The cover painting on the brochure announcing “Main Street Memories 1960” is lovely, quaint — and historically inaccurate.
It shows cars creeping north, from the Y past Klein’s and Oscar’s. In 1960, Main Street traffic flowed both ways.
But I’m sure the rest of the Westport Historical Society show — which opens next Saturday (March 6) with a party from 1-4 p.m. — is both accurate and compelling.
Main Street, from the 1962 Staples yearbook. Klein's is now Banana Republic (and more than 1 floor); the Townly Restaurant just beyond it burned down, and the Mobil station in the distance is Vineyard Vines. Note the stoplight and 2-way traffic.
Susan Malloy — a long-time resident and philanthropist — has created a lively 4-color map. It depicts a downtown Westport filled with locally owned shops and restaurants. The map is spiced with quotes from people who remember that time fondly.
Susan will be at Saturday’s party. Guests — which the WHS hopes will include newcomers as well as old fogeys timers — can chat about yesterday and today, and put their thoughts down in a special book.
In the meantime, to get the recollection juices flowing, here are a few names from the map:
Shilepsky’s Clothing
Country Gal
Rico Beauty Salon
Townley Restaurant
Tracy’s Menswear
Hartman’s Hardware
Oakes Automotive Service
Barnum Travel
Melody House Music
Dress Box
Westlake Restaurant
Swerdling’s Bakery
Welch’s Hardware
Westport Food Center
Greenberg’s Department Store
Economy Liquors
Ben Franklin Store
Pickwick Gift Shop
Isabel Eland Shop
Dorain’s Drugs
Town & Country Shoes
Charles Food Shop
Linen Closet
Bill’s Smoke Shop
Westport Hardware
Country Bazaar
Gristede Brothers Grocers
See you Saturday — right across from the Dress Box.
The much-loved Remarkable Book Shop (now Talbots). This shot is from after the 1960s -- the adjacent Record Hunter (left side of building) has already closed, and the cars look relatively modern.
