New Signs Mark Cheshire’s Long History
July 3, 2009 by Josh Morgan
After years of waiting, three new signs were installed around the town center last week to alert the public that they are entering a historic district.
The signs — a dark shade of green with white lettering — alert the public to the fact that they are entering or exiting the Cornwall Avenue/Town Center Historic District. On the front of the signs is the classic Alice Washburn fan design, while the back incorporates the Town of Cheshire seal. The funding has been in place for a number of years, but it took a while to come up with the proper design.
“It’s been about three or four years, just way too long,” explained Jeanné Chesanow, chair of the Historic District Commission. 
“The signs came out great. They look elegant and classy, but it took us a while.”
Chesanow explained that there were troubles in finding an appropriate design for the signs. One “looked like a tombstone” she said, with three straight edges and a rounded top, while others were just rectangles. Then, Cheryl Dauphin from Wethersfield put together the elements Chesanow and the Cornwall Avenue Neighborhood Association were looking for: a semi-rounded top, an Alice Washburn influence, and the Cheshire seal.
“She grasped it and created it,’ Chesanow said. “Standing here, looking at it, it’s just beautiful. It’s exactly what we wanted.”
The three signs cost approximately $7,250. The Town chipped in $3,750, while the Cornwall Avenue Neighborhood Association raised $1,500. The remaining $2,000 was donated from the Julia A. Humiston fund.
“It’s nice to see a few parties come together and contribute with the installation of these signs,” said Gerald Sitko, the town’s economic development coordinator.
The first sign is by Old Towne Road, on the right hand side when traveling north and the second sign is located directly past the intersection of Main Street and Route 10 on the left hand side going northbound. The third sign is by the corner parklet on Main Street, before the traffic light on Route 10 near St. Peter’s cemetery. There are plans for a fourth sign near Cornwall Avenue and Preston Terrace, but more funds are needed to complete the project.
Claire Boiano, president of the Cornwall Avenue Neighborhood Association said the group worked “really hard” to raise the funds to assist with this project. She said the neighbors were asking about the signs since it took a while to have the right design drafted and built. Creative Dimensions in Cheshire was selected to create the signs from Dauphin’s computer design.
“It’s a relief now that they are here,” Boiano said. “Everyone was very supportive of us.”
In the spring of 2004, the Historic District Study Committee established two historic districts in town – the Cornwall Avenue/Town Center and South Brooksvale historic districts. There are 42 properties in the Cornwall Avenue district and 11 in the South Brooksvale district.
The Julia A. Humiston Fund was established in 1912 with a $50,000 donation from Humiston, following her death. Edwin Kania, one of the trustees of the Fund, explained that it has been used for projects all over town, including many beautification projects.
He said the fund is used for projects that are “in the spirit and heart” of Humiston’s life and her interests in town.
“We’ve done a number of things over the years,” Kania said, “and I think she would be very happy with this project.”
Chesanow said the signs would recognize and help publicize the historic value of Cheshire.
“Even if people are just passing through, they can see these signs,” she said. “They mark the area and are important. It gives a sense of the place.”