Thanks to a Preservation Easement donated by Lee Kuckro, Preservation Connecticut will protect the historic character of the Dr. Daniel Hooker house in Wethersfield in perpetuity.
One of the oldest surviving brick structures in Connecticut, the Hooker house was built about 1725 for Daniel Hooker, a grandson of Thomas Hooker, founder of Hartford. Daniel practiced medicine in Wethersfield and served as army surgeon for the Canadian campaign of 1711. He sold the property to Caleb Griswold in 1733, and it remained in the Griswold family until 1848.
Brick construction was rare in 18th-century Connecticut; however, clay deposits in the Connecticut River Valley were used for brick production during the colonial era, and Wethersfield has more than the usual number of brick buildings, the most prominent of which is the Congregational meeting house constructed in 1764. Like several other 18th-century brick houses in Wethersfield, the Hooker house was originally one story high with a gambrel roof, but it was raised to two full stories in the early 19th century.
Lee Kuckro and his late wife, Anne Crofoot Kuckro, have both made significant contributions to historic preservation in Wethersfield, in Hartford, and across Connecticut. Among their many accomplishments, Anne documented Wethersfield’s historic architecture in Capt. James Francis Master Builder (1974) and a forthcoming book on historic buildings in the town; she also was Director of the Hartford Architecture Conservancy Survey. Lee chaired the Wethersfield Historic District Commission and served on the boards of the Hartford Preservation Alliance and Preservation Connecticut (then known as the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation), which he chaired.
The Hooker house reflects the Kuckros’ commitment to preservation. After buying the property in 1968, they restored many original features, constructed two additions, and converted the 18th-century barn on the property to a studio. All this work was sensitively designed to provide comfortable and attractive spaces for modern living while respecting the historic character of the house as well as of Wethersfield’s historic District.
A preservation easement is a legal agreement which allows the property to remain in private ownership while putting preservation protections in place. Under the terms of the easement, Preservation Connecticut must approve any alterations to the exterior of the house and barn and can require good maintenance. In addition, the agreement forbids subdividing the lot, which ensures that the house will retain its historic setting. Moreover, Preservation Connecticut will be available to advise Mr. Kuckro and all future owners on preservation matters relating to the property.