22 Fillow Street just went on the market.
It’s listed for $999,999. That’s one of the least expensive properties in Westport today.
It was also one of the least expensive 70 years ago.
In 1956, it was a new build. Jerry Mande’s father wrote a check for $793.38. That covered his down payment.
The annual property tax was $36. Heating oil was $0.145 a gallon.
Those were the days.
Fillow Street was part of a new neighborhood. It sprouted near Fillow Flower Farm, off Clinton Avenue, and included nearby streets like Oak, Calumet, Loren and Sniffen (the latter 2 named for one man: Loren Sniffen).
Developers knew they were in the right place, at the right time. The baby boom was booming. Young families wanted the suburbs: a big home, space, good schools, amenities.
Westport sure offered amenities.
Compo Beach! Franklin Simon Shopping Center! A quick and pleasant drive on the Merritt!
And while some of those distances (2 minutes to Coleytown School, 5 minutes to the station) might be wishful thinking, the 58 minutes to Grand Central was not. Seven decades later, it takes at least 15 minutes longer. Ah, progress!
The marketing material did not hold back.
“The #1 location in the entire metropolitan area — perhaps in the entire country,” it said.
But, it added oddly, “With its awkward years of growth and inconvenience far behind, Westport stands today as the nation’s model suburban community.
“It boasts innumerable mansions in the $100,000 class and up. It abounds in many Fifth Avenue shops. It is famous for its art, theatrical and cultural centers.”
And beyond “incomparable Compo Beach … it’s endowed with priceless prestige — so vital in business and social success today.”
The homes themselves came in 2 models: “The Caddy” and “The New Englander.”
Features included finished recreation rooms, separate dining rooms, oversized garages, separate space for laundry, and leaders and gutters.
The neighborhood has stood the test of time. (The name — Flower Estates — is long forgotten, if it was ever used.)
The area is still one of the most family-friendly in Westport. It is walkable, bikeable, and filled with kids. (Especially, because of its compactness, at Halloween.)
Some original homes remain. (Though their number is dwindling.)
Jerry Mande hopes that the home he is selling is one of those. He’d like a family — not a developer — to treasure it, as his family has for 70 years.
Separate dining room, oversized garage and all.
(Click here for the full 22 Fillow Street listing.)
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Your genealogy context for the day:
Loren FILLOW Sniffen was the son Joseph Sniffen and Julia Fillow
It was Julia’s father, James Fillow, who started the Fillow Flower Company.
Julia’s brother was Everett Loren Fillow. He was married to Marie Langenberg.
Marie’s sister, Clara, was married to Christian Janson. It is this Janson for whom the Janson Apartments and Janson Drive are named
There were 2 home styles, the most expensive being $21,000, or $257,000 in 2026 dollars. Try to find a house anywhere in such a great location for $257k!
I wish Jerry Mande a lot of luck and share his sentiments for preserving the home he’s putting on the market. However, given the trend over the past many years the old dwelling will be promptly bulldozed, any trees chopped down, and replaced with an oversized shiny new “prestige” house.
$1 million for a house that’s 1,266 square feet??? That’s outrageous. I’m sure it’ll get torn down and replaced.
We moved into 32 Fillow Street the summer of 1963. Coming from a tiny home in the city of Duluth, MN, I thought our new home was huge. Our family of 6 was delighted even though everyone had to share a bedroom. Purchase price was $28,000. It was in rough shape and the whole family spent the summer scraping of painted over wall paper so that my parents could prepare and paint the walls properly. The septic tank was a huge problem, as I recall. Luckily, my dad was really handy and was able to fix whatever was off. I recall a crawl space off the basement that we had to clean ……days and days sweeping out diet and debris hunched over in darkness. What a mess. But we had THE BEST neighbors who loved a good party and boating at the beach as much as we did. I still have life long friends from Fillow Street!
I have never seen these marketing materials. It is such a joy to discover them.
My parents, Jerry and Denise Davidoff, purchased The New Englander at 9 Loren Lane in 1959. Each of their parents already had summer homes in Westport, so the town was a natural choice for their move from the UWS.
I drove past 9 Loren Lane a few days ago. The trees my father planted in 1960 or so have matured well.
Mom and Dad recalled that the town leaders swore this would be the last quarter-acre zoning ever in the town and gave the developers a deadline to get every house under construction. The contractors were pouring concrete for basements 24/7 under lights at night to meet the deadline.
What a joy to read this. My parents built our home on 12 Calumet Road in 1948. We were ahead of the Flower Estates, and I can remember the Greenhouses with pansies being grown. Running through the fields, picking berries and just playing. As the Flower Estates were built and we had neighbors and friends near by. The Gilberties lived on Clinton Ave. Wonderful memories.
My parents’ long Westport adventure began when they built 12 Loren Lane. The friendships they made with their fellow suburban pioneers never faded. I have that brochure too!
From the Sunday nytimes of 1956: https://www.nytimes.com/1956/03/25/archives/2-models-shown-in-connecticut-houses-priced-at-20950-and-21950.html