Silvermine, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Silvermine
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Mill pond and grist mill at Silvermine Tavern
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 Silvermine, Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Silvermine, Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | Fairfield |
| NECTA | Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk |
| Region | Western CT |
| City | Norwalk |
| Elevation | 34 m (112 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| Area code(s) | 203/475 |
| GNIS feature ID | 210867 |
Silvermine is a special neighborhood in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It's unique because it stretches across three different towns: Norwalk, New Canaan, and Wilton.
The name "Silvermine" comes from old stories about a silver mine in the area. However, no silver has ever been found there! Silvermine has been a famous place for artists for a long time. It is still home to the Silvermine Guild Arts Center, a big art school and gallery. The Silvermine Tavern, an old inn with historic buildings, is also a well-known spot in the neighborhood.
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History of Silvermine
People have lived in the Silvermine area since the late 1600s. In the 1700s, the Silvermine River was very important. Its strong current powered many mills, about 12 or 13 of them! These mills helped make things like leather, lumber, and spools for thread.
Artists and the Silvermine Guild
In 1906, a sculptor named Solon Borglum moved to Silvermine. He built a studio on a hillside. Solon Borglum became a key figure in a growing group of artists in the neighborhood. They started a group called the "Knockers Club." They called it that because when they met, they would give honest (and sometimes critical) feedback on each other's art.
This club later became the Silvermine Guild. Today, it is one of the largest and oldest art centers in New England. Many other famous artists also lived in Silvermine, including D. Putnam Brinley and Carl Schmitt. For ten years, starting in 1962, the Guild even had its own art college.
Perry Avenue Bridge
The Perry Avenue Bridge was built in 1899. This old stone bridge crosses the Silvermine River near the Silvermine Tavern. It's a very narrow, one-lane bridge.
In 1955, during a big flood, water actually flowed over the bridge! In 2006, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. The bridge was closed for repairs in 2008 because it was so old and narrow. After the repairs, a parade with antique cars celebrated its reopening.
The Silvermine Tavern
The Silvermine Tavern is a group of historic buildings. It used to be a restaurant and an inn with 11 rooms. It overlooks the beautiful mill falls on the Silvermine River. The oldest building is the grist mill, built in the 1600s. Other buildings include the main tavern, the coach house, and a country store.
The tavern first opened in 1929. It was a very popular place for weddings and other events. Many people also loved its Sunday Brunch. A famous actor, Spencer Tracy, often stayed in Silvermine. People say he ate the most waffles ever at the old Grist Mill when it was a waffle shop in the 1930s!
The Silvermine Tavern restaurant closed in 2009. The inn part reopened in 2010 for guests, but the restaurant stayed closed. The whole property was put up for sale again in 2012.
Historic Places Recognition
In 2003, a local group called the Norwalk Association of Silvermine Homeowners (NASH) started working to get the neighborhood recognized as a historic place. They wanted the whole area to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Because some parts of Silvermine had newer buildings, the plan was split into smaller sections. The "core" area of Silvermine, which includes the Silvermine Tavern and 85 other historic buildings, was officially listed as a historic district on June 23, 2009. This district is called the Silvermine Center Historic District.
The Perry Avenue Bridge was also separately listed on the National Register in 2006.
Geography of Silvermine
Silvermine is a unique neighborhood because it spreads across three towns. These towns are Norwalk, New Canaan, and Wilton. The Silvermine Community Association helps define the exact borders of the neighborhood.
The northern border is Huckleberry Hill Road in both Wilton and New Canaan. The neighborhood includes specific roads like Thayer Drive and Wardwell Drive in New Canaan. In Norwalk, it includes parts of New Canaan Avenue and Silvermine Avenue. In Wilton, it includes parts of Seir Hill Road and Old Boston Road.
Notable People from Silvermine
Many interesting and famous people have lived in or visited Silvermine:
- Faith Baldwin: A writer who set some of her novels in a fictional version of Silvermine.
- Solon Borglum: A sculptor who helped start the Silvermine Guild.
- William Boring: A designer of Ellis Island and a dean at Columbia University.
- D. Putnam Brinley: A muralist and an important organizer of a famous art show in 1913.
- Edward Eager: A playwright and author of children's books about kids living in Silvermine.
- Johnny Gruelle: The artist who created the famous character Raggedy Ann.
- Austin W. Lord: A painter and another dean at Columbia University.
- Verneur Pratt: The inventor of the microfilm reader.
- Carl Schmitt: A painter and poet. Many of his family members still live in the Silvermine area.
- Marion Telva: A singer who performed with the New York Metropolitan Opera.
- Spencer Tracy: A well-known actor who often stayed at the Silvermine Tavern.
- John Vassos: An industrial designer and a leader in a "Spy School" during World War II.
- Frank Buttery: A baseball player.
Silvermine in Popular Culture
Silvermine has appeared in books and movies:
- The writer Faith Baldwin used a made-up version of Silvermine as the setting for six of her novels.
- Local author Edward Eager wrote two children's books, Magic or Not (1959) and The Well-Wishers (1960), about children living in Silvermine. In his books, there is a real silver mine!
- The 1998 movie The Object of My Affection, starring Jennifer Aniston, had scenes filmed in and around Silvermine.
