Alert “06880” reader — and native Westporter — sent this photo:
The Stage Door Restaurant — on the Post Road in Greens Farms — was before my time.
I never heard of it. I’m intrigued by the 60-cent dinners (that 75-cent turkey dinner must have been extra special).
And I wonder where the name came from. What “stage” could have been close by?
If you remember the Stage Door Restaurant — or know anything about it — click “Comments” below.
I also never heard of it. The name probably derives from the wartime Stage Door Canteen, whatever that was. But I do remember prices like that.
It was before my time but I would think that is where the Greyhound bus terminal was which is very much a kin to stage coach of the 50s.
From the Town Clerk (so maybe it was on Bulkley:
08/19/1952 TRD BOGUCKI, CAROL G
Address: POST RD WESTPORT
STAGE DOOR RESTAURANT
Address: POST RD WESTPORT
1 02/02/1951 LAN
WAR DEED
HENRY, KENNETH
-CHARLES JBOGUCKI
[WAR] BULKLEY AVE
99 / 194
2 02/02/1951 LAN
WAR DEED
-KENNETH HENRY
BOGUCKI, CHARLES J
[WAR] BULKLEY AVENUE
99 / 194
3 11/01/1951 LAN
WAR DEED BOGUCKI, CHARLES J
HENRY, KENNETH
[WAR] BULKLEY AVE
99 / 388
4 11/01/1951 LAN
WAR DEED
HENRY, KENNETH
BOGUCKI, CHARLES J
[WAR] MAP 3099 LOT 1
99 / 389
5 01/04/1952 LAN
WAR DEED BOGUCKI, CHARLES J
KASHETTA, JEAN A
KASHETTA, CHARLES J
[WAR] MAP 3099 LOT 1
101 / 282
6 1 08/19/1952 TRD BOGUCKI, CAROL G
Address: POST RD WESTPORT
STAGE DOOR RESTAURANT
Address: POST RD WESTPORT
10728
Lolly Bogucki was the guy who ran the place for years. He had red hair. My cousin, John Mozier, ran it from 1957 forward. The fire was in the upstairs area.
I’ll have to ask my mother. Kenneth Henry was one of my great uncles.
My grandfather built and owned the Stage Door restaurant. I believe it was part of the 7.2 acres he bought in 1917, for $5,000 dollars, which eventually included the bowling lanes and golf range on that property. If you have any memories, e-mail me at Johnbackiel@aol.com.
When I was very young, 5 or 6 maybe, my father took me to the Stage Door.
It had had a fire the night or two before. We walked through the lower and second floor amid all the char and smell and Dad said he had heard a man upstairs fell asleep with a lit cigarette. There was no yellow tape or any sign to keep onlookers away. We just walked right in…
Dennis, I was at the farm two weeks ago and saw Bernie and Johnny. I stopped in at the library to see Bertha. I was only in town for like 40 hours. I donated my aunt’s 1932 Bedford Junior High Diploma to the Westport Historical Society, and visited the few people who would remember me.
Thanks Jack Always a pleasure to visit the farm and see my uncles.
Best to you…
It was next to the golf range, and the batting cages were behind it. About a year ago, I think I sent that picture to Dan. The picture is one of Westport’s “official pictures” and it’s numbered. The picture hung in the Peppermill by the back door.
I remember the Stage Door when I started with WPD in 1959. It was the site of the first burglary I ever discovered . it was a place of frequent bar fights but didnt want for customers. I dont remember when but it was eventually torn down to make room for the golf driving range owned by the Backiel family. – Dick Alley.
Dick, It was torn down when we extended the t-line for the golf range. I can’t remember when it was torn down either. I remember when I was at Long Lots, around 1960, Mr Marshall, the Social Studies teacher, used to stop in for a beer after school. He was a regular.
My grandfather was the manager! As far as I was told it was named the Stage Door due to the playhouse.
Before 1957, when I-95 was built, the Post Road was the preferred route to Boston from NYC. I was told a lot of famous people stopped in on their way to Boston, or Yale. My grandfather owned the land in 1917, but I wish I could find out when it was built. I find this story hard to believe, but I remember as a kid being told Rudolph Valentino once stopped in. But if that story is true, it would have had to been built in the early 1920s It could true because my grandfather owned the land in 1917!
Haha, oh the stories we have been told.
I just spoke to my mother… Somewhere around we have family pictures of
famous people visiting the place. I remember seeing one with my grandfather and Tyrone Power.
If you can get those pictures, maybe you can send me copies at johnbackiel@aol.com
Didn’t that become the Peppermill?
I remember the Stage Door though
Never was inside, it had kind of a rep
When I was in Staples. Anyway it was
On the south side of the post road
About where Regents Park or the Honda
Place is. It was next to the driving range
At that time. Hey Jack Backiel next time
Your in town give me a call, would be nice to
See an old neighbor! Nee Jaeger
Mary Ann… I remember you well. E-mail me. I put my e-mail here twice. Your father was a close friend of my dad. I used to shoot pool with Johnny too. I might be around October 5 and 6th and would love to see you! I almost never go to Connecticut anymore, but coming twice this year. I have an event on October 5th. Jack
I hate spell check I said you’re not your
Jack Backiel!
Dan, I love it when these old-timers chime in with first person memories of early Westport. I thought I was an old-timer myself, having moved here in 1956, but they really go way back. Keep ’em coming, folks!
Jo Ann, You have my e-mail if you want some pictures or stories. For example, my grandfather bought 4.2 acres on Old Road in 1910 for $600 dollars. There are five houses on that property now. My father and all his brothers and sisters were born in Westport, in the farm house. Not many could say, “I was born in Westport, Connecticut.”
It was a fun place in the 50’s prior I95 with all the night time truck traffic, if you dared to cross the roan and walk a bit you would find yourself at the Red Gallon