For as long as the Red Barn has been on Wilton Road — maybe longer — a sign for the Rotary Club of Westport stood on the side of the road.
Made of handsome cast iron, with a blue background, it noted when and where the club met.
Rick Benson — longtime Rotary member, and the guy you call on whenever something needs doing — had the chains replaced in 1994, and the sign repainted.
The Rotary Club sign. (Photo and artwork/Lynn U. Miller)
The club is ready to put up new signs at 7 prominent gateways to Westport. One will be at the (former) Red Barn site.
Much to their surprise, members discovered recently that the old sign is gone. All that’s left is a vine-encrusted metal post.
Rick canvassed club members. He called a few folks who might have picked it up for themselves. He checked with the Westport Historical Society.
Because he’s that kind of guy, he even had the area scanned with a metal detector.
Nada.
The missing sign, on Wilton Road.
So he’s asking “06880” for help. If you — or anyone you know — has intel on the whereabouts of the Rotary Club’s old sign, email Rick: ben3rb@aol.com.
Or — for complete confidentiality — contact “06880” (dwoog@optonline.net). I’ll get the sign back to Rick, no questions asked.
FUN FACT: The Westport Rotary Club turns 100 on March 7, 2024. That makes it more than a decade older than the Merritt Parkway, whose Exit 41 is near the old (and new) sign.
