With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
39 Tolstoy Lane, Southbury
- Tolstoy Cottage
- Private Residence
- Ilya Tolstoy
-
Ilya Tolstoy's Home.
- Description of Significance/Historical Narrative
- Ilya Tolstoy's home was the beginning of a community created with fellow Russian expat and writer George Grebenstchikoff on some hundred acres in the southwest corner of town that grew to some forty seasonal cottages and other buildings. It was to be a refuge for Russians fleeing Boshevik persecution as well as a cultural center for Russian artists and writers in Connecticut. Residents were Russian intellectuals in a range of fields: musicians, artists, scientists, writers. The town had a print shop and chapel, funded in part by donations from Igor Sikorsky. The community thrived for several decades, but the house have been gradually becoming year-round homes to people from a variety of backgrounds and professions. The village is a historic district for its role in early 20th century Russian immigration.
- Date of Construction
- c.1923
- Historic Designation(s)
-
- National Register District