Canaan House Plays Unique Role During Town’s Transition

By Steve Bigham

When the state closed up Fairfield Hills Hospital back in 1995 it left behind several very large buildings to sit empty until someone could decide what to do with them. Among them was Canaan House, a sprawling three-story structure that once was home to some of Connecticut’s most mentally ill.

Unlike the rest of the buildings, which have remained vacant and cold, Canaan House has taken on a unique role and will long be remembered for its key (many say odd) place in the town’s history.

Twenty years from now, residents may be surprised to learn that that building once housed part of the town government, the Board of Education, an alternative high school, and a makeshift television studio (MTV has shot at least two shows from inside).

On Monday, the Board of Selectmen authorized First Selectman Herb Rosenthal to sign a month-to-month lease with the state for use of two separate wings at Canaan House. The town has been paying the state $3,583 per month (for 8,600 square feet) for the past four years to accommodate those offices which had previously been located at Town Hall South. The Board of Education has now moved into the opposite side of the Canaan House first floor. It will pay the state $1,866 per month for the use of 11,200 square feet of space, which will include administrative offices and the alternative high school, which moved into the facility at the start of the school year.

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed and his staff are scheduled to move into their new digs sometime this month.

Mr Rosenthal said the month-to-month lease would remain in effect for the next 18 months.

“Hopefully something will be done by then,” he said, referring to the ongoing negotiations between the town and the state over the sale of Fairfield Hills. The town has expressed interest in purchasing the property. If bought by the town, the 185-acre campus would like be used for many purposes, one of which would be permanent office space for town employees.

During the winter of 1996-97, town employees were forced to abandon their offices at Town Hall South after the building became ravaged by flooding and general deterioration. With no other choice, then First Selectman Bob Cascella made a deal with the state for the use of Canaan House. At the time, the move was supposed to be only temporary – and town officials say it remains temporary – however, the hasty move has resulted in some problems. For example, town offices moved into the institutional building before the original carpets could be removed. Thus, the same carpets used by the hospital’s patients are still being used and the odor is starting to bother both employees and residents.

Last month, town employees at Canaan House reportedly filed a grievance that spoke of some of the building’s undesirable conditions. However, the grievance never reached the town administration.

“I heard [a grievance] was out there, but it never got here. All I got was a complaint from the union – nothing in writing, though,” noted Carole Ross, the town’s human resources administrator.

But while most of the original cast remains at Canaan House, some offices have been moved back into the lower level of Town Hall South, including the Parks & Recreation Department and Social Services.

The Impending Purchase Of Fairfield Hills

Although town officials won’t come right out and say it, the purchase of Fairfield Hills appears to be a foregone conclusion. And, more than likely, the town will retain some of the buildings for municipal office space.

“I think it goes without saying that we can certainly learn from our experiences at Canaan House that the space there can be used for municipal purposes,” noted Selectman Bill Brimmer. “In a way, Canaan House has been a test run and we didn’t even realize it.”

Newtown and Woodbury halls, located along the main entry plaza into the campus, appear to be leading candidates to be used for future government office space. However, any such move would be several years off, one town official noted.