Though he grew up in Southern California, this town gave him “a comfort level like a favorite sweater,” he says. He was “smitten by Westport from my first day.” And he still calls this “my adopted home town.”
In his 6 years here — when not freelancing in New York as a graphic designer — David took many photos in Westport and Weston.
Along the way, he met “some really wonderful people.” Photographer Alan Fontaine became a close friend, and convinced him to start his own portrait studio. In 1995, he did. He quickly got plenty of work, thanks to his signature black and white style.
At 81 years old — and a cancer survivor — he wants to share some of his photos with “the lovely people of Westport who welcomed me, and nurtured our friendships so unconditionally.”
Here are a few of those images. Though 3 decades old, they are timeless.
Well … except for the first two.
Remarkable Book Shop, Main Stree
Allen’s Clam House, Hillspoint Road
Sherwood Mill Pond
Compo Beach boardwalk
Compo Beach pavilion
Compo Beach in fog
Longshore cemetery
Saugatuck Rowing Club
Saugatuck River, downtown (All photos/David Ohman)
Dave Stalling is one of many Westporters who worked at Allen’s. The Staples High School graduate now lives in Montana. But he has fond memories of his years at the restaurant. Dave writes:
It’s difficult to imagine that anyone who went to Staples High School in the 1970s didn’t, at one time or another, work for Wayne Uccellini at Allen’s Clam & Lobster House.
Wayne and his family owned Allen’s, a once beloved Westport landmark built in 1890 by Captain Walter Allen. When I was growing up, it was a wonderful restaurant and a central part of the town’s character. (The restaurant closed in the late 1990s, was demolished in 2004, and the site is now the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve.)
Exterior and interior views of Allen’s Clam House. Today, it’s the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve.
When I attended Staples High School (Class of 1979), it seemed like almost everyone I knew worked there — washing dishes, bussing tables, prepping food or cooking.
Wayne ran the kitchen. I can still picture him clearly: dressed in his white chef’s uniform, black mustache, always smiling, efficiently moving through the kitchen. He seemed constantly busy, yet never too busy to stop and say hello or, more likely, continuing to work while visiting.
Wayne Uccellini (left) and his brother Ron in Allen’s kitchen, 1978.
We became friends. He took me fishing and grouse hunting. When I was strapped for cash, he paid me to do yard work at his home.
Later, when I came home on leave from the Marine Corps, Wayne was always genuinely happy to see me. He’d invite me into the kitchen, always cooking something up, and say, “Hey Dave, try this.” It might be a bit of scampi, some lobster or a bowl of clam chowder to bring home. He always asked how my mom and dad were doing.
Wayne was kind, generous and compassionate, always eager to help anyone in need.
The Uccellini family.
A lifelong resident of Westport, Wayne was a graduate of Staples High School, Class of 1964, and proudly served in the US Army. He and his wonderful wife Karen raised their 3 children in Westport.
I will always remember Wayne as a cherished friend and mentor — someone who gave countless high school students their very first jobs, and left a lasting, positive influence on the town of Westport.
Natan Sharansky — the former Soviet dissident, political prisoner, Israeli leader, and worldwide symbol of freedom and democracy — is coming to Westport.
His “Night of Courage & Freedom” appearance — part of Chabad of Westport’s “Candid Conversations” series — is set for February 2 (7:30 p.m.; VIP reception at 6:45).
From enduring years in Soviet Union gulags to serving in the Knesset, Sharansky’s life story and message resonate powerfully today. He is the author of 2 books, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
There’s always something new down at the (Wakeman Town) Farm — even in winter.
January brings new special events like Valentine’s Cooking, Valentine’s Dinner, Knitting Circle; classes on winter seed sowing, garden tools and cooking with mushrooms, plus new children’s program, and Toddler Tea and Story Time.
Alert “06880” reader — and Remarkable Bookcycle lover — Janine Scotti sends this photo:
(Photo/Janine Scotti)
She writes: “If I had a garage, I’d take care of this. But maybe someone who reads this can repair it. It looks like they plowed snow, which piled up against it.”
Shouldn’t be too hard a fix. Maybe one of those books includes a handy repair manual!
The latest addition to VersoFest ’26: Gina Gershon.
The actress joins journalist/ rock memoirist/Westporter Alisyn Camerota on March 28 (5 p.m.). They’ll discuss Gershon’s memoir “AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs.”
Tickets are $35, and include a copy of the book. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
In addition to Gershon, VersoFest includes a February 27 performance by rising rockers The Thing; a conversation with folk-rock legend Ani DiFranco (March 26); a March 27 concert with former Fugees star/rapper/multi-Grammy winner Wyclef Jean; talks with performers, actors, and authors, plus panel discussions, an interactive art installation, and more. Click here for details.
Gina Gershon
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Another library — Weston’s — kicks off Black History Month — and its “America 250: The Revolutionary Spirit Lecture Series” — with “Unhired Hands.”
The February 1 (3 p.m.) event with poet/actor/playwright David Mills explores the history of slavery in the North during the 18th century, through storytelling and poetry.
The event is co-sponsored by the Weston History & Culture Center, and the League of Women Voters of Weston.
Wayne Uccellini — the longtime owner and chef of the legendary Allen’s Clam & Lobster House — died peacefully on January 8, surrounded by his family. He was 80.
Wayne was a lifelong resident of Westport, and a 1964 graduate of Staples High School. After graduating from Transylvania University in 1968, he served in the US Army until 1970. He was stationed at the Pentagon as an illustrator.
In addition to the Westport restaurant, Wayne owned Allen’s East in Stratford. He operated both locations with his family for more than 40 years.
Wayne later served as the kitchen manager at Osborn Hill Elementary in Fairfield, where he was fondly known as “Mr. Wayne” by students and staff.
Wayne was an avid boater and fisherman, on Long Island Sound and Lake Taunton. He also spent countless hours training his beloved dogs.
His obituary says, “Wayne was a beloved mentor to many young people who passed through the doors of Allen’s Clam & Lobster House over the years. His greatest legacy is not only the delicious food he served, but the leadership, loyalty and work ethic he demonstrated to his devoted family, friends and community.”
Wayne is survived by his wife of 57 years, Karen (Miller); their children Jennifer Hios (Peter) of Fairfield; Tollie Barrato (Christopher) of Fairfield, and Matthew Uccellini (Kim) of Richmond, Virginia; grandchildren Megan and Kyle Hios, Ashley, Sophia and Charlotte Barrato, and Isla and Shea Uccellini; sisters Cheryl Spillane, Janis Pascarlla (Jim), sisters-in law Sally Uccellini (Douglas) and Hilde Uccellini (Ronald), and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Ronald and Douglas Uccellini, brother-in-law Edward Spillane, and sister-in-law Judith Uccellini.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held at a date to be determined.
Wayne Uccellini
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image shines a light on Westport, in mid-winter.
News anchors smoked on TV. Doctors recommended their favorite brands, in ads.
There were “smoking sections” on planes.
And everywhere, there were matches. After all, those cigarettes didn’t light themselves.
You picked them up at restaurants, stores and banks. They were free — and free marketing for businesses.
Some people collected matchbook covers. Most are long gone.
But not Peggy Lehn’s.
She kept them, all these years. They’re from all over the world.
Recently, she shared them with me. The matchbooks from Daytona, San Francisco and Hong Kong were interesting.
The ones from Westport were much more intriguing.
Some advertised memorable restaurants. There’s a hometown bank, a drugstore — and 3 places that are still around.
Do these memories “light up” your day? Click “Comments” below.
(Friday Flashback is one of “06880”‘s many regular features. If you enjoy this — or anything else on our website — please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)
Westporters of a certain age remember Allen’s Clam House.
The the Hillspoint Road restaurant on the edge of Sherwood Mill Pond attracted generations of diners for 2 reasons: its seafood, and the view.
It fell into disrepair, was demolished, and now only memories remain. In its place, the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve offers a spot for contemplation, bird- and nature-watching, and kayak launching.
It’s a hidden gem, in a well-traveled part of town.
How hidden? Only 3 readers — Andrew Colabella, Seth Braunstein, Jonathan McClure and Courtney McMahon — recognized the “Entrance” sign, for the small parking lot that was last week’s Photo Challenge. (Click here to see.)
It’s worth a visit, any time of year. But don’t tell anyone.
It’s our little secret.
What about this week’s challenge? If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Pat Saviano)
(If you enjoy our weekly Photo Challenge, please click here to support “06880” with a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!)
As Westporters wait for the final announcement that Elvira’s Deli has been saved — it’s coming soon! — and at the same time gnash our teeth over the stuck-in-zoning-infraction-limbo large residential construction that replaced Positano’s/ Cafe de la Plage across the street — we keep hearing references to “Allen’s.”
From 1890 through the 1990s, Captain Walter Allen’s clam house on Sherwood Mill Pond — a few yards from the long-lived market — was one of our town’s go-to restaurants. It was the perfect place for shellfish, seafood, and killer water views, while celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and anything else.
Allen’s Clam House, in the 1940s.
A list of Westporters who had their first dates there would be a window on town history.
Westport artist Hardie Gramatky painted this view of the Mill Pond, from the back of Allen’s Clam House
Today, Allen’s is the site of the town-owned Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve. With natural grasses and plants, a wide variety of wildlife, a kayak launch — and the same killer views — it’s a wonderful use of the property.
Aerial view of Allen’s Clam House. (Photo courtesy of Dave Stalling)
But it sure was nice to have it — and Positano’s — as a pair of waterfront restaurants for all those years.
Rear view of Allen’s, on the Mill Pond. (Photo/Matt Murray)
Back in the day, restaurants handed out matches like, well, candy mints.
Back in the day too — when alert “06880” reader/beloved sailing instructor John Kantor was smoking — he collected them.
The other day — in the back of a closet — he found his collection.
They range from old favorites (Arrow, Allen’s Clam House, Manero’s) to barely remembered spots (Beansprout, Panda Pavilion, Boss Tweed’s).
Turns out, restaurants still give away matches. John’s collection includes Dunville’s, Sakura’s, even Bartaco — places still very much alive and well.
Although, if you need all those matches to light cigarettes, you may not be for long.
(NOTE: As a special “06880” gift, John Kantor will send a high-res digital copy of this poster to anyone who wants it. Just email hijkantor@yahoo.com. What a great way to “light up” your holiday!)
Over its long history, Westport has seen thousands of restaurants come and go.
Everyone has favorites. Here are a few. Click “Comments” to add your own.
Allen’s Clam House was a great place for celebrations and dates. It was demolished more than a decade ago. The site is now the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve.
(Photo courtesy of Dave Stalling)
The Big Top was a beloved hamburger place that attracted everyone: doctors, lawyers, businessmen, high school students, stoners and (very famously) Paul Newman. Today it’s McDonald’s. If that doesn’t say something…
Here it’s the Ocean House. For many years though it was Chubby Lane’s — the first $1 hamburger restaurant in town. The meat came from Charpentier’s butcher across the street, and it was fantastic. Today, this is the site of Willows Pediatrics.
Pearl’s was a longtime Riverside Avenue favorite. It’s easily recognized now, as Da Pietro’s.
Who can forget the Arrow? For years, the Nisticos’ restaurant defined Saugatuck. These days, it’s Mystic Market.
West Lake on Main Street was Westport’s first Chinese restaurant. It was considered to be quite exotic.
(Photo/Fred Cantor)
Originally a stagecoach stop in the 1700s, the Three Bears closed after many years. It’s been remodeled as Chabad of Westport.
The Three Bears, in its heyday. (Postcard/Cardcow.com)
The Clam Box drew diners for its seafood. The location — on the Post Road by the Sherwood Island Connector — did not hurt. It was later Bertucci’s; now the spot is shared by Shearwater Coffee, and soon-to-open Ignazio Pizza.
Last week’s demolition of the old Positano’s restaurant — remembered by real old-time Westporters as its earlier incarnation, Café de la Plage — evoked a welter of emotions.
It also revived memories of Allen’s Clam House, the other waterfront restaurant in the otherwise residential neighborhood.
Allen’s was right around the corner, on Sherwood Mill Pond. Built in 1890 by Captain Walter Allen, customers flocked there for seafood — and views — from as far as New York.
Allen’s Clam House, in the 1940s.
It was the go-to place for generations of celebrations — proms, anniversaries, holidays, you name it.
An aerial view of Allen’s Clam House, on the Sherwood Mill Pond. (Photo courtesy of Paul Ehrismann)
In 1999, the restaurant and surrounding .83-acre property was up for sale. To protect it from the developers, the town bought it for $1.2 million. Private donations — including $50,000 each from Paul Newman and Harvey Weinstein — defrayed part of the cost.
The restaurant was torn down a few years later. Today — thanks to efforts of Sherry Jagerson, and a group of dedicated volunteers — the land is known as the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve.
It’s one of Westport’s hidden-in-plain-sight gems. Of course, you can’t buy clams there any more.
But you can bring your own, and have a very fine picnic indeed.
Captain Allen and his wife Lida, in front of the clam house.
It’s been nearly 3 years since Westport’s Boat Locker sailed off for Bridgeport. But owner Scott Hardy still proudly displays a mid-1980s poster of his home town.
The other day, Jeff Manchester was in the store. He’s a 1980s Westport guy himself — a former Staples wrestling star, now back here raising his own family.
The poster brought back many memories: Soup’s On, Party Barn, Allen’s Clam House, Pancho Villa’s, DeRosa’s, Ships, Westport Bank & Trust.
Some of the businesses — Mitchell’s and Sakura — are still around. And some of the views will never change.
Take a look. Think about how Westport has changed.
And how it hasn’t.
Then — whether you grew up before or with Jeff, or moved in yesterday — click “Comments” below.
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