This Sunday (October 13), Saugatuck Congregational Church celebrates the dedication of its new organ.
Founded in 1832, it’s been an important part of town life for nearly 2 centuries. The 1835 announcement about the incorporation of the town of Westport was nailed to the meeting house door. For years, town meetings were held there.
But “there” was not its typical New England site: the back of a broad lawn, on by Myrtle Avenue.
The church was first located diagonally across the Post Road, up the hill and a bit east, near the current site of the Sunoco gas station and the Fairfield County Bank branch that no human being has ever been seen going into or out of.
In 1950 the church was moved — carefully, and over the course of a long day — to its present spot. The event was featured in Life Magazine. I’ve written about it before, on “06880.”
There will be a big crowd Sunday, for the organ dedication and concert. Will anyone there remember when the church was here?
(Photo courtesy of Don Willmott)