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The Burr Gardens Advisory Committee plans to restore the grounds of the Old Post Road landmark to resemble its 1912 designs, which it describes as “typical of prominent homes of the same vintage” in its request to the town government.
“We’re trying to bring back a little bit of the park-like setting that was originally how the house was situated,” said Laura Fasano, chairwoman of the Burr Gardens Advisory Committee.
The Burr Homestead was once the home of Revolution-era Fairfielder Thaddeus Burr, a relative of Vice President Aaron Burr. The mansion hosted many Revolutionary leaders, including Burr, John Adams, George Washington and John Hancock. Fasano referred to the historic home as Fairfield’s version of Monticello.
It was deeded to the town in 1962 and is still publicly owned. Today hosts weddings, charity events and other functions on its grounds as managed by the Fairfield Museum and History Center.
The committee and its adviser, Oliver Nurseries, plan to remove or transplant hedges, tree and overgrown sections of the garden to make room for more open lawn space and new landscaping. Private donations will cover the costs of the work.
This will improve access to the fire escape, improve its rental appeal and provide other benefits to the town, the group said. “By getting the trees and shrubs away from the house, it cuts down on maintenance,” said First Selectman Michael Tetreau, a former real estate agent. “I think this helps in many respects.”
The Fairfield Museum and History Center also suggests raising some rental rates to bring in more revenue to the town. Most rates would stay the same, but weekly charges for nonprofit groups would go up $200 to $2,400 for Fairfield residents and $2,600 for nonresidents.
The work at the Burr Gardens is slated to start this spring, before the main rental season.
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