32 Central Street
(ca 1900) – A 1-1/2 story, wood-shingled structure, with its street-facing end featuring unusual curved gable parapets which call to mind European Baroque architecture.
In the late 1800’s Eva K.D. McGowan owned “Idlewild” on Central Street. Mrs. McGowan sold a small portion of her land to Sarah A. Walsh in 1920. In 1927, land records/deed show Sarah Walsh was taxed at 32 Central Street for property and house which they named “Let’s Pretend.”The deed includes a copper painted white horse weathervane which accompanies the house.
In 2000, Sally and Andrew Manesis of New Canaan, Ct. purchased and skillfully renovated their summer house with ingenuity by designing an angled addition to the east face of the house to capture water views, and a bird’s nest room atop the combined structure, further adding a sense of whimsy.
The name “Let’s Pretend” was kept by the couple. There is a story about the name. Supposedly Sarah and a male friend wanted to pretend they were part of the grand social scene of their time.