Whitman Bailey Selection for September: Waterside around Oliver Street Bridge (Pulasky Street Bridge)

The Waterside was one of Whitman Bailey's favorite sketching area. (map)  Here are two from the various September sketches over the years:

Artist's Sketch of Oliver Street Bridge over Rippowam River

Download newspaper clipping of September 18, 1926

The iron-trussed bridge was built in 1887 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company. It was later renamed Pulaski Street Bridge and rebuilt in the late 20th century.  From the Archives of the Stamford Advocate, September 5, 2010:

Sept. 12, 1985: The Pulaski Street bridge was being sold by the city to make way for a new bridge to be built in the following two years. The bridge, which crossed the Rippowam River and connected Waterside to the South End, was composed of 150 feet of wrought iron. It was built in 1887 and, according to the city's engineers, was no longer functional. The weight limit had been reduced from 15 to four tons, and heavy trucks were banned.

Renee Kahn, director of Stamford's Historic Neighborhood Preservation Program, was spearheading the sale.

"It is easily dismantled. That's the joy of it," Kahn said.

Old Waterside Struggles Against Modern Times

Download newspaper clipping of September 3, 1949

 

In 1949, Mr. Bailey wrote, "Waterside" is rapidly turning into a progressive city harbor front. He would be astounded to see what the area looks like today!

We do add the usual warning:

"At times, the accompanying vignettes are mostly folklore passed on to Mr. Bailey by residents of the areas where he was sketching.  In those instances he had no way of determining the truth of the story.  Nor have we.  It is presented as a sidelight to the sketch.  Therefore, researchers are cautioned to regard these tales as local color, interesting, thought provoking, but sometimes not entirely factual."

(Reference files Bailey362.jpg, Bailey379.jpg)