“06880” has chronicled the history of 17 Soundview Drive.
One of the most recognizable homes on the beach exit road, it played an important role in Westport’s musical history.
Today, the nearly 100-year-old house played its final chord. Paul Ehrismann was there. He took this photo, and posted it on Facebook:
(Photo/Copyright Paul Ehrismann)
I knew the old owners. They are good friends.
I know the new ones too. They are also friends. They respected the property — and its history. But they could not find a way to save it.
They’ll do right by the home that replaces it. It will fit in well with its neighbors, and the neighborhood.
In the 1920s the voices of Enrico Caruso, Maria Callas, Robert Merrill and others soared from the living room radio and onto the beach, thrilling neighbors and passersby.
Decades later, Meat Loaf played his next single on the roof deck. No one on the beach could see him there — but they heard him. At the end, everyone applauded.
The house is gone. But those musical memories — and countless others — will remain, long after the final notes have been played.
Hopefully, the radio was saved.
Wow. End of era. Meat Loaf, Corky Laing, Peter Frampton, Charlie Carp and countless other rock and roll types spent time in this home and on Compo Beach on a regular basis. Good times.
Dan, exactly what does it mean that home’s owners “could not find a way to save it?” Was the structure irreparably compromised by termites or a sinking foundation? I believe in the rights of property owners to take down old houses and build structures more luxurious and/or symbolic of their financial success. But i do object to euphemism.
There were a number of structural issues, yes.
Paul, you really captured the essence of that house in just a few words. Nice.
I don’t know quite what it means that the owners couldn’t find a way to save this house, but Westport has had a lot of great history and it’s very sad to see so much of it getting demolished.
This makes me very sad.
My home from 1956 till 1980 at 7 Sound View Drive was the first in the neighborhood to undergo this kind of destruction. It breaks my heart to this day. I grew up with Gail, the former owner of number 17. Her grandparents were beloved neighbors. Teardown by teardown, Westport is destroying its own proud history. In another couple of decades the current owners will experience the same crushing sadness when buyers of the next incarnation can’t find a way to save the house they spent their lives in.