Alert “06880” reader — and amateur historian — Wendy Crowther writes:
Mary Riordan Allen grew up on Hillspoint Road, a few houses away from the iconic Allen’s Clam House.
In the early 1900s, Walter “Cap” Allen opened his clam and oyster shack on the banks of Sherwood Mill Pond. The oysters came from beds in the pond and nearby cove. Cap often hand-shucked them himself. Over time he grew Allen’s into a rustic family eatery.
Recently, Mary returned to the property — now the site of the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve. It was a special occasion: to meet her bench.
A year ago, she asked Sherry Jagerson — chair of the preserve committee – how she and her family could contribute to the spot that meant so much to them. (A photo on the plaque — and below — shows Cap Allen holding a baby: Mary’s husband, Walter Allen.)
Captain Walter Allen (far right) with his wife Lida, daughter Beulah, holding his son Walter Ethan Allen (Mary’s future husband). The photo was taken at Allen’s Clam House around 1911.
Several months later, Mary came to Westport from her home in Maine. Sherry, I and other committee members walked the site with her, to pick out the best spot for the Allen family bench.
Mary Allen, at Sherwood Mill Pond.
After returning home, Mary sent me old photos. One showed her son Chris sitting on what may have been the same boulder from decades earlier.
Mary said that Chris loved feeding the swans close to shore. In early spring, they came to the marsh, rebuilt their nest, laid their eggs and raised their cygnets.
Mary Allen’s son Chris, with Sherwood Mill Pond swans.
In high school, Mary clammed at low tide on the mud flats, and sold them to Cap. She also sold horseshoe crabs. He put them in floats where he kept his fresh clams; they kept the water clean.
Cap Allen and his wife Lida, in front of the clam house.
The Clam House and Mill Pond were Mary’s summer playground. She and her friends rented Cap’s handmade rowboats, to catch blue claw crabs and have adventures. They swam at the gates at high tide — a “challenging and dangerous activity” that today she would not allow.
In winter, the pond froze over. The ice skating was wonderful.
Years later — after she married — Mary’s own children enjoyed similar activities. They also ate quite well at Allen’s. After all, she was family.
Cap’s son, Walter Ethan Allen, had a 35-foot ketch-rigged oyster boat. With a shallow draft and long, shallow centerboard and rudders, it was perfect for oystering. For better ballast, Walt asked neighborhood kids to sail with him.
When Walt returned from World War II, he asked Mary — a Staples High School student — to help. Eventually, ballast turned to romance. They married when she was 18. He was 30.
Walt and Mary Allen had 5 children. This photo shows Abigail, their oldest (Cap’s grandchild), in front of the barn that once stood tight against Hillspoint Road on the edge of the Clam House property. The barn was rustic inside, but furnished with a full kitchen and a 2nd-floor loft. Cap used it as a popular summer rental property.
Cap owned a 1934 Ford Phaeton convertible. He drove it to the bank every Monday morning, to deposit the week’s proceeds.
Mary enjoyed hanging out at the clam house. Cap was “quiet but friendly and affable, and had a nice sense of humor.” A cigar smoker, he recovered from throat cancer. In 1954, age 75, he died of arterial sclerosis.
His sons — David and Mary’s husband Walt — tried to keep the business going, hiring help while they held their own jobs. Finally, they decided to run the restaurant only. The Uccellinis — 2 generations of their own family — did a magnificent job too.
Allen’s Clam House was a hugely popular summer place. Over time though, the building wore down. Environmental restrictions made it financially impossible to continue.
The restaurant closed in the mid-1990s. The land was ripe for sale. Developers — hoping to build 3 houses — made lucrative offers. Westporters mourned the loss of what had always been a favorite view. They urged the town to buy the land.
Mary worked closely with First Selectman Diane Farrell, and negotiated a special deal. Though it took many years, the site was eventually rehabilitated by volunteers. It officially opened as a preserve in 2010.
The Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve is one of the most tranquil spots in Westport. (Photo/Katherine Hooper)
For the dedication, Mary’s daughter Bonnie Allen wrote:
A special acknowledgment is due to my mother, Mary Riordan Allen, the last remaining owner of the Allen’s Clam House property. 11 years ago, in the spirit of Captain Allen’s concern for the Mill Pond and its meadows, she turned down high purchase offers from developers in favor of selling the property to the town at a price it could afford.
With generous matching contributions from like-minded Westporters (Paul Newman, Harvey Weinstein and Martha Stewart among them) the town of Westport bought the property, and honored my mother’s wishes that it be preserved in its natural state, dedicated to my grandfather, Captain Walter Dewitt Allen.
Last week, Mary and Bonnie returned to Westport to meet their bench — a gift from Mary and her children. The plaque honors Mary’s husband Walt, who died in 1982, and Bonnie’s son, Sebastian Katz, who died in 2000 at age 20.
Mary and Bonnie Allen, on the family’s bench.
The plaque on the Allen family bench.
Mary’s bench is the one that Sherwood Mill Pond visitors gravitate to most. I suspect that’s because it provides the same views and sense of peace that first drew Cap to this special piece of the Mill Pond, and inspired him to raise a family and a business on its shores.
Thanks to Mary and her family, this site is a wonderful place, where both nature and history are preserved.
Click here for “06880+” — the easy way to publicize upcoming events, sell items, find or advertise your service, ask questions, etc. It’s the “06880” community bulletin board!
Thank you for a wonderful story of a favorite Westport piece of history. A lobster dinner at Allen’s was always a favorite treat!
Dan, FABULOUS job on this important piece of Westport history – what a delightful story and thanks so much to the Allens for caring about the town and the environment in such an enduring way.
Yes, a wonderful story that captures an important place and time in local history.
Dan…hats off to you for sharing this treasure trove of Westport Beachlore. Special for us… as my wife Mary’s childhood was the Cable -Sherwood House on Old Mill…and grew up in that community. I shared it in the !1970’s and relish the memories of Old Mill Beach, The Cafe de la Plage and the charm of Westport . Thank you Dan.
What a fantastic story to compliment the current Mill Pond exhibit at the Historical Society. Once again you have uncovered and shared amazing photos and fabulous facts about this beautiful spot that keep Westport’s history alive. Thank You!
Thanks Dan! I was finally back in Westport 2 years ago and could see and appreciate how beautifully the preserve has been restored. I’m glad to see my Aunt Mary is getting recognition for what she has done for the Millpond and the town.
Well done, Wendy. I know how hard you and your committee worked to establish the Mill Pond Preserve for the enjoyment of all Westporters. Let’s just hope the RTM doesn’t find out. Think of the hearings. And the endless objections.
This is the first thing I looked at when I checked my mail this beautiful morning and it filled my heart with love and happiness. It brought back so much of “living at the beach” when I was growing up in the 40s and 50s.
Thanks to you, Dan, for 06880 which has added a new dimension to my life. Thanks to Wendy Crowther for her research and the terrific narrative, with photos included, which she created. Thanks to Mary and Bonnie Allen for caring, remembering and honoring their Allen family. The photo of Cap Allen and Lida was a instant flashback to my childhood.
What a wonderful post! When my family (Grabill) moved to Westport in 1951, we lived on Sterling Drive. My sister and I spent many happy summer days at Saugatuck Beach (now known as Old Mill Beach?) attempting to dig clams and finding horseshoe crabs. We carried the horseshoe crabs over our backs, crossed the wooden bridge and sold them to Mr Allen, I believe, for a nickle a piece. What a great memory ! Thanks, Dan
Thank you Dan for the wonderful report that brings back so many wonderful memories of growing up in Westport. Many, many thanks to the Allen family for their contributions to Westport’s past and especially for their spirit of giving back to the community. We could all take a lesson from them, especially now.
Simply put: This makes my day! Thank you, Dan.
does anyone remember the greatest Snipe racer the Cedar Point YC fleet
ever boasted, one Harry Allen ? lived on S Compo road couple of blocks
toward the beach from Mr. Montgomery’s store, (and the railroad bridge
you walked under and watched tar drip), on the left, up the hill a bit. Harry
knew LI Sound and it’s shoreline currents like the back of his hand
Awesome artificial .
Awesome article is what I meant.
what a great story!
Thanks Dan- always good to see Westport history, it’s a shame Allen’s couldn’t be saved and mix use of property preserved and renovated
so new Westporter’s could’ve enjoyed Allen’s Clam house and beautiful setting on Old Mill Pond.
The anti-preservation RTM. I rest my case.
Thank-you Aunt Mary – and Abby, Bonnie, Chris, Dan, and Emily. Makes me feel kind of homesick!
Morley- I know this not the forum, I simply would like to point out that the RTM did in fact as a whole helped preserve the Kemper Gunn House correct? Many of us worked hard to keep Baron’s South Open space correct? I don’t think at all the RTM is “anti-preservation”. I am more then happy to sit down and chat anytime on where I’m coming from as 1 of a body of 36. For the record I am an RTM representative from district 3.
Oh, you don’t need to explain your recent vote to throw the Nike site down the stairs, I know where you’re coming from. And where you’re headed.
Great story Dan! Allen’s Clam House was a “huge” part of so many of our lives! Growing up it was just as much a part of my life as Compo Beach, Compo yacht Basin, sailing, sliding the gates at Old Mill Beach, etc.
One by one the buildings disappear but the memories live one forever!
Thank you so much for this article and those photos! (I still have an “Allen’s Clam House” ball point pen in my desk!?!?)
…I know that my late parents (newcomers who moved to Westport in 1954), would be thrilled to know this precious spot will remain for future generations.
Best wishes and great thanks to the Allen family.