement between the Derby Historical Society and the Connecticut Trust which will run with the property and be binding on all future owners. Under the terms of the easement, the owner must keep the house in good repair and obtain permission from the Connecticut Trust before making any exterior alterations — which must preserve the significant historic and architectural features of the structure.

As a historical society, it is our responsibility to preserve not only the written and oral stories of the region but, whenever possible, the actual physical structures that provide the visual background to these stories. 

John Ireland Howe was one of the premier inventors of the 19th century. His biggest accomplishment was in automation; creating a pin machine that could produce 300,000 pins per day compared to the 480 that were then being produced by hand. Before this, the common pin was not so common and was very expensive in comparison. An original pin machine invented by Dr. John Ireland Howe is on display at the Smithsonian Institution and is one of only twelve inventions that they chose to display, celebrating our Nation’s industrial technology of the era. 

The home that Howe built, along with his factory, served him and the City of Derby during the mid 1800s. Like so much of our historic fabric, the granite factory was demolished in the 1960s, but his impressive granite Greek Revival house still stands on Caroline Street as a testament to Derby’s Industrial prowess of the era.

The Derby Historical Society had begun the process of ensuring recognition of the importance of the Howe House by applying for and receiving status for the property on the National Register of Historic Places in February of 1989, as well as completing much of the exterior restoration work.

With this easement, the threat of demolition or a radical renovation to the property is further reduced and should ensure that the home will remain standing to be treasured for posterity as a reminder of the area’s heritage.

The Derby Historical Society is a regional historical society dedicated to preserving, maintaining and celebrating the rich and varied history of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. The Derby Historical Society welcomes all visitors and is also available to support researchers, school or other program needs. Our staff offices are located at the Sarah Riggs Humphreys House, 37 Elm Street, Ansonia, CT. For more information, visit www.derbyhistorical.org.

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