You Know You’re From Westport If…

Facebook pages usually have the shelf life of a Kim Kardashian marriage.

But for weeks, “You Know You’re From Westport, CT … If…” has roared along, gathering comments and steam.

Long-gone stores, dimly remembered teachers, beloved events — they’re all mentioned (and oohed and aahed over). It’s a random potpourri of long-ago Westport memories — I sure as hell wasn’t around in World War II — and those that are long-ago only if you’re still in your 20s.

In no order whatsoever, here are some recollections of people from Westport:

• The Crest Drive-In
• Caldors
• Coach Ed Hall, including his trampolines at the golf driving range, his posing as the Marlboro Man, and his frequent sightings at Bunyan’s and Crossroads

• The fire station whistle blowing every day at 5 p.m.
• Growing up with Gene Tierney
• Bill’s Smoke Shop
• Mark’s Place disco, complete with go-go girls
• The Sanitarium on what is now Winslow Park, complete with strait jackets and restraining cuffs
• The Ship’s Lantern on the Post Road, which then moved a few doors west to take over the old Buffalo store
• Teachers like Mr. Birnbaum, Mr. Marciano, Mrs. Wachob, Mrs. Crews, Mr. Lomnitzer and Mr. Morrison
• The house on Gorham Island, where a murder led to a shootout at the police station on July 4, 1961

• Skating ponds, fishing ponds, and the rope swing at Nash’s Pond
• Davy Jones’ Locker — the predecessor to the Black Duck
• Grub’s — the predecessor to Elvira’s
• CApital 7 phone prefixes
• Cannonballs by the Compo Beach marina
• Assumption School, with uniforms
• The Penguin (allegedly a whorehouse), with Top Hat mini-golf across the street on Hillspoint
• Working at Trendex — an early market research firm — and tabulating surveys by hand
• Rob Carlson and the Triumvirate band
• Bringing apples to Rippe’s Farm, and getting apple cider in return
• Lester Lanin’s Nines Club, on the site of the old skating rink
• The Troll Bridge next to Devil’s Den

• The Ice Cream Parlor
• Milkmen
• Bonanza Steak Pit
• Ben Franklin’s
• Being called a “walker” at school
• The ping pong factory on Riverside Avenue
• Buying beer at Vista Market, just over the New York line past New Canaan
• The African Room
• A choice for Chinese food: Golden House or Westlake?
• Waterskiing in the salt marsh between Bermuda Lagoon and Calf Pasture
• Chez Pierre
• The Holly Ball — a formal dance for 9th graders
• Bessie Jennings’ historical bus tour of Westport for elementary school students
• Players’ Tavern, with bands like White Chocolate
• Monday night dances at Longshore
• Saturday matinees at the Fine Arts Theater — and what went on in the balcony during them
• Rocks — not sand — at Compo Beach, and floats offshore.

You get the idea. If you lived in Westport then, you’re probably OD’ing on nostalgia.

If you didn’t, you may wish you did.

Click “Comments” to add your own “You Know You’re From Westport If…” memories. There must be millions.