Hubbard Heights gains national recognition
In 2016, Hubbard Heights reached a significant milestone by being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This designation is more than just a badge of honor; it is a formal recognition by the federal government that the Hubbard Heights neighborhood possesses exceptional architectural and historical significance. For our community, this designation serves as a vital tool for preserving the unique “sense of place” that makes our streets so distinctive.
For individual homeowners, the advantages are both practical and financial:
- Financial Incentives: Owners of “contributing” properties may be eligible for federal and state tax credits and grants for certified rehabilitation projects, helping to offset the costs of maintaining historic integrity.
- Property Values: National studies consistently show that homes within historic districts tend to have more stable and higher property values compared to similar non-designated areas.
- Owner Autonomy: Contrary to common myths, National Register listing does not restrict what you can do with your property, what color you paint it, or your right to sell it—unless you are using federal funding or seeking specific tax credits for your renovations.
- Protection from Development: The designation provides a layer of review for state and federally funded projects (like highway expansions or large-scale infrastructure), ensuring that the neighborhood’s historic fabric is considered in future planning.
In short, this status celebrates our past while protecting the long-term investment we have all made in our homes.
Hubbard Heights history
“This part of Stamford has been recognized for half a century as one of the best residential sections of town.” So began an article in the July 1910 Guide to Nature describing the sale of William Hubbard’s estate at West North Street and Hubbard Avenue. The Hubbard estate covered six acres along Grandview Avenue, which is still anchored by the “grand stone home” of William Hubbard, now occupied by Ma Maison Childcare & Preschool Academy.
The larger area not covered by the Hubbard Heights Association was originally acquired by Nathaniel Hubbard in the late 1700s. It was on the high ground known as Hubbard’s Corner, or Hubbard’s Hill, that he began his practice of medicine in 1796. Over a century later, at what is now West Broad and Hubbard Avenue, the Stamford Hospital was built, financed in part by a grant from one of his sons.
Dr. Hubbard was perhaps the sixth-generation descendant from George and Mary Bishop Hubbard who came to Connecticut from England in 1633, settling first in Watertown, Massachusetts. Nathaniel and his wife, Mary, raised eleven children at Hubbard’s Corner, and eventually the land was divided among several of their children. Four of their sons, Alexander (born 1804), John Wheaton (1808), George MacKay (1810) and William (1819) went into the shipping business in New York City and became very wealthy.
An 1879 atlas of Stamford shows three of the brothers holding land in and around Hubbard’s Corner. John in the original home bordered (approximately) by Hubbard Avenue, North Street, West Broad and Anderson; George MacKay, on by far the largest holding encompassing the entire length of Hubbard Avenue west to Stillwater and east to what is now Scalzi Park; and William, as described in the above paragraph, at Grandview, North and Hubbard.
The most recent (and prominent as well) descendent of these Hubbard brothers to have lived on these lands was Emily Hubbard Roosevelt. She was the granddaughter of George MacKay and Rachel June Hubbard. Her mother, Sallie Hubbard, married George Washington Roosevelt, distant cousin of both Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Emily, their only child, was born in 1894, and was thus the heir to parts of both family fortunes. Emily was noteworthy for her own accomplishments. She was a graduate of the Low-Heywood School and later became a prominent opera and classical singer, performing throughout the US and Europe. After her retirement, she became involved in many philanthropic causes in Stamford, culminating in her being named “Woman of the Year” in 1960. Emily died in 1976 with no direct heirs.
The modern-day Hubbard Heights community took shape during the lifetime of Emily Hubbard Roosevelt. The Stamford Hospital had been formed as a private corporation in 1896. In need of a larger, more prominent facility, land was acquired on Hubbard’s Hill and the first building was dedicated September 20, 1910. William Hubbard was listed as one of the donors to the building fund. As the community grew, many doctors found this to be an ideal neighborhood in which to live.
The western boundary, the Hubbard Heights Golf Course, was built on the land acquired from Mrs. Sallie Roosevelt and Emily Hubbard in 1922 for $34,000. The golf club was a private club for many years before being acquired by the city of Stamford. It was then renamed the E. Gaynor Brennan Gold Course in honor of the man who chaired the committee that recommended the city purchase the property and who had a long and distinguished career of public service.
Scalzi Park, on the eastern boundary, was opened in 1868 as Woodside Park and featured a racetrack for trotters (type of horse racing). The land was acquired by the city in 1927 for $300,000 and renamed in 1962 for John Scalzi, a nationally known athlete from Stamford.
Thus developed the Hubbard Heights area. Hubbard Heights, once sprawling farmland, has transformed into a picturesque and highly sought-after neighborhood, combining proximity to downtown with a warm and welcoming residential atmosphere.
Special thanks to the staff and volunteers of the Stamford Historical Society for Assistance in researching this history.
