Stamford History Real Time

Charles O. Miller, Stamford Businessman and Philanthropist (Updated May 11)

Working on the next Photo Selection of the Month, this writer stumbled across this note: The Development of a Big Store.

"All over the southern part of Fairfield County The C. O. Miller Company store of Stamford has for many decades been a household word.  Probably in no other locality has any other store had so nearly one hundred per cent of the patronage of a community.  But this community is growing and has been growing rapidly. This necessarily has had an effect on the store.  To meet the greater Stamford and the rapidly increasing needs of this part of the county, this famous dry goods  establishment has been forced to increase its floor space by more than six thousand square feet and completely to remodel and change the building."  read all

Lost Streets of Stamford, a New Exhibit at the Society

Our new exhibit, LOST STREETS OF STAMFORD, illustrates a number of streets that were eliminated as part of the Urban Redevelopment of Stamford.

Willow Street View

The first thought of redeveloping the downtown occurred shortly after the passage of Federal Urban Renewal legislation in 1949.  The first concept model of a new downtown may have been that designed by 20 year old John Smith in 1952 while he was working as an assistant draftsman for the Planning Board.  Discussion of the renewal of the downtown area began in earnest sometime around 1956-7 when Louis Greenbaum first initiated serious consideration of the idea.  However, the City was already involved in the East Meadows Project on Jefferson St. and Federal monies were not available until that project was concluded.  The Eisenhower administration also cut federal funds for renewal in the late 50s.

A Weekend of Urban Renewal Education II:Lost Streets of StamfordExhibit Opening at the Society, Sunday, April 13

Second of two events in connection with the photo collection of the URC about the urban redevelopment in Stamford in the 1960s:

Lost Streets of Stamford

On Sunday, April 13, 2008, the Stamford Historical Society will open a new exhibit of photographs which depict many of the streetscapes and structures of downtown Stamford prior to Urban Renewal.  “Lost Streets of Stamford” features Urban Renewal Commission history from 1959 – 1968. 

2:00 – 4:00 PM
The Stamford Historical Society
1508 High Ridge Road

There will be a brief lecture by Dr. Thomas Zoubek, Executive Director of The Stamford Historical Society, about the exhibit and period of urban change in 1960s Stamford.  Refreshments will be served.

Parking is free for visitors to the Historical Society.

A Weekend of Urban Renewal Education I:'Change', Event at UConn, Saturday, April 12

First of two events in connection with the photo collection of the URC about the urban redevelopment in Stamford in the 1960s:

20/20 Hindsight.
Change: Urban Renewal in Stamford, Connecticut 1955- 1980

On Saturday, April 12, 2008, the Historic Neighborhood Preservation Program, Inc., invites you to attend a photo presentation, “Change: Urban Renewal in Stamford, Connecticut 1955- 1980,” followed by a panel discussion about the subject. 

Panelists include Renée Kahn, Founder and Director of the Historic Neighborhood Preservation Program, Robert N. Rich, Chairman of F.D. Rich Company, and Lester Sharlach, a founder of the Stamford Jewish Historical Society and a former downtown merchant.

2:00 – 5:00 PM
University of Connecticut Stamford Campus
Gen Re Auditorium
One University Place (corner of Washington Boulevard and Broad Street).

Free parking is available at the UConn garage on Washington Boulevard.

Photo Selection of the Month: Lady Bird Johnson dedicates Kiwanis Park

Ladybird Johnson Opens Kiwanis Park, May 16, 1968

As readers surely know, Lady Bird Johnson, widow of the late President Johnson, passed away in July of last year.

In the collection of The Stamford Urban Redevelopment Commission (URC), as recently described, we discovered photos from the dedication of the Kiwanis Park between Atlantic and Lower Summer Street, the first completed urban renewal project in downtown Stamford. The then First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, officially opened the park, situated next to the Palace Theater, and pressed the switch that unleashed the fountain.

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Today you will find a completely different park, redesigned when the Palace Theater was renovated a few years ago.