Windham County Observer

Utmost In Livability' Describes New Home Of The Robert Swains

A Hartford general contractor and former Pomfret resident has built a house for himself which he describes as being the 'utmost in livability.'

Robert B. Swain, builder in the Hartford area since 1923, erected his new modified modern Cape Cod house last year and moved into it in November. Located at 52 Concord Street, West Hartford, the house figures Mr. Swain, was built in the $30,000 to $40,000 bracket. It was started in March 1948 and Mr. Swain used his own men on the job. He was forced to take the roof off the work from time to time because of pressure of other construction.

The house has a peaked roof over the front section and a flat roof over the bedroom wing. Mr. Swain has constructed the flat roof so that it can be flooded with water in summer. He noted that the practice of flooding flat roofs with water has recently become more widespread. It helps keep the house cooler and gives it longer life, he says.

The concrete floors surfaced with asphalt tile, contain wrought iron radiant heat coils. The entire flooring slab is supported by concrete joists. The house features a middle-of-the-room double sink and counter installation in the kitchen, complete electric kitchen including a laundry setup, Dutch door leading from living room to flagged terrace outside brick fireplace and 'dunking' pool, master bedroom with glass block and tile stall shower, private bathroom and fireplace and striated natural stained pine plywood study. The living room is 15 by 28 feet and the lot measures 92 by 200 feet.

The second floor has two bedrooms with knotty pine wainscoting and a bath. There are three heating zones the front section, bedroom wing and upper floor.

The Swains got their idea of having the kitchen sinks and counter in the center of the room from a house they saw on Cape Cod at Plymouth, Mass. They formerly lived in a 15-room house on Bloomfield Avenue, just over the West Hartford line, and Mrs. Swain said that the new house with most of the rooms on one floor is much easier to take care of. Both she and her husband are greatly satisfied with the radiant heating system. They say that this type of installation makes for more uniform heat, a cleaner house and is more economical because there are no cold spots anywhere in the house.

Green is the predominant color note throughout the house which Mrs. Swain said she emphasized in her former homes. Cabinet doors cut down from their Bloomfield Avenue house are used in the study.

The house has several antique collector's pieces which have been handed down in the family. A fire bucket dated 1793 stands beside the living room fireplace, bearing the name of Mr. Swain's great, great grandfather, Jeremiah B. Howell, a former Rhode Island governor.

Mr. Swain a native of Connecticut, graduated from Williams College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. He has a degree in mechanical engineering. He is a World War I veteran. The Swains have two daughters, Mrs. John H. Riege of West Hartford and 16-years-old Martha W. Swain, Oxford School junior. Their son, Robert B. Swain, Jr., is associated with his father in the contracting business.

The house is surrounded by elm and hickory trees.