Here’s how tough last week’s Photo Challenge was: Even Andrew Colabella was wrong.
The RTM member and native Westporter — who is almost always the first reader to respond to even the most obscure weekly image — was one of the 11 folks who very quickly and quite assuredly said that the flag flying high above a building with concrete molding was the site (until a couple of weeks ago) of Patagonia.
Many of those 11 also referred to it by its original business: Westport Bank & Trust.
Close — geographically — but nope.
Ed Simek’s photo showed the flag atop the original Westport Library, on the corner of the Post Road and Main Street (now part vacant, part Bond Vet, part Starbucks). Click here to see.
Those first readers were so sure of themselves, I had to call Ed to confirm that it really was the old Library, and not the (now old) Patagonia.
Eventually, Mary Ann Batsell and Seth Braunstein checked in with the right answer.
Phew!
Today, we’ll give you a break. This week’s Photo Challenge should be much easier. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
And if you don’t know, just ask Andrew Colabella.
(Photo/Seth Schachter)
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is that the Saugatuck (aka Geezer Gardens) the old Saugatuck elementary school at 35 Bridge Street
I’m going with my answer from last week.
The old alarm on the (former) Westport Bank & Trust building.
Westport Bank & Trust building (now the former Patagonia bldg)
Oh that’s a freezer buuuuurn 🤣
Now THIS is Westport Bank & Trust/former Patagonia. On my way to Florida to thaw out, brain freeze.
Incidentally, I was far from sure about my answer last week (which I did put with a question mark). The reason for my uncertainty: the flag in last week’s photo looked smaller than what I had pictured above the Westport Bank & Trust building. But I haven’t been by that building in a while.
I’m going with Morley & Lynn. The old Westport Bank & Trust where I opened my first savings account in 1956 for $10.00.
I’m going with the side of the old Post Office in Saugatuck. Wild A. guess.
It’s the back side of the old Patagonia/older Westport Bank & Trust building, near Pink Sumo restaurant. I did not know (per Morley Boyd) that it was an alarm.
Hats off to David Waldman for conserving so much of the original fabric of this wonderful – and actually very sophisticated – Charles Cutler designed building. It would have been easy to have just swept away things like that handsome cast iron bank alarm bell cabinet. But nope. All the cool stuff, both inside and out, is still there. Alas, the terrific men and women who made Westport Bank and Trust such a great place are no longer there to greet us. Sigh.
Agreed, and well said Morley! David Waldman has done such an amazing job of restoring Westport and keeping the charm while revitalizing historic structures for different uses. 🇺🇸
Dan, The brick and windows gave it away.