Scott Smith writes:
“A recent ‘06880’ post showing a rocky Compo Beach of a century ago makes me realize that in these parts having a sandy beach to enjoy is a conscious act — one that requires proper land-use decisions and ongoing upkeep.
“With all the talk about the forthcoming Longshore improvement plan and anticipated dredging of the Saugatuck River, I also wonder: Wouldn’t the shoreline adjacent to Longshore pool, hard by ER Strait Marina, make a dandy children’s beach for Westport families?”
Here’s a recent view:
(Photo/Scott Smith)
It did not always look like this. Here’s an illustration from the private Longshore Beach & Country Club brochure:
Don’t believe an illustration? Check out a 1934 aerial view. Longshore is at the bottom (Hendricks Point is the far left; the beach area, just below the pool, is the second white area from the left. The Compo marina is at the lower right:
More recently, we see:
Beaches are constantly eroding. Sand is redistributed all the time.
But Scott is right. As Longshore is reimagined, let’s not forget the “long shore.”
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Speaking of sand: In this era of videogames, TikTok and 24/7/365 streaming, there’s something refreshing about this photo:
11-year-old Ben Kiev spent yesterday building this sand castle at Compo Beach.
And he seems to be smart enough to have chosen a site far enough from the tide so that it could last — at least, a while.
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There’s a new ice cream shop in town.
Gofer Ice Cream opened recently at 1240 Post Road East. It takes over the former Silver Ribbon location, in the same strip mall as Fortuna’s and Greens Farms Spirit Shop (and not far from Carvel, which has been around since ice cream was invented).
Gofer features premium hard and soft serve ice cream, plant-based and fat-free options, smoothies, cakes and more.
Gofer’s other locations include Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Riverside, Stamford and Wilton.
As their website notes, “It’s always a good day to Gofer ice cream.”
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Among the nearly 3,000 attendees enjoying music, food and fellowship at yesterday’s Puerto Rican Day parade in Hartford: Westporter Ifeseyi Gayle.
An elected member of our Board of Assessment Appeals, she also co-chairs the Westport Democratic Town Committee’s outreach group.
Senator Richard Blumenthal and Ifeseyi Gayle.
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And — because these are the dog days of summer — “Westport … Naturally” presents:
(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)
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And finally … Happy 59th birthday to Tori Amos:
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Didn’t the number of boats docked in the marina increase when Longshore became a public club and, if so, were there safety considerations related to the decision to abandon that beach? I do have a vague recollection of that mini-lighthouse type of structure located right by there.
I lived in one of the houses on the property at Longshore in the 1950s when it was a private club. The area by the lighthouse and pool was the “kids beach”. We’d play there throughout the summer; the only problem was by that time Longshore was a bit less glamorous and the beach was not particularly well maintained…..most frustrating was the water vegetation growing by the beach. As pre-teenagers we always found it was much more agreeable going to Compo when we could. Even then Compo was more fun; it had more people and a better maintained beach.
Dan – when we were kids there was a beach at Longshore – and that was a lot later than 1934!!!
Susan is correct. There was a beach there.Small but fairly well used. This would be soon after the Town acquired Longshore. And the pool(s) was salt water, fed by LI Sound..
I grew up swimming at the beach there. Rocks came in in the eighties. You had a choice of pool or beach.
When now billionaire FE Lewis owned it in the Twenties he imported sand there. Also his steam shovel kept the channel deeper than it is today. It’s a great idea to ressurect.
In the 60’s, Longshore had a little dinky beach next to the salt water swimming pool. One had to wear shoes to get to the shallow water at Compo, rocks galore. Built in 1929, in the midst of the Depression, I have that Longshore poster. Love the near mountains on the golf course.