It was once one of the largest and grandest homes in Westport. Today — in a town of McMansions — 175 Long Lots Road merits barely a second glance.
But what history lies within its walls!
In 1957 Liz Taylor — married to film and theater producer Mike Todd, the 3rd of her 7 husbands — was pregnant. Her mother lived in Ridgefield, and Liz wanted to be near her. Westport was filled with actors and movie producers, so Liz and Mike came here to house-hunt.
Their realtor called Nat Greenberg — a long-time Westport real estate developer — in a panic. He had no houses to show Liz Taylor, he said. They’ve driven all the way up here in a Rolls-Royce — can I show them yours?!
“So in walked Liz Taylor and Mike Todd,” Nat’s widow Lee Greenberg recalled this afternoon. “They loved the house” — it included a swimming pool and tennis court — “and asked if we’d consider renting it for a year. My first reaction was, ‘Of course not!'”
But Nat told Liz and Mike he’d be in touch. The Greenbergs talked, and Lee said, “If we can do something unusual as a family for a year, let’s do it.”
She quickly came up with that “unusual” idea: Switzerland. The Greenbergs were skiers, and their 4 young children could have an intriguing year in a Swiss school.
Nat called Mike. “He was deliriously happy,” Lee said. “In fact, he offered to pay — besides the year rental — for all 6 of us to go to Switzerland. And for our chalet.”
Did the Greenbergs accept the offer?
“Of course!” she said. “Wouldn’t you?”
The last photo taken of Liz Taylor and Mike Todd. (Photo courtesy of IMDB)
Several months later Lee was on a tram, going up a Swiss mountain. She was just learning French, but she knew enough to translate the huge newspaper headline: “Mike Todd est mort.”
The producer and 3 other men had been killed in the crash of an overloaded private plane, in an ice storm, near Grants, New Mexico.
The date was March 22, 1958.
Fifty-three years — and 1 day — later, Liz Taylor too is dead.
Post-script: Liz Taylor and Mike Todd were not the only famous residents of 175 Long Lots Road. Lee and Nat Greenberg sold their home to Harry Reasoner in 1968 — the same year the TV newscaster teamed up with Mike Wallace to begin CBS News’ “60 Minutes.”
Harry Reasoner retired in 1991. Three months later he died — from complications of a fall at his Westport home.