Our Question Box is once again full.
Unfortunately, I have almost none of the answers. I thought I knew a lot about Westport. Now I see how clueless I am.
So readers: Please chime in with any additional information. Click “Comments” below.
If you’ve got a question for our box, email 06880blog@gmail.com
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Why are there so many streets without sidewalks? (Monica Buesser)
This is an eternal question — particularly by newcomers from Manhattan and Brooklyn.
There are a few reasons:
- Money
- No one asked for them in a particular area
- A desire to cling to a “rural” feel
- Postwar Westport grew around cars and bikes — not feet.
So here’s my question: In the areas where we do have sidewalks, why do people walk instead on the road?
The Imperial Avenue sidewalk. Sometimes, people even use it.
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Who was the “Webb” in Webb Road?
I have no idea. All I know is it’s a nice street off Whitney. And I think Michael Douglas lived there — at least for a while — with his mother.
For that matter, who was Whitney? The Abbott of Abbott’s Lane? The The Pamela and Plunkett of their Places?
This should keep the Answer Box of our Question Box filled. If you know the back story of interesting Westport road names (though not, obviously, Main Street, North Avenue or the like), let us know!
I think a young Michael Douglas once lived near Webb Road, on Whitney Street.
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I notice that some newer driveways have a threshold of Belgium blocks or similar. Why?
Belgium blocks
Also, some quite new driveways seem to have a drain as a threshold. Why and where does it drain, if at all?
Driveway drain.
Finally, most homes simply have a driveway with no threshold blocks or drain. I presume this is before anyone decided to put them in. (Mark Mathias)
No drain (Photos/Mark Mathias)
Here’s the “06880” answer: I have no idea.
If a builder/driveway specialist out there knows the answer — or a homeowner thinks he or she does — please weigh in.
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I think I know the rivers and reservoirs in our area. But I wonder: Does any map show the creeks, streams and brooks? All I found is that you can step over a brook, jump over a creek, wade across a stream and swim across a river. (Jeff Jacobs)
Muddy, Willow and Deadman — those are 3 of our brooks (which I’ve always thought of as “streams” too). I’m not sure if we have a creek.
There’s our old friend Google (as in Google Maps). You’ll need to zoom out or in, depending on your settings.
But maybe there’s a geological survey or topographical-type map that’s better. If you know of one, please share!
Deadman Brook flows into the Saugatuck River by the Levitt Pavilion. I’m not sure if you could actually “step over” this. (Photo/Judy Jahnel)
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There’s a big rock off Saugatuck Shores named Seymour Rock. Any idea who Seymour was? (Jack Harder)
Nope. And to be honest, I’ve never heard of Seymour Rock in my life.
But a quick search confirmed it. Last year, Westport Local Press ran a photo of Longshore Sailing School students exploring it — as a “rite of passage” — off Bluff Point.
So ask John Kantor. Or Jaime Bairaktaris. They’ll rock it.
Seymour Rock (Photo courtesy of Westport Local Press)
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Have a question? Email 06880blog@gmail.com.
