Anyone who appreciates antique homes will be pleased to know that great care has been taken to restore one of Newtown's older houses - and that the house will soon be back on the market.

A team has been working under the guidance of Danbury-based Hilts LLC owner Kevin Bennett to restore the Colonial-style home at 46 West Street, on the corner of Sugar Street (Route 302). Mr Bennett, who grew up in an old Colonial in Bridgewater, said he has worked on old homes before, but this is his first effort to renovate and "flip" an old home.

The home is estimated to have been built between 1771 and 1774, making it one of the town's earlier homes, with additions expanding it through the years. According to a Historic Resources Inventory Buildings and Structures report completed in 1996, the house was "constructed during the late eighteenth century as a five-bay, center chimney Colonial resting on a stone-block foundation."

The Historic Resources Inventory notes that John Boyle's reconstruction of the home lots and land divisions between 1709 and 1758 reported the property was part of a 20-acre section owned by Daniel Foot.

"An 1867 atlas," it also reads, "shows Philo Clark as being associated with this property as well as one further to the west of the present Boggs Hill Road intersection."

Coldwell Banker Realtor Barbara Snyder said the house was sold in 2007, and between 2012 and 2013 the foreclosure process on the property began. The building then sat vacant.

When Mr Bennett and the realtor saw the property during auction this past June, Ms Snyder said the grounds were overgrown. The pond at the back of the property could not be seen.

But Ms Snyder said when she saw the house and its trim, she was astounded.

"This is trim that I have never seen, and I have been to a lot of historical places in my life," said Ms Snyder.

Stylistic Alterations

The Historic Resources Inventory said the house has additions both at its north elevation and at its southeast corner.

"The building displays elements of successive, stylistic alterations beginning with the block modillions at the eave of the main building, which may be original, the decorative, raised wood denticulation and beading at the front elevation frieze which may have been added during the Federal period, its paired, six-panel main door having delicate, vertical sidelights and five, horizontally-oriented over lights characteristic of the Greek Revival period, and the pedimented, entry porch supported by robust chamfered posts on paneled bases typical of the Italianate period," the Historic Resources Inventory reads.

Mr Bennett said effort is being made to "keep it as close to period as possible."

While walking the property on July 15, Town Historian Dan Cruson said he believes the building's front porch would have been added during the Federal period.

Inside the building, Ms Snyder noted its five fireplaces and Mr Cruson pointed out exposed beams - which would not have been exposed in the original layout of the home - that still have some of the original tree bark. In the now-cement-floored basement, the base of the original fireplace still stands.

Mr Cruson said Zachariah Clark, sometimes referenced as Clarke, was probably the first to own the house, and by 1854 his son Philo Clark was living there. By the town's bicentennial in 1905, Mrs Philo Clark was living at the house.

The house is also known in town as the Rhinehart House, for the family that lived there in more recent years. Ms Snyder said the house may have also been referred to as the Foot Griffin Farm or the Deep Brook Farm in the past.

The Historic Resources Inventory also notes, "[General] Rochambeau is reputed to have spent the night here during the period of June 28 to July 1 [1781]." General Rochambeau's troops marched through Newtown in support of George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

"When you get a rare house, it is just fun," said Ms Snyder, adding that she loves antiques.

Hilts LLC has been working since June 28, keeping an open house date of August 7 in sight. By Friday, July 15, much of the landscaping already appeared changed. The pond - once overgrown with 10-foot-tall plants - was exposed, grass was freshly planted, and work was steadily progressing.

With the open house date approaching, Ms Snyder noted the house, originally in need of a "massive amount of work," still had work to be finished.

But Mr Bennett did not hesitate when he said, "It will happen."

Ms Snyder said she is thrilled Mr Bennett cares enough about the property to restore it.

By Tuesday, July 26, the home was freshly painted, a white flat board fence was in place, and an American flag was decorating the front entrance.