The Columns: Greenwich, Connecticut's 1830s Greek-Revival Apotheosis

For Joseph Purcell, the owner of 'The Columns' in the 1976 bicentennial year, bucking the demolition trend was expensive, hard work -and totally worth it. 

Nothing inspires the determination and occasional wrath of Greenwich residents than the destruction of our town's heritage sites. But Joseph Purcell had a different idea. 

Sit down, take a deep breath and contemplate these words: 

“In essence I am doing my damnedest to keep this building with its architecture exactly the way it is, and in mint condition. And in fact, I would be willing, upon completion of the project, to register it with the National Historic Registry, which would ‘freeze’ it.”

Did you read that?

It doesn't happen often enough.

When I grew up and lived full-time in Greenwich I'd walked and driven by The Columns countless times. It always seemed to be there as it still is in the early 21st century. The lifespan of historic buildings varies, often according to the whims and wishes of their owners. 

But The Columns has somehow survived the test of time. 

The Columns stands like a majestic Greek-revival sentinel near the edge of Greenwich's Putnam Hill Historic District. 

Greek revival architecture stirs the patriot soul in America. It is an architectural style that first started to appear in America in the 1820s, picking up steam into the 1840s. America had fought for independence not once, but twice with the cessation of hostilities after the War of 1812. Americans had awakened to the democratic inspiration provided by the ancient Greek city-states. This found expression in the design of houses of that period. That also was true for the flourishing of the arts and sciences of the time. It is no accident that institutions such as the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford were founded at that time.

It was a July summer afternoon in which I strolled among the quaint, tree-lined lanes of Putnam Hill. This is Greenwich's Park Avenue. The drone of traffic on East Putnam Avenue seemed far, far away. The Columns is located off the left side of this image. 

The house dates from the 1830s. Believe it or not no one is quite certain who the architect was or who built it in the first place. The Columns was originally nestled on the block between Milbank Avenue and Washington Avenue, the street immediately east of the YMCA off East Putnam Avenue. 

It is said that some time before 1879 the house was moved. Why? No one knows. The Greenwich Historical Society has among its photographic collections a picture of The Columns with a clock less steeple of the Second Congregational Church nearby. The clock was added in 1879, a gift by Greenwich resident and philanthropist Elizabeth Milbank Anderson, heiress through her father Jeremiah Milbank, one of the founders of the Borden Condensed Milk Company. 

Now this is an entrance! The exterior bold, elegant moldings distinctly reveal more of the classical symmetry of the story of this house. What a fine balance this scene reveals between the best of Greek revival elements! 

In 1907 The Columns was purchased by Joseph Howland Hunt, a distinguished architect. One of Hunt's buildings was the New York City offices of Olympic Airways, then located at Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street in Manhattan. 

Hunt was no stranger to elegant architecture, the kind that makes a statement such as The Columns did then as it does now. This was a family affair, after all. 

His father was Gilded Age architect Richard Morris Hunt (1827-1895) who designed The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island, for the Vanderbilt family. He also is credited as designing the center portion of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as well as the base of the Statue of Liberty. 

With Joseph Howland Hunt's passing in 1924, the house was lived in by Mrs. Hunt and her son, who was well-known in sailing circles in Greenwich. The 1940s witnessed the house accommodating lodgers, and then after 1955 doctor's offices and non-profit organizations were headquartered here. 

Standing proud at the location since the latter 19th century, The Columns glows year round with an elegance all its own.

In 1976 Purcell was quite honest with the people of Greenwich. From a simple dollars-and-cents investment perspective, demolishing this landmark was the best option. He decided to answer the better angels of our heritage preservation -and he had an important ally.

William Finch, Jr., was the curator of Bush Holley House in Cos Cob and historian of the Greenwich Historical Society. "I back Mr. Purcell 1000 percent in what he's trying to do. It's a great Greek Revival house. It's critical that it's preserved. It looks much better than something in glass or concrete." True enough. Down the street a very modernistic YWCA had been constructed. And further down East Putnam Avenue there was debate about the future of the Ebenezer Mead House (erroneously called the Maher house) on the Greenwich High School campus. (That house was moved to Salem Street in Cos Cob and now houses the Kids in Crisis organization). 

The is the view of The Columns from neighboring Park Avenue.

The preservation of The Columns is one of the least-known and appreciated examples of recycling old, historic landmarks into relevant, updated uses. The fact is that in order for such historical structures as this one to survive their owners need a get a return on investment. In historic districts such as Putnam Hill the exteriors are preserved while allowing for interior enhancements and improvement. 

In those bicentennial days, Alan Burnham was the director of research for the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, a Greenwich resident and an architect. He commented that The Columns was "one of the few remaining Greek Revival houses in Greenwich in the grand style with a colonnade portico." 

It was pointed out that such a home once stood diagonally opposite the YMCA on East Putnam Avenue. It was owned by the grandparents of his wife. 

In what should cause all of us who support historic preservation, Joseph Purcell said, “In essence I am doing my damnedest to keep this building with its architecture exactly the way it is, and in mint condition. And in fact, I would be willing, upon completion of the project, to register it with the National Historic Registry, which would ‘freeze’ it.”

The Columns houses the offices of North Castle Partners, a "leading small cap consumer private equity firm focused in the Health, Wellness & Active Living Sector."

I never met Joseph Purcell, nor do I know if he is still among us or if he has family. That's really too bad because I'd like to shake hands and express my thanks for what he did to preserve The Columns.

We read too often about historical tear downs and "McMansions" popping up like dandelions -and sadly it reflects the reality of the choices made by some newcomers to Greenwich. The continued presence of The Columns should be regarded as Joseph Purcell's legacy. We ought to point to it as we drive or stroll by and remind ourselves that yes, there are those among the buyers of such real estate who see these places for what they are. We should remind those now and in the future who purchase such historic places that they, too, can join the ranks of Joseph Purcell -and we need to welcome those souls with open arms and make them a part of our Greenwich family.

UPDATE: September 14, 2014
As I am in the habit of posting these on Facebook I received the following from Christopher von Keyserling of Cos Cob:

Joe Purcell is still a serving constable in Greenwich, logging 200k mikes year serving court papers.
There were considerable difficulties in saving The Columns, The Town Fathers did not smile on his project, and the bureaucratic process nearly sank the project and Joe with it. I seem to remember that local doctors who had invested in commercial doctor office building did not appreciate the competition, and resented anyone breaking into their "gentlemens' circle.

However, Joe is a rocky Connecticut Yankee from Glenville who would not be messed with or thwarted. 

After years of wrangling, he saved The Columns as a professional (not doctors) office building. He is a man of strong personal integrity and self possession, a real Greenwich Townie. Like yourself, there is no time that I drive by today's Columns Building without a quiet gratitude to Joe Purcell's tenacity and vision.

It should be considered by those who come to possess a legacy building in Greenwich, that there is a value added for them in restoring and preserving these significant touch stones of Greenwich history. They create a lasting and significant monument to their name and spirit. 

Joe, his family, and their heirs will be forever be chiseled into the pantheon of the names of Greenwich benefactors and leaders of society. 

For these few, a very small investment in time and fortune can gain them and theirs immortality among future Greenwich residents and visitors.

Thank you for this memory,
Chris von Keyserling