History and Interesting Tidbits
The Firefly Inn
Formerly the Starbuck Inn, this property has been lovingly updated and beautifully refurnished but maintains the warm, friendly atmosphere that Peter Starbuck created over his 20 years of ownership. Surrounded by two acres of lushly landscaped lawn and gardens, this quiet, peaceful inn is the quintessential New England escape, but is conveniently located just a short walk from restaurants, shops, and galleries. For the sporting enthusiast, The Firefly is just a short drive from state and local parks that offer hiking, biking, camping, and fishing.
The Suites and Their Names
- The Peter Starbuck Suite is named for Peter Starbuck, who ran this property as The Starbuck Inn for 20 years before retiring in 2022.
- The Chaucer Suite is named for the Chaucer House, which was the name of an inn that once stood on this property.
- The Kate Hopson Suite named after “Miss Kate” to locals, who had a passion for reading and sharing books. In 1881, she borrowed 103 books from fellow Reading Club members and made them available for circulation from her home at 87 N. Main, across the street from The Firefly Inn. It was the first free library in Kent, and due to Miss Kate’s hospitality, demand soon exceeded the available space in her home. In 1922, The Kent Memorial Library opened and still stands at 32 N Main Street.
- The Edmund Morris Suite named after the local author (1940-2019). He lived in Kent with his wife and fellow biographer, Sylvia Jukes Morris. Edmund was an American-South African writer, known for his biographies of U.S. Presidents. His first book, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, won a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in 1980. Its sequel, Theodore Rex, won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography in 2001.
The Victorian
About Victorian Architecture
We think of the term “Victorian Architecture” as referring to a specific style, but it actually refers to an era – namely, the reign of Queen Victoria over the United Kingdom of Great Britain from 1837 to 1901. During those 60-plus years, many architectural styles came and went, including early Gothic Revival, Folk Victorian, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Stick, Romanesque Revival, Shingle, Colonial Revival, and the popular Queen Anne style at the tail end of the era.
About this Structure
The Victorian at The Kent Collection was built in 1890, and like many structures of the late nineteenth century, it features an assortment of different architectural elements, drawn from multiple stylistic traditions of the Victorian era. This character-filled, historic building is filled with original details, which we were careful to save during our top-to-bottom restoration in 2022.
Notice the portieres - Derived from the French word porte (door), portieres were popular not only during the Victorian era, but also in the early 20th century. Practically, this drapery hung in doorways, stops drafts (and dampens sound) between rooms—but portieres also offer a romantic, inviting transition by softening doorways.
Notice the antique hinges, the stained glass on the front doors – the bird inspired our logo – the radiators, the wide floorboards.
As a tribute to Queen Victoria and the tremendous industrial, scientific, and political growth in the British Empire during her 63-year reign, we’ve named our largest suite after her and her husband, Prince Albert. The couple had nine children, and their eldest son, Prince Albert Edward, affectionately known as Bertie, became king after Victoria died in 1901. A bit of a rebel in his youth, we think Bertie would be an interesting chap to have a drink with, which is why he inspired the name of our bar.
The Garden Cottages
Once known as “the beehive” because something was always happening, the Kent Station area is still a hub of activity. The restaurant next door plays live music, Kent’s quaint shops and restaurants are a two-minute walk away, the town library is across the street, and, in true rail station fashion, a freight train occasionally rumbles by. The Garden Cottages comprises three individual properties – The Little House, The Train Car, and The Bunkhouse – each with its own separate history.
The Little House
Newly constructed in 2022, this charming space has the same footprint, as well as the original fireplace, chimney, and beams of the antique house that stood here previously. We tried to save the original house, but when we started repairing the roof, we discovered invasive rot that made the internal framing unsafe and impossible to save. Over the years, this location has served as a residence, taxi dispatch, music shop, accountant’s office, and bakery.
At one point in its history, possibly in the early 1900s, a man lived here with his wife and their two young daughters, and his business was finding wild horses out west and bringing them to Kent to saddle break them so they could be ridden. He transported the horses to Kent by train, which brings us to our next property, The Train Car.
The Train Car
Built as a baggage car in the 1800s, this structure was later converted into a horse car and used to bring wild horses from the west to Connecticut. As for how this train car ended up on this property, we believe it has to do with a former resident of The Little House next door. Perhaps it was a sentimental gesture, or maybe the railroad no longer had use for the car when Amtrack took over the line in 1971, but here it sits, and for that we’re grateful.
As for its off-the-rails history, in the 1990s, this car served as the Paris New York Kent Gallery, where furrier and art dealer Jacques Kaplan showed works from his world-renowned collection. Believing that Kent could become the art capital of Connecticut, Kaplan persuaded others to open galleries, which he helped support. His influence in making Kent a destination for art and artists continues to this day.
After Kaplan died, the train car was used as a print company, a photography studio, and then as the home of OK Guitars, run by Charlie Gelber, one of the world’s foremost experts in Gibson guitars.
The Bunk House
This early 1900s barn-like structure was originally a bunkhouse for railroad employees. Steeped in historic charm, with hand-hewn beams, exposed post-and-beam construction, and a rustic yet comfortable interior, this space has been used as a two-family residence, an annex for the Kent Greenhouse, an antiques shop, and an art gallery owned by Tim Good, who now operates The Good Gallery, where you can purchase art or have your own artworks framed, at 23 South Main Street.