Peter Barlow is 94 years old. He lives in eastern Connecticut.
But he has never forgotten his long and deep Westport roots. Peter writes:
Here’s a house a few Westporters might remember — but not many.
At one time it was one of the elegant estates. It was high above the Saugatuck River, on the eastern side between Bridge Street and the railroad. And the beautiful grounds probably extended to South Compo Road.
I don’t know who lived there in the 1930s or ’40s. But apparently times became less good, and this addition, too close and too different, was built.
(Photo/Peter Barlow)
But the real disaster for the house was the building of I-95 (the Connecticut Turnpike) a few feet away.
In the early ’60s 2 of my friends moved in and tried to fix it up. It was then known as 20 Saxon Lane.
We had some good times there. Lots of artists and musicians came. But it couldn’t last.
The town tore the house down. The grounds are a parking lot for town trucks and snow plows.
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Peter Barlow A wonderfulmanand great Westpoter GeorgeAngell
Hi Georgie. Good to hear from you. I certainly remember you and your Cadet sailboat with Barry Tashian often aboard. You all were going to be in my second book but that book never got done. Last I heard you are in the Boston area – yes?
Peter, just in case you read the comments, you were good friends with my dad, Hal Rogers. I remember going to your beautiful home on Compo Road many times. Hope you are well!
I recall the house, I went to a few parties there……
Back in the mid 60’s as a 10-12 year old kid on the weekends I would pedal down S. Compo Rd. to Compo Marina which where Cedar Point Yacht Club was located then. I was what you might call a “dock rat” helping fuel boats, running launches and generally assisting for tips. Joe Vishnowski (sp) was the dock master and Jay Tormey and Alan Thorndike were the regular dock attendants. It helped that they were friends with my older brother and sister. I would also go out with Jay on the chase boat for the sailing races and occasionally on the committee boat with Mr. and Mrs. Remlin. Peter had the most beautiful small inboard boat named “Focus” from which he shot incredible photos of the sailing races. Anyway at the end of the day I would head home with 15-20 dollars in my pocket. Those were great days! I’m glad to hear that Pete is doing well.I would love to see a picture of “Focus”…
We need to have many more memories about Westport from Peter Barlow.
Although I never saw the original house it may have been owned in the ’60s by a woman named Helen Mackay. Does that ring a bell Mr. Barlow?
The houses we remember….the Gorham Island house, for one. For a town that seems to value its history, not a few buildings are no more.