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LifeinRowaytonowayton is the Sixth T; ing District of Norwalk ut it has a small towndepartmentpostare remitted to the district. Nor walk city taxes, laws, rules andregulations apply otherwise. The Rowayton ElementarySchool and the Roton Middleand library. The town also has School are locatedan active civic association, historical society, yacht club, arts center and beach for residents.Bounded in the east by the Five Mile River, on the south by the Long Island Sound and on the west by Wilson Cove, Rowayton has always been water-oriented. No other single influence on the development of Rowayton matched that of the oyster industry, according to historian Frank E. Raymond. In fact, the town has often been called the birthplace of the oyster industry'.Many of the stately homes on the east side of Rowayton Avenue were built by oyster-men. The Five Mile River was Filled with oystering craft.Today, hundreds of pleasure boats are moored in the river and across town, at the memberships owned Rowayton Yacht Club at Hickory Bluff.Rowayton today, population nearing 4,000, is a happy blend of old and new. Recreational facilities include Bayley Beach, open to all residents without charge, and the Rowayton Tennis and Paddle Tennis Association, on all district-owned land.ITiree district commissioners, elected by residents, conduct district business and draw up an annual budget, voted on by electors, which covers the cost of garbage collection, street lighting, Fire Fighting equipment of the volunteer Rowayton House Company No. 1, theRowayton Library, Community Center, Pinkney Park and the Rowayton Arts Center. Thedistrict, with Brien McMahon High School just over the border. There are three nursery schools: The Community Coop-erative Nursery School, Five Mile River Nursery' School and the United Church School. The 24 apartments in Hilltop Homes provides housing for the elderly and/or handicapped.The Rowayton Community' Center is used by the Roway-ton Gardeners, the Rowayton Parents Exchange, the Rowayton Power Squadron and by scouts and other civic organizations. Pinkney Park, open to all, is used by the Rowayton Summer Arts Festival for concerts sponsored by the Rowayton Civic Association. The Civic Association also sponsors the Labor Day Swim Meet, Memorial Day Parade, youth activities and Christmas Pageant.The historic homes that surround the waterfront are part of the unique charm of Rowayton. It is very characteristic of the community’s families to keep family homes intact for several generations. One such home, the district-owned See-ley-Dibble-Pinkney House, dates back to 1737. The house had been in the same family since 1820 until Mrs. William Pinkney, Jr. sold the home to the Rowayton Historical Societyin 1970 when her husband died. It is now the headquarters of the Historical Society.With the coming of the railroad in 1867, many New' Yorkers came to Rowayton in theThe main shopping area is small town USA with waterfront charm. Below: Rowayton Seafood is a townestablishment where the locals of this waterfront community shop.photos by Louise Lancaster-KeimRowayton pxrtion of taxes, col- summer to enjoy the sweepinglected by the City of Norwalk,waterviews. Hotels and largehomes were built to accommodate the large summertime crowds. According to Frank E. Raymond’s Rowayton on the Half Shell, the Rowayton Hotel(now known as the WinthropHouse) was built in 1848 by Charles L. Raymond. It was a four story summer hotel without heat or water, and was built on the comer of what is now Rowayton and Wilton Avenues.“It was the start of a Rowayton tradition that was to florish for a hundred years,” Raymond says. Summer cottages popped up all over the village, especially around the areas of Hickory Bluff, Bell Island and Pine Point.Portions of the text have been reprinted from Discover Darien.Today pleasure craft take the place of the oyster boats that were at the heart of Rowayton’s early industry.photo by Louise Lancaster-KeimInside FC / Bridal/Fashion 1997 • 27
Newspaper Details
Norwalk Lifestyles
Norwalk, Connecticut, US
Sat, Feb 01, 1997
Page 27
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USA 30 Apr 2020
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