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Ridgefield's Keeler Tavern Museum Reclaims Gilbert Building

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — The Keeler Tavern Museum recently marked a major milestone in the 300-year history of its site and celebrated the most important event since the founding of the museum in 1966. 

Left to right: Patricia Mead (seller), Chuck Woerner (Fairfield County Bank), Hildi Grob (KTM Executive Director), Helen Post-Curry (great-granddaughter of Cass Gilbert), Joel Third (KTM President) and Rudy Marconi (First Selectman and neighbor).

Left to right: Patricia Mead (seller), Chuck Woerner (Fairfield County Bank), Hildi Grob (KTM Executive Director), Helen Post-Curry (great-granddaughter of Cass Gilbert), Joel Third (KTM President) and Rudy Marconi (First Selectman and neighbor).

Photo Credit: Contributed

The museum was able to buy back the 1936 Cass Gilbert's Memorial Library and the surrounding grounds Feb.23. The Keeler Tavern Museum paid $1.15 million to reacquire the 1.1-acre property at 152 Main St., including the 1937 brick building originally designed as a memorial to architect Cass Gilbert, who lived in the Keeler Tavern building. The building for decades was the house and dental office of the late Dr. Robert Mead.

Gilbert designed many famous buildings, including the Woolworth tower in Manhattan and the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. He is best known locally in Ridgefield for his gift to the town of the fountain at the intersection of Main Street and West Lane. 

The acquisition will add the property to the main 2.7-acre Keeler Tavern Museum property at 132 Main St., including the Keeler Tavern, the Garden House, the barn and the caretaker’s cottage, create a 3.8-acre campus. 

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