With the Westport Family Y firmly entrenched now at Mahackeno, David Waldman is moving ahead to build Bedford Square: the retail/office/ restaurant/residential complex that will substantially redefine our downtown.
Westporters are watching carefully, as work begins on the old Bedford building — the handsome Tudor-style structure that since 1923 has marked the Post Road/Main Street corner.
The 1978 Weeks Pavilion never engendered such love. A stark box with all the warmth of a Russian factory, it was thankfully hidden from view by trees, the Kemper-Gunn House, and the narrow confines of Church Lane.
When the Kemper-Gunn House was moved across Elm Street in November, the Weeks Pavilion was exposed.
Now, it’s being prepared for demolition.
The Weeks Pavilion, as viewed from Elm Street. An old, low-slung wooden medical building that fronted the road has already been removed.
Soon, all that will remain are memories of swim meets, racquetball, a cramped lobby, and newcomers wandering helplessly through a maze of hallways trying to find their way out.
On the other hand, compared to the new Y lockers, those in the Weeks Pavilion were like the Taj Mahal.
To many of us,I’m sure, all this is very sad, but time marches on. I was downtown yesterday and drove by the sad site it is now. The new Y is certainly beautiful in a lovely location with LOTS of parking, BUT yes, give us back our very useful usable lockers from the downtown facility!!!!!
We “old timers” will have our memories and talk about them once in a while as we see each other at the new Y
PS heard a rumor that something was going to be done re the lockers – we shall see!!!
>>all that will remain are memories of swim meets, racquetball, a cramped lobby, and newcomers wandering helplessly through a maze of hallways trying to find their way out.
AND–LOVING IT!
PS: Don’t forget the wonderful boxing room above the racquetball courts.
I hope that Westport doesn’t look like an instant town in the future.
We seem to be working on just that…
rereading old ones —Yes– the sad outlook looks as if
Westport will look just like any other place – felt that way when Talbot’s arrived , even though I do shop there — but there was nothing like the pink remarkable book shop where could go in and sit in a corner some place and read!!