The Wilton Historical Society Successfully Extracts Portions of Historic John C. Walley House
During the planned demolition of the John C. Walley home at 232 Danbury Road, the Wilton Historical Society successfully removed 12 large posts and beams from the structure for long term preservation. These significant artifacts will serve as centerpieces for interpreting and sharing Wilton’s history.
Originally constructed by Daniel Betts IV in the early 1800s, Walley – a formerly enslaved man in Wilton – purchased the property and dwelling in 1838 and lived on the site until 1848 when he moved to Bridgeport. After Walley, the building was occupied by several different owners, who made extensive renovations and additions to the property from the 1860s through to the late 1980s, including modifications to the original one and half story structure built by Betts.
Wilton Historical Society Director Nick Foster and Trustee Kevin Craw removing a successfully retrieved structural piece from the Wally House.
Over the course of the two day demolition process, the Society was able to identify historic structural pieces to be removed, which were safely transported back to the Society’s museum campus. There, they will be inventoried, tagged, and prepared for long term preservation. Plans for incorporating these artifacts into an educational display are still being developed.
Karl Dolnier and Kevin Craw with a 28 foot long beam recovered from the second floor of the Wally House
The preservation of these materials is the result of a nearly year-long process, beginning in the summer of 2024 when the Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps (WVAC) purchased the historic property. During that time period, the Society worked closely with members of WVAC to conduct an investigation of the historic structure to determine the extent of any original construction and outline a plan for removal. The Society initially spoke to Rob Sanders and Dave Gengo as historical preservation consultants during this process. The Society would like to extend its sincere gratitude to Kevin Craw, Karl Dolnier, Chris Lavin, Sam Lavin, John Barber, and Bill Earls who contributed significantly to investigations of the building and to Kevin Craw, Karl Dolnier, and Johnny Cameron who labored to get the retrieved beams back safely to the Society. The Society would like to additionally thank demolition machinery operator and Wilton native Rich Ruggles for coordinating with us during the demolition process.
This collaborative effort between the Wilton Historical Society, the Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and dedicated members of the Wilton community represents the successful balance of historic preservation and the development of important town infrastructure. Members of the community were consulted throughout the development of the plan, including members of the Gregory family – direct descendants of former 20th century owners of the property, who are helping to preserve a portion of the property as well. Through this project, Wilton Historical can effectively share the story of John C. Walley, his family, and the often underrepresented African American community that lived and worked in Wilton during the 18th and 19th centuries as part of the Society’s mission to preserve Wilton’s history, and connect, engage and educate all who would look to the past to shape the future.
