For 56 years, Westport’s World War I Doughboy statue — J. Clinton Shepherd’s memorial to all those who served in “the war to end all wars” — stood on Post Road East, opposite what is now Pizza Lyfe and One River art school.
Dedicated 95 years ago — on November 11, 1930 — it was moved to a more appropriate location, on Veterans Green opposite Town Hall, in 1986.
For a while, small Veterans Day ceremonies were held on the Post Road median, as traffic whizzed by. This was the scene in 1967:
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Maroc)
Now the ceremony is held inside, at Town Hall. It begins on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
With a much larger crowd.
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Free dinner at the Clam Box for anyone who knows the name of that little strip of land where the statue used to stand. It had a name, I think. But I don’t know what that was.
It did have a name that referred to WW1. Maybe Doughboy Sq.
It was called Pillsbury Square. My great uncle had a good friend who lived nearby.
Thanks Adam!
That was the friend that lived on Poppin Fresh Way?
Yes, Poppin Fresh was married to Poppie Fresh. Flapjack (no relation to Jack Backiel) was the family dog.
Do you know if Poppie Fresh might be related to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
We used to pick up my dad at the station and head to the Clam Box for dinner. Boy do I miss those days.
Clam Box. Allen’s. Those were the days!!
Allen’s was destroyed by Diane Farrell.
What did Diane Farrell do to Allen’s? I assumed it just losing money and the real estate was worth more than trying to stay in business.
I worked at the Clam Box every summer in the 50s, first as a busboy, then as a host, then as stockboy, wrestling the huge chunks of fish off the delivery trucks and into the refrigerator. Different times: with a half scholarship and the money from my Clam Box job I worked my way through Middlebury College. Not remotely possible these days.
I Was in the crowded background in this photo as I was 1st trumpet in the Staples band in 1966 & 1967 and, as such, I played the TAPS as part of the ceremony. This was my senior year 58 years ago and my last appearance. A very fond memory and I later served in the Army in Vietnam. Thank you Dan so very much for posting this in 06880!
Glen Cummings