Many “06880” readers were moved to tears by last Friday’s “Flashback.”
Appearing the day after D-Day, it noted that 7 members of that year’s 88-student Class of 1944 had joined the military.
A special surprise at graduation was the appearance — in full uniform — of Airman Sebastian (Sebby) Lauterbach. He arrived in time to march to the stage for the ceremony.
Several months later he became one of 2 members of that class killed in combat.
Robert Gerrity — a Staples grad now living in Oregon — wanted to learn more. He found this online:
Private Sebastian Lauterbach Jr. served with the 78th Infantry Division, 311th Infantry Regiment,
He was killed in action on January 3, 1945. He was 19 years old.
He earned a Purple Heart, among other honors. He is buried or memorialized in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten.
The Lauterbach family is well known in this area. We are honored to remember him today.
Pvt. Sebastian Lauterbach Jr.
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All hail Staples’ newest state champs: the boys rugby team.
The Wreckers trounced rival Greenwich 29-7 yesterday, at Southern Connecticut State University.
The victory was even sweeter because the Cardinals beat Staples earlier this year, in the first match of the season.
Congratulations to coach Jack Corcoran, and his young men. They stand at the top of the state, in one of the toughest sports on the planet.
Wearing state champion shirts, the Staples rugby team poses with their trophy and banner. (Photo/Terry Brannigan)
Meanwhile, the end of the road came for the Staples baseball team in Middletown.
The Wreckers fell 9-1 to Amity-Woodbridge, in the state “LL” (extra large schools) championship game.
It was a tough loss. But the Westporters held their heads high. Ranked 19th in the tourney, they were beaten by the #4 squad.
And it was Staples’ second straight trip to the championship. They made it all the way there last year too. They lost to Fairfield Warde.
Congratulations to coach Jack McFarland and his team, on an outstanding year.
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Also yesterday: Prospect Gardens’ open house.
Folks who have long admired the beautiful property on Prospect Road got a chance to wander through its 9 acres, and see it close up. The event was part of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program.
Guests enjoyed the Mediterranean graveled entry garden, 2 orchards, stone-tiered vegetable garden, blueberry and raspberry houses, beehives, sunny perennial garden, shady perennial woodland walk, conifer collection, flowering shrub and grass borders, Japanese-inspired meditation garden and maple collection, 2 pools, containers featuring citrus and cacti, glasshouse, sculpture, amphitheater and perennial/native wildflower meadow.
John and Melissa Ceriale’s vision — brought to life by garden designer Cindy Shumate — looks magical from the street.
Walking through it is an experience of a lifetime.
Prospect Gardens (Photos/Frank Rosen)
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65 Jesup Road — the handsome “Godillot Carriage House” near Imperial Avenue — is for sale.
Built in 1882, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the one-time Westport Public Schools office (before they moved to Town Hall) was sold to a law office in 1985. It has been used for that purpose for nearly 40 years.
Zoning allows changing part of the building to 1 or more residential units, provided for no more than 25% of the building area. A single market residential unit is permitted as of right. Multiple units would have to comply with the
20% affordable housing requirement. (Hat tip: Cynthia Nigro)
65 Jesup Road
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Speaking of downtown: You may not have known that yesterday was World Wide Knit in Public Day.
I sure didn’t.
But the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport sponsored a meet-up at the Library Riverwalk.
Jan Braunle of Bridgeport (left, photo below) and Marjolijn de Jager of Stamford enjoyed the day, and each other’s company.
And their knitting.
(Hat tip and photo/Frank Rosen)
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f you missed the first showing of Homes with Hope’s 40th anniversary documentary: Don’t miss the next one.
It’s this afternoon: Sunday, June 9, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church’s Branson Hall.
The free event showcases the non-profit’s 4 decades of housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, and offering hope to neighbors whose lives are not as fortunate as others’.
Former Westporter Livio Sanchez’s documentary film uses interviews and archival material (including long-ago video), to trace Homes with Hope’s history, from a controversial concept (with plenty of NIMBY and it’s-not-our-problem opposition), through its move from a drafty firehouse to an old maintenance shed on Jesup Road (now the Gillespie Center), and its current array of multi-pronged programs.
Jim Gillespie’s family will be honored at the showing. He played a major role in the founding and development of the Interfaith Housing Association, the original iteration of Homes with Hope.
The Gillespie Center was named in his honor Dr. Gillespie, a clinical psychologist, was killed when struck by a car in France in 1988.
The Gillespie Center. Dr. Gillespie’s family will be on hand June 9, for the showing of a documentary on Homes with Hope’s first 40 years.
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Later this month, Cleveland NPR station WKSU will broadcast and livestream “Lady at the Helm: Lillian Wald and the Nurses’ Emergency Council.”
Why should Westporters care (and listen)?
The famed nurse/humanitarian/author/human rights activist — who campaigned for suffrage, founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York, and helped start the NAACP — lived for many years on Round Pond, off Compo Road South.
Eleanor Roosevelt was a frequent visitor here.
Set in 1918, the WKSU story describes Wald’s struggle to turn New York into a sprawling field hospital, amid the world’s deadliest influenza.
The story also focuses on Black female nurses and their determination to serve, despite being barred from service during World War I.
There is another Westport connection: Funding was provided by the Betty R. Sheffer Foundation, honoring the longtime Westport philanthropist.
The Lillian Wald story airs on June 19, at 9 p.m. Click here for the livestream.
Lillian Wald’s house today.
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There are many great outdoor wedding spots in Westport. Longshore is the obvious one.
Other people get married on a beach, or in back yards.
The Westport Woman’s Club is a wonderful venue too.
Amy Schneider snapped this shot yesterday, as wedding preparations began:
Westport Woman’s Club. (Amy Schneider)
She could not take a similar image next week.
Unless a couple wants to get hitched in the middle of the Yankee Doodle Fair.
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This visitor to St. John Place stopped long enough to pose for a “Westport … Naturally” photo.
Okay, maybe he was moving at his own pace. I don’t know.
But it is a very cool looking shot.
(Photo/Carol Anne Ances)
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And finally … a beautiful song, for beautiful Prospect Gardens (story above):
(As we do every day, “06880” keeps you informed about Westport’s history; environmental, sport and real estate news, upcoming events, and much more. Please click here to support our work.)
Lillian Wald didn’t just live in Westport — she’s the reason that I grew up here.❤️ My grandfather, Aaron Rabinowitz, grew up on the Lower East Side, and was a member of the Henry Street Settlement’s Young Heroes Club, which inspired him to succeed. Later on, Miss Wald introduced him to my grandmother — and after they were married, they bought a house on Cross Highway that they owned for 50 years. Most of my grandparents’ philanthropy (and mine) was inspired by her. She also made Westporters aware of social needs, by advocating for women’s suffrage, founding the Visiting Nurse Service, and promoting an international perspective on peace.
Wow – in all the years I’ve known you, Ann, I never knew the Lillian Wald connection. Great story. And you and your family have honored her legacy generously, beautifully and proudly!
Wow! is right! Ann, thanks for sharing your family history and connection with Lillian Wald. Westport has been most blessed that she effectively brought your family and you to our community.
Was the house on Round Pond later owned by the Lawder family (Wally being the dad)? This would have been in the 50s and 60s. I was friends with one of the daughters, Cookie. The only other house I remember on the pond was the Pollacks (Peggy being in my class also). I never knew of the house’s history.
Hi..I believe in the 50’s and 60’s that home was owned by the Werblin family. The Lawders lived further north on S. Compo in the area of Ivanhoe Ln.. Young Wally was a couple of years older than I.
I think the Wally you are talking about might have been a cousin of Cookie’s. Her father was Wally, a lot older than us, an editor or something at Sports Illustrated. Cookie’s family moved to Greenwich in 6th or 7th grade. She didn’t graduate from Staples with us. But that Lawder family definitely lived on Round Pond in the 50s and early 60s.
Dan… Thanks for the beautiful tribute to gardeners everywhere with the tag to “Safe In My Garden” – and thanks for posting the photos from Open Day at Prospect Gardens. It was great to see almost 300 people there not only from Westport but also from MA, NJ, upstate NY. So happy to be able to share this very special place – almost 9 acres found right in the heart of Westport. We’re open again on September 14 – the Fall garden is a different experience. If you joined us this past Saturday, please come again! If you haven’t yet visited, please come discover!