‘Norwalk’ includes a wonderful collection of vintage photographs of the area. In this presentation, she’ll talk about the history of the area with special attention given to the parts of Norwalk near or in Darien like Old MacDonald’s Farm, the trolley on Tokeneke Road leading to Rowayton, Roton Point Park, White Bridge, and more.
Located on the shores of Long Island Sound, Norwalk’s close proximity to New York City prompted the building of many summer residences and guest cottages along its coast. In the summer, steamships and trolleys arrived with passengers looking to enjoy the local amusement park, Roton Point. Norwalk’s earliest industries included farming as well as mills powered by its rivers. The area has been famous for its pottery, oystering, and hat manufacturing. Over time, this community has endured disasters; it was burned during the American Revolution, and the flood of 1955 wiped out much of the Wall Street area as well as several bridges on the Norwalk River. Norwalk shares vintage images from the mid-1800s through the 1960s, highlighting memorable sites such as Old MacDonald’s Farm and the Melton Automobile Museum. The revitalization of Norwalk’s downtown areas proves it is possible to respect the past and those that came before through the renewal of historical architecture.
Author Bio: Lisa Wilson Grant is a lifelong Norwalk resident and has been collecting images for many years. In addition to her own images, she has also included many from local historical societies and private collections. She also co-authored Postcard History Series: Roton Point with the Roton Point History Committee.
Arranged by Scott Hutchason