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Da Vinci Award Goes to Cramer & Anderson Legal Assistant

Jeremy Ruman, the legal assistant to Cramer & Anderson Partner Arthur C. Weinshank, has been honored by the Town of New Milford with a 2017 Leonardo Da Vinci Award.

Given to individuals who exemplify the ideals of community service and the arts, the Da Vinci Award was an initiative of a beloved local resident, the late Peter “Flag Man” Orenski, according to a story on this year’s winners in the Greater New Milford Spectrum.

Jeremy Ruman

“It’s a real honor and it was very unexpected,” Ms. Ruman said of the award she received for her leadership as president of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Merwinsville Hotel Restoration, Inc.

The recognition comes with a medal and a plaque, which were presented June 10 at the New Milford Historical Society & Museum to Ms. Ruman and fellow Da Vinci Award recipient, Lisa M. Martin, a guiding light for the Loaves & Fishes Hospitality House.

The Merwinsville Hotel, located along the Housatonic Railroad in the Gaylordsville section of New Milford, was a meal and rest stop that opened in 1843, according to the Restoration’s website.

The mission of the Restoration “is to restore one of the last standing trackside station hotels east of the Mississippi as a living museum and a social, cultural and educational center for the community.”

Visiting the former hotel today offers a sense “of what it was like 170 years ago as passengers stepped off the railroad on their way from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to summer homes in Pittsfield, Massachusetts,” the website explains.

Watch a video of Jeremy Ruman talking about the Merwinsville Hotel

Keeping the hotel’s history alive and vibrant is a family affair for Ms. Ruman, whose father, George Haase, began the restoration efforts in 1971, “when the hotel was really ready to fall down.”

A vintage photograph of the hotel from the website of the Merwinsville Hotel Restoration, Inc.

“He really gathered the neighborhood together to save it,” Ms. Ruman has said of her father. Now, she leads the Restoration board and her sister, Jennifer Haase, is Vice President of the Board for the all-volunteer effort.

The building was painted, and the porches were repaired, last year. Now attention is turning to the third floor ballroom, where a contractor will be doing structural work.

“It’s a really big project,” said Ms. Ruman, explaining that the work will address an issue that has caused the roadside façade to bow out because of the weight of the roof.

“There’s a whole lot more we would like to do and it just comes down to money,” Ms. Ruman said.

Those who would like to experience the Merwinsville Hotel can take one of the Sunday tours being offered this summer from July 9 to Aug. 27, or join the Restoration supporters at the Fall Potluck Dinner on Sept. 8. See the events page for details.

What the Merwinsville Hotel looks like today. Photograph from the website of the Merwinsville Hotel Restoration, Inc.

The next big event at the Restoration is the Columbus Day weekend art & fine crafts show. There’s also an annual holiday show in December and a Spring art & fine crafts show.

The Merwinsville Hotel is located at 1 Browns Forge Road in Gaylordsville. The phone number is (860) 350-4443 and the website is merwinsvillehotel.org.

Ms. Ruman handles all administrative aspects of Attorney Arthur C. Weinshank’s Tax Law, Estate Planning and Elder Law practice, and devotes a substantial amount of time to interacting with his clients.

She may be reached by email at jruman@crameranderson.com or by phone at 860-355-2631, ext. 132.

Cramer & Anderson has offices in New Milford, Litchfield, Danbury, Kent and Washington Depot. For more information, see the website at www.crameranderson.com or call the New Milford office at (860) 355-2631.

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