Ridgefield Encyclopedia (5-15-2020)
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A compendium of more than 3,500 people, places and things relating to Ridgefield, Connecticut. by Jack Sanders [Note: Abbreviations and sources are explained at the end of the document. This work is being constantly expanded and revised; this version was last updated on 5-15-2020.] A A&P: The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company opened a small grocery store at 378 Main Street in 1948 (long after liquor store — q.v.); became a supermarket at 46 Danbury Road in 1962 (now Walgreens site); closed November 1981. [JFS] A&P Liquor Store: Opened at 133½ Main Street Sept. 12, 1935. [P9/12/1935] Aaron’s Court: short, dead-end road serving 9 of 10 lots at 45 acre subdivision on the east side of Ridgebury Road by Lewis and Barry Finch, father-son, who had in 1980 proposed a corporate park here; named for Aaron Turner (q.v.), circus owner, who was born nearby. [RN] A Better Chance (ABC) is Ridgefield chapter of a national organization that sponsors talented, motivated children from inner-cities to attend RHS; students live at 32 Fairview Avenue; program began 1987. A Birdseye View: Column in Ridgefield Press for many years, written by Duncan Smith (q.v.) Abbe family: Lived on West Lane and West Mountain, 1935-36: James E. Abbe, noted photographer of celebrities, his wife, Polly Shorrock Abbe, and their three children Patience, Richard and John; the children became national celebrities when their 1936 book, “Around the World in Eleven Years.” written mostly by Patience, 11, became a bestseller. [WWW] Abbot, Dr. Joel (1776-1826), a physician, was the first native Ridgefielder to be elected a U.S. Congressman; served from Georgia, 1817-1825, where he had moved in 1790s; in 1820, was a delegate to the convention in Philadelphia, Pa., that prepared the original edition of the National Pharmacopoeia; his house in Washington, Ga., is a National Historic Landmark and Georgia state historic site (but under the name of subsequent owner, Robert Toombs, a congressman and U.S. senator). [WWW] Abbott, David: See Abbott’s Mill Road. Abbott, George Irving, (1857-1932), a village businessman who was born in Irvington, N.Y., lived on and probably developed Abbott Avenue (q.v.). He was an early leader of the RVFD and served as a Republican state representative, 1903-05. Abbott, Rev. Larmon Wooster, (1818-1900), was a Methodist minister who served at Jesse Lee Methodist Church, 1870-72, but lived in Ridgefield at least until 1882. He was a state representative in 1881 and a longtime school board member. He died in Waterbury, where he is buried. Abbott Avenue: Between High Ridge and Gilbert Street, ca. 1900; probably named for George Abbott, businessman, who owned and probably developed the neighborhood. [RN] Abbott’s Mill Road: 18th Century name for Florida Hill Road (q.v.) because it led to grist mill of David Abbott (now site of Moongate — q.v.); name appears 1745 deed. See also Iron foundry. [RN] ABC: See A Better Chance. About Ridgefield: What We Were - What We Are: 80-page, comprehensive, illustrated report on many facets of Ridgefield, including architecture, neighborhoods, history, landmarks, natural resources, cultural and religious centers, open spaces, cemeteries; by Madeleine Corbin, produced in 2002 by Ridgefield Design Council (q.v.); soft-cover, extensive index. Ackworth Cottage: Home of Mary Linda Bradley (q.v.), 143? West Mountain Road. Acorn Cottage: Name Herschel Brickell (q.v.) used for his home at 569 Branchville Road. Acorn Place: 1,200-foot, dead-end road off lower Silver Spring Road, approved 1976; developed by William Hornibrook; only road in town named for a nut. [RN] Acorn Press: Name of parent company for The Ridgefield Press and other weekly newspapers from 1938 until 1997, when merged with Hersam Publications of New Canaan to become Hersam Acorn Newspapers, then HAN Network; headquarters were at 16 Bailey Avenue; purchased November 2018 by Hearst Media; all Ridgefield operations closed by end of 2018. Acoustic Celebration, an affordable Sunday evening singer/songwriter series, produced by Barbara Manners (q.v.), usually at Congregation Shir Shalom. Acre Lane: Off Wilton Road West, developed around 1964 by brothers Frank, John, and Robert Symone as Parkview Estates; 23 one-acre lots; size inspired name. [RN] Actors from Ridgefield: David Cassidy, Crocker family, Kay Young Eason, Miles Eason, Gene Ellis, Tom Gilroy, Glynis Johns, Don McKay, Douglass Montgomery, Olaf Olsen, Cyril Ritchard, Hilda Spong, Erland van Lidth de Jeude, Robert Vaughn. [WWW] Adam Broderick Salon and Spa: Established 1986 at 89 Danbury Road by Broderick, a well- known Manhattan colorist. Adams, Dr. Daniel L. (1814-1899), a physician known as “Doc Adams,” has been called the “father of baseball” because he set down many of the rules by which modern game is played; member Knickerbocker Base Ball Club in New York City, serving six times as president; Yale, 1835; lived here 1865-88, in old Philip Burr Bradley (q.v.) house, now Ballard Park (q.v.); was the first president of Ridgefield Savings Bank (q.v.), 1871-79; first president of Ridgefield Library, 1880; served as Republican state representative, 1870; died in New Haven where he was buried. [WWW] Adams and Keeler: real estate and insurance firm established 1892 by Russel R. Keeler or son William R. Keeler; were lumber dealers and had a livery stable; in 1941 became Keeler and Durant (q.v.), a real estate and insurance firm. Adams Road: Between Lincoln Lane and Jefferson Drive at Washington Park Estates off Branchville Road; named for second president, John Adams, at suggestion of Selectman Paul J. Morganti (q.v.); developed by Bert Ison; town road, 1956. [RN] Addessi Block: The two brick buildings of stores and offices, originally called Scott Block (q.v.), from 387-395 Main Street; owned by the Addessi family whose jewelry store is one of the shops in the block. Addessi Jewelry Store opened at 387 Main Street in a spot that had been the post office; owned then by Rick and Donna Addessi; later taken over by son Wayne Addessi; [RP5/1966] Adler, Larry (1914-2001), harmonica virtuoso, gave concerts around the world; made many recordings; lived at James Waterman Wise house on Pumping Station Road in early 1950s; wrote film scores including “High Wind in Jamaica” and “Genevieve,” the latter nominated for Academy Award, was probably written here; accused of supporting communism, which he denied; discouraged by communist witch hunt, moved to England in 1952. [WWW] A Dying Fall: Murder mystery by Hildegarde Dolson, Lippincott, 1973: The victim supposedly slips on a step in the Aldrich Museum sculpture garden, falls and is mortally impaled upon a sharp work of art. Dolson lived in Lewisboro, married to Richard Lockridge (q.v.).. Age of Video: Shop with movie rentals, TVs, recorders, etc., opens Oct. 10-12, 1980, at Girolametti Court, 19 Danbury Road [P10/9/1980] Airdrifts Farm: Spread on both sides of Ridgebury Road, south of Regan Road, owned by Ellis B. and Mary McLaury in the 1930s. Airplane crashes: See plane crashes. Airplane spotting posts were maintained from December 1941 into 1945 and again during the Korean conflict. They were designed to spot and report enemy aircraft in the days before radar became extensive and effective. The first, briefly used post was at Wadsworth Lewis’s estate, Taghkanick (q.v.), but was soon permanently established on East Ridge east of the high school where, eventually a tower was built next to a small octagonal office that had once been a boathouse on the F.E. Lewis estate. Between Dec. 7, 1941 and May 29, 1944 during World War II, some 200 men, women and children staffed the airplane spotting posts in town, which reported more than 7,000 aircraft to military officials. [P8/23/1945] A.J. Carnall Inc., an insurance and real estate office, was established in 1922 by Thaddeus Crane and in 1930 was taken over and renamed by Arthur J. Carnall (q.v.). It became Ridgefield’s largest insurance business. Keeler and Durant Inc. (q.v.) merged in 1987. Originally located at ONS123 Main Street; moved to the corner of Main and Catoonah Streets around 1965. In the 1990s it became Fairfield County Bank Insurance Services (q.v.). Aldrich, Lawrence “Larry,” (1906-2001), was founder of women’s fashion company in NYC, 1927; moved to Nod Road, 1939; established Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 1964, in “Old Hundred” (q.v.) building, 258 Main Street; donated Aldrich Park, 1958; wife, Winifred Payne Aldrich (1914-2003), was an artist and museum co-founder. [WWW]; Aldrich discusses his love of art in talk [P1/7/1965] Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum: Founded in 1964 in the “Old Hundred” (q.v.) at 258 Main Street by Lawrence Aldrich (q.v.), New York City designer of women’s clothing; expanded several times in subsequent years; now a major venue for contemporary art in America. Aldrich Park: 37 acres donated in several pieces by Lawrence Aldrich, founder of the museum; first grant was May 1958, in honor of town’s 250th anniversary; more gifts during 1960s and early 70s; park now 65 acres. Alexander Hamilton High School, Ridgefield’s first public secondary school, opened 1915 in former Center School on Bailey Avenue (now municipal parking lot); moved in 1926 to East Ridge School after a 1925 remodeling of what was originally Benjamin Franklin Grammar School (q.v.), built in 1915; first graduation was in 1917. [JFS] Alkiewicz, Andrzej, (1924-2000), a native of Poland and World War II resistance fighter who spent time in concentration camps, was president of the Wall Street brokerage, Hoppin Watson Inc., 1971-76; founded Perception International in 1983, a consulting firm on business strategies with many leadling clients, including U.S.