As most of Westport knows by now, Herb Baldwin was a major force in the town’s 1960 purchase of Longshore. In just 18 days, Baldwin — the first selectman — persuaded the Board of Finance and RTM to pay $1.9 million for the 169-acre property.
If you don’t know that history, you must be hiding under a rock.
Herb Baldwin
Perhaps it’s the rock — boulder, actually — tucked under the fir trees separating Longshore’s 1st tee and 18th green. The boulder — and a plaque commemorating the event — were installed 25 or so years ago. Over time, the boulder has nearly vanished from sight.
Tomorrow (Thursday) at 10 a.m., Baldwin’s boulder will be moved to a more prominent spot. The new location — just 25 feet away, at the corner of the roadway next to the 1st tee — is actually the intersection of Julian Brodie and (ta da!) Herb Baldwin Drives.
Baldwin is long gone, but Allen Raymond — a member of his kitchen cabinet, and another important figure in the purchase of Longshore — hopes to be on hand.
Rotary Club members will be there too. That’s also appropriate: Baldwin will be honored at the Rotary’s June 9 golf and tennis outing, and at an invitation-only “Friends of Longshore” celebration later that day. Members of the Baldwin family expect to attend.
Just think — in only 18 days, perhaps the biggest land acquisition in Westport history went from idea to completion.
Let’s hope the front-end loader has as easy a time hefting the Baldwin boulder.
Nice piece. Herb Baldwin was a dear friend of my father and very much a visionary for this town in many aspects, including Longshore. He also was a helleva nice guy. Could use a few more like him with aforesight in today’s world.
I wonder: What does 2 million dollars in 1960 equate to now? 250 or 300 million bucks?
Would Westport buy Longshore today ????
I bet the property would go to the biggest developer in town to build mansions. Thanks Herb Baldwin for a heritage that will never be forgotten.