The other day, I mentioned how few photos I’ve seen of Saugatuck before I-95 was built. I’ve always had a tough time visualizing what that neighborhood looked like before bulldozers, concrete and pillars.
Alert — and historic-minded — “06880” reader Neil Brickley rode to the rescue. He’s a Staples High School classmate of mine, with an equal fascination for the Westport a few years before our parents arrived.
The photo Neil sent is fascinating. It’s a stupendous aerial view of Saugatuck from 1951 — about 4 years before construction began.
I noticed a few things.
The Arrow Restaurant (most recently Blu Parrot) was not yet built on Charles Street.
Greens Farms Road met South Compo quite a bit further south than it does today.
Most significantly, the area west of Saugatuck Avenue — where land was taken to build the Exit 17 interchange — was much more wooded than I imagined.
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Neil also sent this bonus aerial view: The same area, taken in 1965.
A lot changed in just 14 years.
Which makes me wonder what the Saugatuck of today will look like in 2032.