There are many places in Westport with “Shoreline Public Access.”
Last week’s Photo Challenge by Rich Stein — of a sign with those words — brought many to mind: the Parker Harding Plaza “bridge to nowhere. Saugatuck Shores. The state boat launch, underneath I-95. Gorham Island. Beachside Avenue. Deadman Brook. Sherwood Island Sate Park. Mitchells. (Click here to see.)
All were wrong. This one was so tough, even Andrew Colabella guessed incorrectly.
The actual spot was on the wooden walkway behind the medical office buildings on Riverside Avenue — just north of the Saugatuck Avenue fork.
Johanna Keyser Rossi, Robert Mitchell, Beth Berkowitz and Alicia M. Mozian were the only readers who knew exactly where this one of many “Public Access” signs stands.
But how nice to know we have so many other ways to enjoy the water too.
This week’s Photo Challenge is a tough one too.
But this is not just any rock. And — because it’s a holiday weekend — I’ll offer a hint: It’s closely connected to Independence Day.
If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Tim Manners)
(Happy upcoming 4th of July! One way to celebrate: Make a tax-deductible contribution to “06880.” Just click here — and thank you!)
Tar Rock Dow at Compo?
Gotta be Tar Rock!
One of the more historic sites in town. Yet almost no one has ever seen the Tar Rock. Nevertheless, it’s extremely cool that in Westport we’re literally surrounded by physical links to our origins as a free nation.
It’s amazing that the battle at Lexington and Concord took place 100 years BEFORE the British set foot in Westport. Think about thst, 100 years.
Tar Rock!
Tar rock on tar rock road #9
“As a parting send off, when the British sailed away from Compo Beach, it is related to me by Captain Charles Thorpe Allen, the Minuteman had planned to burn tar barrels‘s on Compo Hill, but for some unknown reason the minutemen gathered on a high flat-top rock near the intersection of Compo Road and Narrow Rocks Road, and here burned there barrels. This new beacon of light confuse the admiral as to direction, and his vessel went on the rocks, since known as Tory reef, to the east of Cockenoe‘s island. The rock where the signal was placed is known to this day as “Tar rock. “ (Jennings, 1933)
Is it a portion of the burial area on Soundview Drive, south of the Minute Man, bordering Grey’s Creek?
#9 Tar Rock Rd.
I concur that this photo is of the Tar Rock on Tar Rock Road. I did some investigation on this years ago and found the following:
In the Westport in Conecticut’s History 1835-1935 a photo was on page 119 with the caption of “Tar Rock, where signal fires were lighted in 1777 to warn Danbury of approaching British and call continentals (Karl Anderson’s property)”. Checked a backward deed search and Karl was the property owner prior to the 1935 publication.
Woody Klein mentioned in his book that “Minute Men burned tar barrels on a high flat-topped rock near the Intersection of Compo Road and Narrow Brook Road”.
Norman Nash, a landscaper in Westport, responded to a story in 06880danwoog of April 23, 2013 confirming the Tar Rock.
From the above information and others, I believe that the Rock being referenced in the photo is actually an image of the Rock used in 1777 to worn Danbury and nearby American Revolutionaries about the landing of the British.
The ford at Ford Road and Redcoat Road.
It is Westport’s famous “tar rock.” Congrats to all who know our town’s history — and keep it alive!
We’ve got the tar, now all we need are some feathers.
Has to be Ford Rd where the Brits crossed the river in 1779