As the Delamar Westport celebrates its first anniversary — popular, modern, and with the very lively Dandelion restaurant — it’s a good time to remember its predecessor.
Not the little-lamented Westport Inn.
But the New Englander “Motor Hotel.” (A fancy name for “motel.”)
When it opened in 1960, it filled an important local need.
“Luxury at Everyday Prices!” the brochure (below) touted.
“Leave the turmoil and confusion of the hectic daily life behind …for a refreshing change of pace,” the marketing material promised.
The New Englander offered so much: a pool, cabana club, sundecks, playground, shuffleboard, picnic area, putting green, cookout grills, station wagon service to beaches and theaters, sightseeing tours — even “free ice” and “24-hour telephone service.”
Plus it was near bowling, a driving range, miniature golf, ice skating, beauty and barber shops, masseurs and masseuses, and — perhaps this would seal the deal — “stockbrokers.”
(The brochure also showed a vague illustration of the view in front of the motel. It was nothing like the reality of the Post Road, and buildings across the street.)
The center pages of the brochure touted “outsize rooms and suites, (all) fully carpeted, soundproofed and equipped with individually controlled heat and air conditioning.”
Diming options included the Gaslite Lounge — for a “congenial, sophisticated rendezvous in turn-of-the-century style” — as well as a “strikingly handsome” restaurant.
A private banquet room offered a “bandstand, public address system, and expert beverage and food service.”
The back of the brochure burbled on.
The New Englander was “minutes from the rich cultural and recreational life of the area.” Attractions included the Westport Country Playhouse, White Barn theater, Shakespeare Festival at Stratford, the “art colony at Silvermine,” museums, art galleries, beaches, boating, golf and picnic areas.
It was “minutes” too from “the industrial heart of the state”: Norwalk, Bridgeport and New Haven.
As if all that was not enough: at the New Englander Motor Hotel, credit cards were “honored.”
The New Englander never delivered on most of those promises. For the next couple of decades, it was just an average, non-descript motel.
The rooms were meh. Air conditioning was not a huge selling point. Restaurants came and went in dizzying succession.
Eventually the motel became an “inn.” Any changes were minor, and cosmetic.
Today we’ve got a legit hotel. There is valet parking. Christian Siriano decorated some interior spaces. The restaurant and bar are hopping.
But it still offers free ice, and 24-hour telephone service.
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But let’s not forget the 3am pool swims and in the 80’s, Brad Axelrod’s “Comedy Club” downstairs..also the scene of a few private parties. IYKYK…lol
You could also leave your car there, take the Connecticut Limousine to the airport, and when you returned your car would still be there for the trip home. AND the limo was reasonably priced.
And they had a little bar that one could sit at while waiting for limo. I remember one time getting off the limo and heading to the bar and bumping in to Patty Eckle from the class of 1965. As a matter of fact, I exchanged a few e-mails with her older brother a few months ago. I’m sure Jane recognizes that name.
Me Tarzan. You Jane!!!
Worked as the pool lifeguard the summer after graduating SHS in 1977. Many times had to clear out furniture that had been tossed in the pool after ‘guest’ adventures the nights before…
I remember Rodney Dangerfield popping in because he only lived maybe a mile and a half from there. My sister’s best friends lived next to Rodney.
One of my best friends, Missy DeBruyn lived at the first house on Maple Avenue South and she had a Cabana Club Membership. We used to hang out at the New Englander pool and check out the movie stars staying there while they were performing at the Westport Country Playhouse. I even got Eva Marie Saint’s autograph. Such great times….
Jan, Wasn’t it a white house maybe with black shutters? I think I knew her father who used to walk down to the golf range in the 1960s. Did she ever work at the bowling alley? Somehow I remember that family from 60 years ago.
Jan, Actually the older gentleman I was thinking of had the last name of Shipleski, and he lived in the second house on the left. But somehow I do know your best friend too. Do you still keep in touch with your friend?
Actually, I do think you are thinking of them. I recall he played a lot of golf and she worked at the Bowling Alley. She was a great friend and one of the things she loved was baton twirling (not sure why I remember that but….). It was the first house – white with black shutters. I have no idea where she is now, but maybe someone knows!
Jan, Unfortunately this is my 5th comment. I absolutely know she worked at the bowling alley, but I can’t remember exactly where. I also knew her father. If you want, get my e-mail from Dan and share any information or pictures you might have. Maybe she was a waitress at the Club 300? I might even know you too.
I saw Jerry Seinfeld perform at the hotel’s comedy club back in the early 1980s . It was called the Treehouse Comedy Club, even though it was located in what seemed like a basement. Seinfeld was just beginning his meteoric rise to fame. I’d never heard of him at the time but I remember laughing so hard that my sides literally ached! I never forgot his name after that.
What can be done to bring Dan’s blog back to an informational platform and not someone’s personal message board?
Every story seems it turns into a platform of me…me…me.
Disheartening to the great accomplishments of many and turns viewers off and away.
Suffers from ‘verbal diarrhea’…stage 5
In the interest of social justice I cannot allow this to go unchallenged: It’s not “verbal diarrhea” unless it’s expressed orally (using the mouth). That’s why most “old Westporters” express themselves on 06880.
Have a nice day and remember: “Be Kind.”
I love seeing old friends and community members reminisce. it makes my heart warm to see how many people love this community as much as I love it. gives me hope that instead of bickering all the time we’ll take her care of each other. you can read someone’s name before you read the comment. Feel free to skip it. keep commenting Jack and all his buddies!
A proud enabler.
Do better Janine.
Dan, Will you allow me a 6th comment.Edward, It’s called Friday Flashback where people make personal comments on their memories of times that can go back 60 years. How can one make a comment from 60 years ago without making it a personal experience? Every comment mentioned memories from the past whether it be being able to park, or cleaning out the swimming pool, or the comedy club, or hanging out at the pool to meet celebrities. Reread every comment. These comments are personal and go back 55 to 60 years.
Mr B, I’m certain your memories are very important to you. I’m glad you have so many of them in your life. But please notice the pronouns: “you” and “your.” I would venture to quess that an overwhelming majority of the readers of this blog could not possible care less about them. (Nor do I think they would, or should, care about mine. But, please, sir, give it , and us, a rest!
you are mean! love you Jack
And yes Jack I am going to make a comment that goes back 60 years,2 months, and 6 days. Just to be obnoxious. We were so thrilled to have a Motel in town. Our wedding was May 1966 and there were many out of town guests who stayed there who came from all over. It was wonderful to have everyone have a place close by rather than commute to the festivities from farther away.
so cool Mary
At the risk of offending some readers here (apparently), let me observe that I remember the old New Englander/Westport Inn from back in the day.
I like to return home to Westport in the fall so for fun I looked at booking a 5-night stay the first week of October. It would cost me a minimum $4,588, and that’s today’s “value deal” to stay on the Post Road.
I’m not sure how the old New Englander’s rates would compare adjusted for inflation and even though I could afford to stay there I would never do it. I’d rather sleep in a more reasonably priced accommodation in Norwalk and donate the difference to charity.
Hi Tom. For what it’s worth, my daughter stayed there solo in January for 3-4 nights and my son and DIL and kids were there last month. Just under 250-300 a night.
Guys, guys!!!!
Can’t we all just get along????
Check this out:
Westportyaks.com
I find it fun to read the Friday Flashback and ALL its comments. It’s just traveling down memory lane. After all we are newcomers- only moved here in 1973 to start a radiology practice at The Willows (otherwise known Fort Apache)
I will add my historical two cents- The SHS swim teams and wrestling teams used to hold end of season banquets in a subterranean meeting hall at the New Englander (some were also held at the Red Barn). The kids used to say they were eating “mystery food” no matter what they were serving!!
Fun memories!!
And, even now, the Westport Inn sign on the I-95 Exit 18 off-ramp is still there. Along with Subway.
Keeping In the spirit of ‘Friday Flashbacks’ here…,Remembering a decent restaurant :’The Ocean House’?- just next door to New Englander; the summer, 1994,I then played solo piano in the bar, there Friday-Saturday nights-(the movie’Sleepless in Seattle’ was then in local theaters,I then playing the songs people there requesting from the movie:-)
Pps. to my previous comment: ‘Memories of Westport’ ,for me, personally, a mixed- bittersweet bag these days – of both the many happy times, growing up there, & later on, funny ‘local musician stories’; of missing old friends, no longer with us..and to be Grateful for all that plus my current family.. just my own 2 cents, here, folks…:-)