A History of the Rowayton Waterfront: Roton Point, Bell Island and the Norwalk Shoreline

By Karen Jewell

Welcome to Rowayton, a vibrant community nestled on the shores of Long Island Sound and encompassed by the city of Norwalk, Connecticut. Great steamships once delivered thousands of visitors daily to Roton Point to enjoy one of the premier amusement parks on the eastern seaboard. Roton Point was also home to the nation's oldest continuously operated multi-hull racing club and was the birthplace of the winged sail design for C-class catamarans. In this collection of vignettes, rumrunners, a missing two-hundred-foot steamship, a national scandal and the notorious "Long Island Express" hurricane of 1938 that almost destroyed Roton Point all introduce readers to a grand time in New England history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The History Press
• Release date: Aug 5, 2010
• ISBN: 9781614231271

Karen Jewell

Karen Jewell writes a weekly column for the Norwalk Hour newspaper titled "Water Views," which is currently in its tenth year of publication. Other writing projects have included the "Sailing Scene" column for the Stamford Times newspaper; a variety of correspondent articles for TheBoatersTV.com, madmariner.com and diyboatowner.com websites; an article for Aquarium Fish magazine; a short fictional novel titled Beachside Bay; and, most recently, A History of the Rowayton Waterfront and A Maritime History of the Stamford Waterfront, both published by The History Press. Having worked along the shoreline in positions as dock master, yacht charter broker, yacht sales broker, sail loft staff and owner of a busy yacht maintenance service, Jewell has had the opportunity to develop strong connections to the waterside community. Living along the Connecticut coastline and enjoying summer vacations on the shores of Maine her entire life, Jewell's passion for all things nautical began at an early age and continues to be the motivation for all her writing endeavors.

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INTRODUCTION

There is a classic Norman Rockwell painting that depicts an elderly gentleman sporting a captain’s hat and jacket as he stands with his arm draped around the shoulder of a young boy wearing a sailor’s suit. The two of them, along with the boy’s dog, are peering out at the sea, watching as majestic ships sail off in the distance. The retired captain is no doubt telling some fascinating nautical tale from his past to his captivated audience. This enchanting scene is appropriately titled Looking Out to Sea.

The lumber schooner Edward W. Young in Norwalk Harbor. Courtesy of Clive Morrison.

A quiet morning along the Norwalk waterfront. Courtesy of Clive Morrison.

There is something to be said for our maritime heritage and the ol’ salts who enjoy sharing their experiences and stories of a bygone era. Without them and their invaluable knowledge and insights, our connection to the past would be lost and with it, the foundation for our future.

A History of the Rowayton Waterfront is a way to feel that connection to a very special corner of Long Island Sound situated along the Connecticut coast. Rich in history, the area that comprises Rowayton, Roton Point, Bell Island and the surrounding Norwalk shoreline remains one of the premier destinations on the eastern seaboard, just as it has been for hundreds of years.

As you read along, you will learn interesting facts that you may or may not have heard before, and you will have a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse inside the fascinating personal accounts of those who remember the old days.

So sit back, enjoy and have a listen to what the ol’ captain has to say.

1

THE BASICS

In the autumn of 1650, a group of ambitious Connecticut settlers purchased a section of land located between what are now the Norwalk and Saugatuck Rivers from a gentleman by the name of Roger Ludlowe, who had owned the property since 1640.

On February 13, 1651, the same assemblage of colonial businessmen went on to acquire the property that ran from the Norwalk River to the Five Mile River from Chief Runckinheague of the Siwanoy Indian tribe. Collectively, the two territories were named Norwauke, and on September 11, 1651, the Hartford Legislature of Connecticut officially proclaimed that Norwauke shall bee a Towne. With this proclamation, the section we now call Rowayton was also born and would become a thriving and active subcommunity within the newly recognized town.

Norwauke, which ultimately evolved into Norwalk, is a derivative of a combination of the Algonquin Indian word for point of land (Noyank) and the Native American words Norowake or Norwaake, which mean Native American chief.

When describing where the town border began and where it ended in the days before more sophisticated means of measuring distances were invented, it was simply explained as a day’s walk north from the sea.

Originally inhabited mostly by farmers and fishermen, Norwalk would soon attract a new influx of residents that included skilled blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, shop owners, hotel entrepreneurs, dairymen, sea captains and even an American spy or two.

Rowayton Harbor. Courtesy of Clive Morrison.

One such spy was a young soldier in the Continental army by the name of Nathan Hale. His efforts during wartime earned him the reputation of being a true American hero. Born in Coventry, Connecticut, in 1755, Hale would cover much ground with his duties as both a warrior and an undercover scout for the American government.

On a fateful day back in 1776, Nathan Hale set out by ship from Norwalk on what would ultimately turn out to be his last intelligence-gathering mission. While attempting to penetrate the British navy, which was preparing for an attack on Long Island Sound, Hale was captured and hanged. Hale was a dedicated soldier who loved serving his country. His final words before drawing his last breath clearly reflected his loyalty and have forever been etched in history. He pronounced, I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. The current-day Nathan Hale Middle School in Norwalk was named in honor of this fallen hero.

As the American Revolutionary War continued, much havoc was wreaked along the Norwalk shoreline. On July 10, 1779, British forces made landfall and proceeded to almost completely destroy the town as they attempted to burn it to the ground. Once all was said and done, only six homes remained standing. Although the level of destruction was massive, the residents of Norwalk would eventually recover and go on to become a flourishing and vital community.

Both sail- and powerboats moored on the Five Mile River. Courtesy of Clive Morrison.

A quiet afternoon along the Norwalk waterfront. Courtesy of Clive Morrison.

In 1849, the New York and New Haven Railroad began offering train service through Norwalk. In 1852, the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad added to the accessibility by connecting those two towns. Eventually, one railroad system would emerge, calling itself the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. This new means of transportation greatly opened up the possibilities for economic growth in Norwalk. Trolley cars and gasoline-powered automobiles soon replaced the horse and buggy, helping to create an even more vibrant industrial environment.

Powerboating in Norwalk Harbor. Courtesy of the Roton Point Association.

The profession of oyster farming thrived from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, earning Norwalk boasting rights as the oyster capital of the world.

During the early 1900s, one of the most celebrated fairgrounds in the history of the United States prospered and entertained thousands of visitors a year on the property of Roton Point, overlooking picturesque Long Island Sound. Some of the most magnificent ships in maritime lore decorated the horizon just beyond the shore.

Life was indeed grand at the turn of the century along the Connecticut shoreline. That time in history would eventually become known as the Golden Age of Transportation, as it was the ability to travel that greatly improved the opportunity for commercial profit.

These are just a few basic facts about how Norwalk and Rowayton got their start. Now that the foundation has been laid, let us take a closer look at what life was truly like along the waterfront during those early days and learn more about what happened throughout the ensuing years in what will always be remembered as a magical time in history.

2

OF ISLANDS AND LIGHTHOUSES

Coastal Connecticut sits along the shores of Long Island Sound, with amazing and unrivalled views of its unique seascape. Although Long Island Sound now boasts dimensions of about 110 miles in length, 23 miles in width and some 787,000 acres in overall coverage, it began merely as a small river tens of millions of years ago.

During its evolution, the sound assumed the roles of valley, glacier, lake and, ultimately, the grand estuary it is today. Over the years, scientists have used submarines, sonar devices, drills and remote-controlled vehicles to try and uncover the exact history of the sound. Their discoveries have taught us that beneath its muddy floor can be found beach ridges that extend from the center of the water out toward land. These rings, as they are more commonly referred to, represent the gradual expansion of water levels throughout the centuries.

Shoreline cliffs continue to hide some of the dark-hued clay that was prominent during its years as a freshwater lake. The shells of sea animals can still be found deeply embedded in the floor of the sound from its time spent as a valley filled with streams and river channels.

As a young river, it formed smaller streams that extended to Long Island and ultimately created a fascinating selection of harbor inlets. However, once the glacier movement started to head south from Canada, the valley really began to change shape.

It is guesstimated that sheets of ice close to one thousand feet high slowly pushed away great amounts of rocks and sand, which in turn formed ridges on Long Island. These ridges, known as terminal moraines, show us where the glaciers stopped before they eventually continued their recession.

Since the Long Island glaciers did not recede in a consistent fashion, they created new ridges as they retreated on their way out. These are known as recessional ridges. In essence, these ridges represented the spots where the glaciers took a break before moving on.

The last glacier to finally leave the area left behind a series of lakes from New York to Massachusetts nearly twenty-three thousand years ago. These lakes were collectively referred to as the Glacial Lake Connecticut. Scientists believe that about three thousand years after the birth of Lake Connecticut, erosion caused the water to slowly drain through a moraine ridge near Fishers Island, New York. For a brief period, parts of the valley reappeared, but these were soon washed over as the rising sea levels from the Atlantic Ocean began to pass through the same opening, only in the opposite direction.

As a direct result of the effects of the glacial age, Norwalk now boasts an impressive and interesting array of some twenty-plus islands that sit just a short distance from its shoreline in the heart of Long Island Sound. Counting them all, the total ensemble includes Sheffield Island, Shea Island, Copps Island, Chimons Island, Betts Island, Long Beach Island, Grassy Island, Goose Island, Crow Island, Hoyt Island, Tavern Island, Peach Island, Sprite Island, Calf Pasture Island, Tree Hammock Island and a series of smaller islands that complete the chain.

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