Parker Harding Plaza is 70 years old.
The controversy has lasted almost as long.
As Westport continues to debate the future over the lot behind Main Street stores — created on landfill, near the start of the post-war suburban boom — it’s instructive to look back at what has changed over the years.
And what hasn’t.
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Maroc)
The design has been tweaked a bit — but not much.
Cars no longer park directly along the river. The phone booth is gone. So is the house on Gorham Island (replaced by an office building).
What else do you notice?
Here’s another view:
(Photo courtesy of Jean Whitehead)
Besides the outfits and cars, you hardly see a difference today.
And even back then, the lot was pretty full.
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Notice the telephone booth. Got a dime? I need to make a call.
I made a lot of calls from that booth!
No dumbster
I noticed that I never should have sold my ’57 Chevy!
🥲or my 73 tangerine 911🥲
Who knew ‼️🇺🇸
Westport wasted the Saugatuck River.
The town dump. A parking lot for downtown stores. Endless office buildings, also with parking lots.
Not all towns did that even back then, so don’t run to that excuse. P&Z failed the town.
David,
Let’s tie this up with a bow:
Key reasons Westport’s self-inflicted death was sealed in the 50’s:
1. Allowing NY’ers to buy real estate and operate automobiles on public roads (none of them could drive). Summer rentals were bad enough but having to live with them year-round ☠️😱🥶🤯😡
2. What YOU said. Building a dump on the downtown riverfront and then putting a library and a bandshell on top of it.
3. Westport owes billions in reparations to the Westport Women’s Club. Better settle up now there is an ugly side to compound interest.
Anyone recognize those two girls running? Maybe they could have graduated Staples in 1965 or 1966? They almost look like they’re dressed the same way. Could that mean they’re students in Assumption? Anyone recognize them?
Jack,
First of all: Let me be the first to wish you a great big HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!!
To answer your question: I dated both of them (at the same time – although on different nights). I didn’t want to hurt their feelings by double dating them. I’m very discreet – PM me and I’ll tell you their names.
BTW: Please try to handle these types of questions offline using Dan’s new widget. These ladies are now in their 70’s and happily married (to the same person) it would be a shame if their husbands found out about me. If I told you some of the stories about Westport girls I dated you wouldn’t believe me.
Eric, You have a phenomenal imagination! You could have worked with another Westport resident-Rod Serling.
Jack,
You GET me, don’t you!!! I worked on Rod Serling’s creative staff for The Twilight Zone when I was in junior high. I wrote one episode about a pro bowler who kept rolling gutter balls. It was filmed at your family’s bowling alley. We kept production costs low by filming on location in Westport.