Stamford History Real Time

From Plates, Puddings and Pies to Plants (Gardening in North Stamford 1916)

Here is more:

From Plates, Puddings and Pies to Plants (Gardening in North Stamford 1916)

Fred McDermant

Brownstones on Bell Street – a Photo Selection of the Month Reprise

Still tied down working on the new website, I came across this Photo Selection of the Month of June 2007:

Brownstones on Bell Street

Enjoy!

Whitman Bailey Selection for June: Artist's View of Suburban Avenue and Main Street

All gone now …(current Google satellite view)

Artist's View of Suburban Avenue and Main Street

Download newspaper clipping of June 13, 1925

Downtown Stamford Urban Renewal
related map

This is how Main Street looked around 1967: The Holly House is gone.

Map and photo courtesy
The City of Stamford, Connecticut, Urban Redevelopment Commission.

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."

(Bailey Sketch Reference file: Bailey267.jpg)

Whitman Bailey Collection

Whitman Bailey Selection for May Looking East Along Cottage Street

Back to Urban Renewal and "Lost Streets," today we present:

Looking East Along Cottage Street

Download newspaper clipping of May 12, 1934

Cottage Street is lost to urban redevelopment. As we said in Lost Streets of Stamford:

Cottage Street already existed before 1850. It appears on the Woodford Map of 1851. Some of the structures clearly date to the late 19th century. All the structures appear on the 1929 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map unless otherwise noted.

This photo from the URC, Block 17-8-9, looks very much like some houses in the above sketch.

Courtesy The City of Stamford, Connecticut, Urban Redevelopment Commission

Downtown Stamford Urban Renewal
Related map

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 file: Bailey226.jpg)

Whitman Bailey Collection

Who can identify these people? Stamford Urban Renewal, 1960s

Researching Cottage Street for an upcoming Photo Selection of the Month, we came across these two people photos in the Urban Redevelopment files below.

Can anyone identify these persons? (click on the photos to enlarge)

Image 1

Image 2

You may use the comment section below or e-mail us at [email protected].

Images Courtesy The City of Stamford, Connecticut, Urban Redevelopment Commission

February Whitman Bailey Selection View of Park Row, 1927

No more snow!  Instead, here is downtown Stamford in 1927:

View of Park Row as seen by Artist Bailey

Download complete newspaper clipping of February 20, 1927

Park Row does not exist anymore today, it was swallowed up by Urban Renewal.  It began approximately where the Atlantic Street garage entrance of the Landmark building is now.  As one can see from the text of the clipping, the view in the sketch is towards the Strand Theatre, next to the then under construction "New" Palace Theater.

On the subject of urban renewal … proprosed widening of broad street, 1924

While transcribing cleaned up Whitman Bailey list items to the website, I came across this early piece about urban renewal planning;  though hardly anyone will recognize the scene from the sketch today.

Part of Broad Street Where Proposed Widening Would Begin

Complete Newspaper Clipping of February 23, 1924 (PDF)

Press Release: Stamford Historical Society Plans Urban Exhibit and Fund Raising Gala

Stamford Historical Society Plans Urban Exhibit and Fund Raising Gala

Download Press Release.pdf

Download Invitation.pdf

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.