I’ve written before about the move of Saugatuck Congregational Church.
The building where Westport was founded — in 1835, a group of residents sat in its pews, to create a new town from parts of Norwalk, Weston and Fairfield — seems to sit on a perfect New England site: behind a broad lawn, a few yards from the middle of downtown.
But its original location was across the street, and up a hill — where the Shell gas station is now, next to the Fairfield County Bank building I have never seen anyone go into or come out of.
(The new site had previously been only the church parsonage. That house, and 8 acres of land, had been a gift from Morris K. Jesup in 1884.)
In the early dawn of August 28, 1950 the Post Road (then called State Street) was blocked. 500 men, women and children gathered for a service of prayer and thanksgiving.
V-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y — at 60 feet per hour — the 200-ton church was moved down a 19-foot incline on 55 logs, which revolved under runners. “This is more fun than a cocktail party!” one “Westport matron” told Life magazine.
Life Magazine chronicled the church move in its September 11, 1950 issue.
Photos of the event now hang proudly in the church.
(They also line the front hall of the Westport Woman’s Club, where — a couple of weeks after the church trek — the 2nd, less famous Sunday school building was cut in half. The 2 sections made their own journey west, and were joined together to form what is now Bedford Hall, at the WWC clubhouse on Imperial Avenue. Frederick Bedford paid half the cost of the $20,000 purchase, moving and renovation price.)
Life Magazine ran photos of Bedford Hall being moved from the Post Road to Imperial Avenue.
As I said, I’ve written about both moves before.
But a couple of days ago, I saw — for the first time — a film of the church move.
James Orr posted a YouTube video to Facebook. Silently — but in color (!) — we see the preparation work, the move, a service on the new lawn, even a shot of the new church months later, blanketed in snow.
It’s a fascinating look back, at a memorable but seldom-seen moment in Westport history.
And if anyone can identify any of the dignitaries (or young kids) seen in the video, click “Comments” below.
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