Saugatuck was Westport’s first commercial and residential center.
In the 1830s, when we broke away from Norwalk, Weston and Fairfield it was a thriving place, with wharves, businesses, factories, churches, schools and farms.
So why did our town fathers choose the name “Westport,” instead of “Saugatuck”?
The story I always heard is that a state representative did not like being called “the legislator from Succotash” in Hartford.
Other reasons: it was a simple description of a port west of Fairfield; it was an acknowledgment that the new town was more than just Saugatuck, and that a new name symbolized a fresh start.
A section of Robert Lambdin’s “Saugatuck in the 19th Century” mural. It hung for many years in the Saugatuck branch of Westport Bank & Trust, on the corner of Charles and Franklin Streets.
And that, I thought, was that.
But Jeff Van Gelder — a native Westporter, and Staples High School graduate — recently unearthed a New York Times story from December 2, 1923.
“Leading citizens,” the paper says, launched a “Back to Saugatuck” movement, to restore the original, distinctive name.
There was only one other Saugatuck in the world, they argued (in Michigan — named by a former resident of our town). However, there were 18 other Westports in the US, and 22 around the world.
That caused “onfusion of the mails and the long-distance telephone calls intended for the different Westports,” the Times reported.
The Connecticut Westport — population nearly 5,000 — claimed “the largest and most noted art colony in the United States.” It boasted “a dozen different industrial plants.” And it recently completed a Young Men’s Christian Association, thanks to a $300,000 gift from E.T. Bedford.
Westport’s brand-new YMCA.
“Saugatuck,” the Times said, came from an Indian word “Sauki-tuk,” which meant “outlet from a tidal river.”
The “agitation for the restoration of the town’s old name” was led by John Adams Thayer. It was supported by Professor Harry M. Ayres, who was a member of the Connecticut Legislature, “and many othe prominent citizens who believe the community will benefit by such a change.”
But that seems to be the high water mark for the proposal. The Times did not report on it again.
We had been Westport for 88 years.
Now — 101 years later — we still are.
A detail from Lambdin’s mural shows the Bridge Street (now Cribari) Bridge.
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Re “The story I always heard is that a state representative did not like being called ‘the legislator from Succotash’ in Hartford.”: that sounds almost as if it came straight out of a W.C. Fields movie.
I always loved those two murals by Robert Lambdin of Westport in the 19th century. Where are they now? Do you know if prints of them are available? I knew Robert Lambdin in my teens – he was a friend of my parents – most of the artists in Westport knew each other back then. The other two murals familiar to Westporters are Comedy and Tragedy by John Curry – I hope they are still in the auditorium of the school west of town.
Wait..Is that the I-95 bridge in Lambdin’s mural??
Good eye‼️👀
Re the origin of ‘Saugatuck’s name’, (NYTimes) my dad,Frank Pomerantz,( back in the’50’s -’70’s)-commuted for some 25 years from Saugatuck train station to Grand Central. At night,he then took 6:05 pm train from GCT back to Saugatuck.( he always remembered-‘Just before Saugatuck stop, an elderly conductor on the train always called out ‘West-Paugatuck,Next Stop!’:-)
Lambdin’s mural is part of the Westport Public Art Collections (WestPAC) and is on view at Town Hall in the auditorium lobby. And, yes, that is the I-95 bridge!
If murals and infrastructure are your thing, please come see the current WestPAC exhibition at MoCA CT, which includes Ralph Boyer’s large 8-panel “Evolution of Heat” series (1934) painted for the original Staples High School on Riverside. It usually hangs in the Central Fire Station, so this is your chance to see the whole series in a gallery setting! Only until March 2nd.
Its true though, Westport is so unoriginal. Even West Southport or East Norwalk East would be better. Remember when they tried West Port? It is still possible to change it. Look what Trumo dud with the Gulf of America. Anything is possible, one only needs to dream.
And now Saugatuck will loose its history and soul thanks to our P&Z and RTM for what-a canyon of more luxury stores that will go in and out of business, yet another ultra luxury hotel and multi million dollar ultra luxury condos bringing even more impassable traffic to and from our transportation center all while the offsight
affordable component will be a lot more expensive than rents currently on Franklin street.
Exactly who thought this was a brilliant idea except the developer???