Living here every day, it’s easy to complain about what does not work.
There’s too much traffic! There’s nowhere to park! The town has changed!
That’s human nature.
But there is another side of human nature: gratitude.
The other day, Adam Schwartz read an “06880” story about the small cemetery on Kings Highway North. Today he reminds us — from many miles away — what’s good and right about Westport.
My family moved to Westport in 1963, when I was 6 years old. We purchased a brand-new ranch-style house off Newtown Turnpike, not far from the Country Store and Three Bears Inn.
We had a few famous neighbors. When I was 10 years old, I started delivering the Town Crier. One day my mother said I should try to get Bette Davis to subscribe. She lived on the corner of Newtown Turnpike and Crooked Mile Road.
The next day I rode my bike to her house. Three older boys stood nearby. They said she always kicked people off her property.
But Mrs. Davis was one of the nicest people I ever met. She asked me into her house. We sat down in her living room. She even offered me something to eat and drink. I gave her my Town Crier spiel. Two minutes later I was out the door with a check from Bette Davis and her autograph — I mean, signature — for a subscription.
There were some very generous customers during the holidays. Bette Davis was the top tipper, at $100. She was something else!
This Westport woman was a great tipper.
I attended Coleytown Elementary and Coleytown Junior High, then one year at Staples. In the spring of 1973 we packed up and moved to Tucson.
That was one of the worst days of my life. I was only 15, but I knew then how special Westport was. I couldn’t believe we were leaving.
After high school I did 2 years of college, then did 4 years in the Air Force (in microwave radio).
I was lucky. I traveled all over the world, and saw things I will never see again.
After 4 years I had had enough of traveling, so I decided to get out and try the “real world.” Again, I was very lucky. MCI made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. The Air Force offered me $25,000 to re-enlist. My salary with MCI was 4 times that — not bad in 1981.
My first job was in Southern California, and I’ve stayed here ever since. I got married in 1990, purchased a house and raised 2 amazing children.
I retired a few years ago. My wife and I enjoy traveling and visiting our children, in Sacramento and New York.
Shortly before moving from Westport in 1974, my family leased a house just north of this site on Wilton Road, for almost 2 years.
I can’t remember why, but we used to walk through the small cemetery that Dan recently wrote about on “06880,” maybe while walking to a friend’s house. It was the first and only cemetery I ever saw of this kind.
A few headstones, scattered around with no symmetry. I can’t remember exactly, but the dates we could still read at the time on the headstones were at least 1750s. And if my memory hasn’t completely failed, I think there were some 1600s scattered around. I haven’t thought of this cemetery in over 50 years, until I saw this.
Kings Highway cemetery (Photo/Josh Berkowsky)
With all that said, I was taken aback by the comment about “bad neighbors.” I haven’t lived in Westport in over 50 years. We moved in 1974 because we had to, not because we wanted to.
We stayed in touch with Westport the best we could all these years. First, by making sure our subscription to the Westport Town Crier was current.
And of course, since the internet has taken over our lives the past 30 years, thank G-d for “06880,” allowing us expats to keep abreast of the inner happenings of the town we grew up in and love so much.
If I could do it all over again, I not only would have lived in Westport the past 50 years, but I’d be living out my days there.
It boggles my mind to no end when I see comments like this, knowing what Westport is and what is has to offer. Anyone who makes a comment so negative about a town such as Westport with everything it has to offer, either doesn’t live there or has some real issues.
If this is truly how you feel, I highly suggest you move away for a few years and see how wrong you were to make such a naive comment. Go live somewhere else for a few years.
Just do me one huge favor. Let me know when you come crawling back to Westport. I want to witness you kissing the ground as you get off Exit 17.
Some people have absolutely no clue how good they have it!
(“06880” is “where Westport meets the world.” We rely on support from our readers — those who live here now, and those who once did. Please click here to make a contribution. Thank you!)
Amen! Beautifully expressed.
I totally agree we moved here in 1996 and I’m going out feet first. Every day we are so thankful. … Thanks for sharing your story. Always loved Betty Davis.
Thank you for that. We moved here 2 years ago to be near our grandkids and love it. i try to ignore all the negative comments I read across the different media platforms from current residents. We choose to focus on all the fantastic amenities this town has to offer and its beauty.
Amen Mr. Schwartz….i graduated from Staples and still remember all the wonderful friends….how I wish I could live in Westport again…..if you’re not happy then leave and stop with the negative comments!!!!
What a great article.
Westport changed the life of this 14 year old boy. I was fresh from the small town, small minded Western Kentucky town when we arrived in Westport. It was an epic and transformative experience and I’ll thank Westport forever.
We also LOVE it here, California transplants since 1995 – never thought I’d love anywhere as much as Southern California -but Westport certainly has tied. Two of my grown children with my grandchildren moved back too and we all love being in this fabulous town with all it has to offer. Hoping I can add my daughter and her family some day.
Great article, as are these comments! 🙂
I love being able to live in Westport! For years we thought we couldn’t afford to live here, but finally we were able to find a wonderful place to live. Now one of our three kids and family, who lives in Southport, is trying to find a home to move into Westport. They like Southport, but feel Westport is truly where they want to live. We are lucky to be able to call Westport our home and we are extra lucky to have Longshore as a huge amenity and one of the few remaining locally owned yarn stores, Westport Yarns, as a wonderful addition with wonderful ladies who work there and make everyone feel like family! It’s a wonderful bonus and whether you’re new to fiber crafts or a longtime knitter or love to crochet you will always find yourself in a warm and inviting place! This exemplifies the greatness about Westport as a whole.
Knowing how to express gratitude is essential to maturity and happiness. We are very fortunate to live in a great town
Sooo refreshing to hear positivity!!! Can we ALL stop bashing new construction, changes, & improvements to town?!? It’s all for the better good of us all and our City.
Hi Adam, you’ve said it well here. I have the same feelings about Westport from our childhood and also had to move away in the 1980’s for work…but have been fortunate to move back. Living in other places certainly makes you appreciate all that Westport has.
Yes , living in Westport is terrific, but don’t disparage people that complain about things that can be improved
Traffic can be improved, the cemetery on Wilton Road can be neatened. etc etc.
If you think you live in perfection, you’re not going to see things that can be fixed. If you live in a beautiful house , you paint it when it needs a painting, you don’t look at the peeling paint and think it’s perfect.
It’s our obligation to keep Westport a wonderful place to live. We have to see the worts along with the beauty.
Most of all, make sure your children are aware of the world out there and not just know the “perfect” bubble they live in.
I moved to Westport over a 1/4 century ago and i tell people I feel like I’ve been on vacation every day since. …..Now if we can just stop the leaf blower noise…LoL. But seriously gratitude and appreciation…are the only words that I can use.
Our family moved to Westport in 1979. It has been home since, except for a few years in CA, during which we kept our Westport home. I have been critical of many items over the past many years, but never to the point of wanting to depart. I delight in living where I live.
Don Bergmann
We moved to Westport in 1973 and have loved it everyday. The school system, Compo beach, beach camp, Longshore facility, the Playhouse, the Library, the Y and Mahakeno, MOCA, Levitt Pavillion, little league, soccer, wrestling, Staples Players, water wrats, all the current and past restaurants- all are first rate. Agree totally with Linda – as great as things are there is always room to improve. Facilities can always be updated.
The town jewels can always be polished.
For the record: Parents sold their up&down two-family in Bridgeport (nice area then & now) to be closer to Dad’s job in Norwalk (heh!). Norwalk reminded them of Bridgeport, the Tamarac/Lone Pine area was built over 2 -4 years mostly by a family friend (Ed Dooley, who long before had dated a sister of my father), the schools looked better and, yes, there was the beach. We moved in July 1952 when I was 4. Sold the house in 1998. Here I am now, a regular Dan “06880” fan. NEVER SELL YOUR HOUSE IN WESTPORT. Stuff happens. You might need it again.
Having read and re-read all of the posts and comments about the Kings Highway Cemetery from recent years, I offer my observations in hope of moving the conversation from words to actions.
First, both the Town and Parks & Rec have been blamed for the properties unkempt state. At least one commenter suggested that the Historic District Commission’s policies should prompt their membership to intervene. It appears no one knows the facts of in any of these matters.
I’m aware that some years ago, Morley Boyd spearheaded and succeeded in accomplishing the long-overdue maintenance of at least one other historic cemetery. I believe the cemetery across Wilton Road from the former Red Barn may have benefitted from his efforts. I suspect he’d be willing to share the details of his experience with the project.
The publication “The History of the Westport Garden Club” (an organization that marks its 100th anniversary this year) updated by Louise Demakis in 2014, mentions the Kings Highway Cemetery in the following verbatim paragraph:
“Occasionally, the Club is the recipient of a donation. In 2006, we received a $400 grant from Paul Newman’s “Hole in the Wall Gang” as part of Westport’s “Make A Difference Day.” The money was used to replace shrubs at Kings Highway Cemetery which had suffered the vagaries of old age.”
Now, it appears to be suffering from “vagaries” again in 2024.
Last, shortly before the late Gordon Joseloff concluded his time as 1st Selectman, he and I had a lengthy conversation about the Town of Westport’s Cemetery Committee after he introduced me to one of the appointed members, (who’s name I don’t recall.). I believe the Cemetery Committee had been formed by Gordon in response to periodic community outcries over the deplorable and shameful state of our small historic cemeteries.
Sidebar: There is not a “Cemetery Committee” on the current Town list.
Given this store of background information as a starting point, if anyone out there is keen to volunteer a little time and effort to restore this historic cemetery into respectable form, please let me know. I’d be delighted to share the developing “To Do” list that’s been forming in my head.
As long as we’re discussing memorials, I volunteer to travel to Westport and devote a full weekend to cemetary cleanup if I can get 100 fellow Westporters over the age of 65 to travel with me to Mt Rushmore to make sure President Biden is given the place of honor that he has earned. If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?