It’s not the most expensive house for sale in Westport.
Nor is it the biggest.
But 1 Crooked Mile Road may be the most historic.
From 1967 to 1976, world-famous film star Bette Davis lived in the 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom, 4,710-square foot home, on the west branch of the Saugatuck River.
Built in 1929, “this iconic residence has been meticulously updated to preserve its antique allure while integrating modern amenities & sophisticated design.”
It’s on the market for $2.275 million. If interested — or just to gawk — click here to learn more.
Speaking of property: Last week’s clear-cutting of trees at the state Department of Transportation maintenance facility off the Sherwood Island Connector suddenly altered the look of that well-traveled road.
It also caused consternation for neighbors and nature lovers.
The number is smaller, and the location is different. But 4 more Westport trees are scheduled for removal, probably today.
James McLoughlin — an arborist on the town’s Tree Board — tells “06880” that the healthy, mature native trees will be removed on a town-owned section of Weston Road, on both sides of Hockanum Road, for what appears to be a new sidewalk project.
McLaughlin objected Friday, when he noticed small signs on them. He was
told he was a day late, and that they would be cut down on Monday.
Two of the trees slated for removal …
… and 2 others …
… and a close-up of the sign. (Photos/James McLoughlin)
There was a bat (animal, not baseball) logo. But not much other information.
No readers knew anything, either. Several speculated it was on Soundview Drive, based on the architecture and surroundings.
AI to the rescue!
Cheryl Saviano Petrone did not find what she wanted on ChatGPT — at first. But she persisted. And this was the result:
“Ah, I see now! You’re asking specifically about the Bat Inn at Compo Beach in Westport.
“Yes, the Bat Inn was indeed an actual establishment located near Compo Beach in the early 1900s. It was a popular resort hotel and a significant local landmark from the late 1800s into the mid-1900s.
“History of the Bat Inn: The Bat Inn was situated at the intersection of Compo Road South and the beach, close to the water. It was known for its wooden architecture, a large wrap-around porch, and its distinctive bat-shaped roof that gave it the name ‘Bat Inn.’
“This quirky design made the inn stand out among other accommodations in the area and contributed to its fame.”
“The hotel was popular in the early 1900s, attracting visitors who were looking for a charming, seaside retreat during the summer months. It also served as a gathering spot for social events and parties, particularly in the warm weather.
“Over time, as newer accommodations and developments grew in the area, the Bat Inn faded from prominence and was eventually demolished.
“Unfortunately, not many photographs or detailed records of the Bat Inn survive today, but it remains a part of local lore, especially among older Westport residents.
“It was a quaint, beloved spot in its time, often remembered fondly by those who experienced it…”
I’m not sure how much it “remains a part of local lore.” But if the rest of the sleuthing is correct, we’ve got our answer.
Thanks, Cheryl! And thank you ChatGPT, whoever — or whatever — you are.
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Alert “06880” reader Mark Laclair offers this warning to early season boaters:
“This winter’s ice has re-located channel markers.Red 16 is northwest of station, and I believe Green 15 is east of station. There may be others.
“I’ve seen at least 5 boats run aground utilizing the markers, including one in both locations Sunday morning. I’m sure there were plenty more. Slow and careful when navigating the channel!”
Boat aground in the Compo channel. (Photo/Mark Laclair)
In 2 weeks, the UMass Doo Wop Shop — the school’s oldest all-male a cappella group — will make you smile and snap your fingers.
They’re booked for Christ & Holy Trinity Church (April 26, 6 p.m.), with a program that ranges from Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, the Temptations and Otis Redding all the way to the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Silk Sonic. In years past they’ve performed at Radio City Music Hall, and the White House.
The event is a homecoming for one Doo Wop Shop member. The 2022 Staples High School graduate is a former Orphenian and Player.
And — oh yeah — his father, Rev. John Betit, is Christ & Holy Trinity’s rector.
There is no charge, but a free will offering can help raise funds for the group.
And finally … in honor of the upcoming UMass Doo Wop Shop show (story above):
(From Long Island Sound to the sounds of doo wop, “06880” is your hyper-local source for news, entertainment and more. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
In 1974, Mike Krysiuk was having a great senior year at Staples High School. He played baseball, and worked at Mario’s. But a devastating automobile accident left him with a traumatic brain injury and many broken bones.
He’s well known in his home town, for the motivational talks he gives and the many years he’s spent working in Town Hall.
Two years ago Mike wrote The Big One: Miracles Happen when You Shoot for the Sun, about his youth in Westport. His co-author is award-winning writer Julia Bobkoff, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Westport’s Christmas Lake Creative writing workshop.
The Big One features insights about Mike’s astonishing comeback from the unimaginable, fueled by dogged determination and a dream.
The audiobook version, narrated by Mike and including clips of his original music, is now available. Click here to order.
A female ruby-throated hummingbird takes center stage in today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
“06880” photographer (and Westport Community Gardens director) Lou Weinberg notes, “Its wings beat more than 50 times a second, and its nest is the size of a thimble!”
Click here to learn more about this beautiful bird.
The state Department of Transportation’s announcement of possible work on the Route 136/Route 57 intersection — where Main Street, Weston Road and Easton Road meet in a confusing number of ways — is welcome news.
But it’s not the first plan.
Nor is it the second. Or even the third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh.
Former 2nd Selectman Avi Kaner sends along a slew of previous solutions to the confounding confluence. All were prepared by ConnDOT, and discussed with town officials between 2004 and 2006.
Here they are. Click on or hover over each image to enalrge.
One envisioned 3 small roundabouts:
Another showed one large rotary:
Five others involved some combination of road widening, adding turning lanes, and eliminating or modifying the center island:
As the saying goes: Whatever goes around, comes around.
Or, in the case of the roads near Exit 42, whatever goes around may crash into whatever else goes around, unless everyone going around pays close attention.
Westporters learn to carefully navigate it. Visitors coming off Merritt Parkway Exit 42 are completely flummoxed by it.
At last — after decades of confusion — the Route 57 (Main Street)/Route 136 (Easton Road and Weston Road) cluster**** may get some improvement.
The state Department of Transportation has designed a plan. They’ll discuss it in a virtual public information program this Thursday (June 9, 7 p.m.), with a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
The meeting will be recorded. To access the meeting, provide comments or ask questions, click here (then scroll down to “Live Event Links”).
The plan includes replacing the existing flashing light with a full traffic signal, and widening the road.
The state Department of Transportation plan. Click on or hover over to enlarge.
Right-of-way impacts could include partial land acquisitions and easements.
The project is in the early stages of concept development. No funding or schedule has been identified. The public meeting is to discuss feasibility and solicit feedback.
It’s one of the first things you see entering Westport — getting off Merritt Parkway Exit 42, anyway.
It’s bad enough that the island at the Weston Road/Easton Road/Main Street intersection sends traffic in several confusing directions.
But ever since the demise of Daybreak Nursery it’s been a weed-filled, sign-covered mess.
Longtime Westporter Larry Perlstein decides to do something. Connecticut’s Department of Transportation allows islands to be adopted by companies for upkeep (many in Westport already are). He contacted DOT, to start the process.
Perlstein says it took 6 months of nagging — along with a poke by State Representative Jonathan Steinberg — to get action.
Finally, Northeast Horticultural is giving time (and plants) to maintain the island. They’ve done a first pass at cleanup and planting. They’ll do more this spring.
Weston Road/Easton Road traffic island looks a wee bit better. (Photo/Larry Perlstein)
Perlstein says, “This island is a gateway to Westport. Tons of traffic passes by. I remember what it looked like when it was well maintained, and I was embarrassed for the town it deteriorated so badly.”
Now, if we could only do something about signs for politicians, tag sales and sports sign-ups …
The skies are clear now. But power is out around town, after a very fierce, very loud thunderstorm roared through Westport a few minutes ago.
This was the scene on Weston Road. “The photo doesn’t show how close this was,” says Brian Chandler, who was driving and whose quick reflexes averted a potential tragedy. “It was literally a few feet away.”
(Photo/Brian Chandler)
The forecast is for partly cloudy skies tonight and tomorrow. Thunderstorms are possible Wednesday.
RTM member Mark Friedman’s District 3 includes the former Daybreak property, where a new 9-home development has been proposed. He writes:
I am in favor of smart development in Westport. However, with its horrific new traffic pattern, the proposed development at 500 Main Street is not smart. Having attended P&Z meetings and spoken with dozens of Westporters about this proposal, I have concluded that the proposed new traffic pattern adds significant danger to the lives of residents but fails to benefit the town.
Given the wide discretion afforded the P&Z in considering applications for Special Permits, the additional hazards presented by the proposed new traffic pattern serve as a moral imperative to deny this application.
The developer’s proposed traffic pattern poses new and additional threats to public safety — at an intersection haunted by dozens of accidents over the last few years and given the lowest possible grade by the town’s traffic consultant: an F.
To this clear and present danger, the developer suggests adding a new road that connects Weston Road to Main Street, roughly parallel to Daybreak Lane. In its current iteration, the new street would flow one way, southbound, from Weston Road to Main Street.
Unfortunately, this configuration would pose new safety issues on both Weston Road and Main Street.
Looking south on Weston Road. Easton Road is to the left; Main Street to the right. The proposed development is at the former Daybreak property, bordered by Weston Road and Main Street.
On Weston Road, the danger would be acute for those taking a left turn into the new road because cars accelerate in the other direction from the 4-way stop sign at Easton/Weston Roads.
The peril for cars exiting onto Main Street from the new throughway could be even greater when they try to turn left, towards town. This results from the blind corner and terrible sight lines for cars heading around the bend on Weston Road/Main Street.
An estimated 30,000 cars traverse this route daily at an average speed of 41 miles per hour; approximately half, or 15,000 cars, thus travel in excess of 41 mph, making the limited sight lines — and stopping distances — all the more perilous.
Moreover, cars exiting the proposed new road may have their own sight lines restricted further by northbound traffic on Main Street. A “no left turn” sign on the new road, while perhaps theoretically appealing, would likely be disregarded regularly, given the apparent convenience of a left turn when heading towards town.
Main Street, looking east at the Weston Road intersection.
Switching the flow of traffic to the opposite direction — which the developer originally contemplated — on the new proposed street creates new and different hazards.
There would be significant peril for cars turning left from the new street on to Weston Road, as there could be limited opportunities to enter this congested road Cars accelerating from the 4-way stop could t-bone a turning car.
The possibility of a car turning left inching onto Weston Road, thus backing up traffic to the 4-way stop and beyond, is high during peak traffic times.
Worse, if traffic flowed northbound on the new street, from Main Street towards Weston Road, then cars heading southbound on Main Street that want to enter the new road would frequently have to come to a full stop on that busy thoroughfare — immediately after a blind turn with extremely limited sight lines.
In a best case scenario, this increases traffic dramatically. In a worst case scenario, the stopped car gets rear-ended by one of the 15,000 cars a day that travels in excess of 41 mph around this blind turn.
Cost benefit analysis requires that the P&Z reject this special permit, and they have wide discretion to do so.
In the fall elections, voters resoundingly demanded that the town address traffic and safety concerns. Further, hundreds of residents have signed a petition protesting the traffic hazards that this proposed development presents with its new traffic pattern.
A 9-home development has been proposed for the former Daybreak Nursery property.
Town officials have a moral obligation to protect the health and safety of its citizens and a duty to listen to voters.
This is especially pertinent when the suggested benefits of a Special Permit application are so meager. The prospect of each Westport household “benefiting” from the 50 cents a month of incremental tax revenue this project might yield does nothing to change the calculation.
Nor does the suggestion that this proposed 55 and up development somehow qualifies as senior housing. While the town does need to consider senior housing alternatives, age 55 is hardly senior. Moreover, the perils of the proposed new traffic pattern are especially significant for actual seniors.
Finally, given the current real estate slump and overabundance of houses on the market, adding new supply — especially high density housing that is out of character of its neighborhood — actually damages the finances of every homeowner in Westport.
As citizens, we all know that the intersection of Main Street, Easton and Weston Road presents a clear and present danger. As a town, we cannot afford to approve a new traffic pattern that creates new perils.
It’s not a legit, state- or town-issued sign. Hanging among trees, it’s easy to miss.
But Matt Murray, Mary Ann Batsell, David Sampson, Robert Mitchell, Seth Braunstein, Wendy Cusick and Amee Borys all knew that last week’s photo challenge hides in plain sight on Weston Road. It’s at the Westport/Weston border, on your right side as you cross into town from the north. (Click here for the photo.)
Congratulations, observant drivers. But we still want to know: How old is the sign? Who put it there? And how has it lasted so long?
Don’t know? No problem. Just turn your attention to this week’s photo challenge:
(Photo/Patricia McMahon)
If you think you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
In a town filled with traffic lights and stop signs, you’d think one of the busiest and most confusing intersections in town would be tightly regulated.
You’d be wrong.
The Weston Road/Easton Road/Main Street clusterf*** has long defied explanation. Despite traffic funneling from downtown, Cross Highway, the Coleytown area, Weston and the Merritt Parkway — and headed out in all those directions — the confusing, chaotic and dangerous area remains a transportation Wild West.
Quite a welcome to Westport, for those coming off the Merritt. Quite a potential death trap, for all of us.
Over the years, a variety of recommendations have been floated. They range from traffic lights everywhere, to an English/Massachusetts-style roundabout/rotary, to blowing the whole thing up and starting over. (Just kidding on the last one.) (Kind of.)
Recently, Facebook’s Westport Front Porch page has provided a place to discuss the intersection everyone loves to hate.
Jeff Mitchell used Google Earth View to explain his ideas for improvement. Now he’s shared them with “06880.”
First he showed the current situation:
To orient yourself: Weston Road near Cross Highway is at the lower right; Merritt Parkway Exit 42 is just off the top of the photo, in the upper left. Traffic coming from downtown on Main Street is at the lower left.
Next, Jeff offers Solution #1:
It would make the section of Main Street from near the Merritt to the merge by the old Daybreak Florist 1-way, headed toward town.
That would eliminate 2 hazardous merges — in front of Daybreak, and going to the Merritt — but would make life tough for people living on Wassell Lane.
It would also shunt more traffic into the Weston Road/Easton Road intersection. However, Jeff says, replacing the current blinking yellow light with a full stop light — perhaps for rush hour only — could move traffic more quickly to and from the Merritt.
Jeff’s 2nd solution is this:
It would convert all current merges to 3-way stops. This would eliminate all hazardous merges, while keeping Main Street 2-way.
There would be more “formal” stopping and starting — though perhaps no more than currently occurs, with hesitation over who goes when.
Solution #2 would involve construction, including possibly moving a utility pole.
Jeff met last weekend with Avi Kaner. The 2nd selectman had posted several other complex alternatives on Westport Front Porch. They’d been proposed by state engineers in the past. All would take eons to approve and construct — and may include the contentious taking of land by eminent domain.
Of course, these are state roads. It’s their decision what to do, and when.
“06880” readers: What do you think? Click “Comments” to weigh in on Jeff’s plans — or offer your own.
And if you like it just the way it is, we’d love to know why.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
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