Robert Corroon is honoring Westport’s heritage by displaying a Westport Historical Society plaque identifying this structure as the Christie’s Country Store which was built in 1926. The store at 161 Cross Highway is a Westport landmark. Corroon, who bought the property in 2004, said, “I purchased Christie’s Country Store to bring back the great place it used to be.” It reopened for business in the summer of 2008 after a renovation, and Corroon extends an invitation for all Westporters to visit the store and support its revitalization. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Weingarten for WestportNow.com

Jane and Ed Brennan are honoring Westport’s heritage by displaying a Westport Historical Society plaque identifying their home at 38 Kings Highway North as the Shercrow School which was built in c.1812. The building was originally built on an area called “The Plains” or “Tobey Plains” and moved to its current location in early 1900s. The Shercrow School was formerly known as the West Saugatuck District School used until about 1900. After it was moved it was used as a studio by the painter Osip Linde and then converted into a house in 1948. The Brennans bought their home in 1991. They “fell in love with the living room, which had been the classroom of the school house.”  Over the years, the Brennans have found many glass objects in what had evidently been burn pits outside the school house, including a number of small glass ink bottles.  In September 1998, their home was included in the Kings Highway North Historic District. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Weingarten for WestportNow.com

King’s Service auto repair at 30 Riverside Ave. in Westport has been closed for several months now and word is that it will be replaced by Sunny Daes Ice Cream. If true, it will follow Ben & Jerry’s, Baskin-Robbins and Carvel’s into the Westport ice cream market. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

This feature by Bob Weingarten, chair of the Westport Historical Society’s House Research and Plaque Committee and a Realtor with William Raveis Real Estate Company, highlights some of the more than 190 houses in Westport that display the Westport Historical Society plaque. Today’s entry is 6 Wild Rose Road owned by Julie and Bob Fatherley. Their plaque identifies their home as the Courtney Cottage built in 1919. Charles and Louise Courtney were blue collar workers and built their 600-square foot craftsman cottage from land that was subdivided by the Beers brothers. Except for an addition in the back of the house in 1984, the cottage has been preserved in its original design, both inside and out. The Fatherleys purchased their home in 1989 after living in several antique houses, including a field stone Delaware 1751 farmhouse. Moving to Westport, they were looking for a “one-floor older home in a cultural community.” Little did they know that almost 20 years later their unusual example of a Fairfield County craftsman cottage home would be included in the Gorham Avenue Historic District. They are strong supporters of the preservation of Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Weingarten for WestportNow.com

This is another in the new WestportNow feature “Honoring Our Heritage” by Bob Weingarten, chair of the Westport Historical Society’s House Research and Plaque Committee and a Realtor with William Raveis Real Estate Company. The series highlights some of the more than 190 houses in Westport that display the Westport Historical Society plaque. Today’s entry is 81 Clapboard Hill Road owned by Judy and Charles Reid. They have recognized the heritage of their home by displaying a Westport Historical Society plaque identifying it as the Samuel Taylor house built in 1771. This house is one of the early capes in Greens Farms and is in the process of being considered as a Local Historic Property. The house was built by Samuel Taylor as part of 23 acres of land purchased from the Morehouse family then living on Clapboard Hill Road. The Reids purchased the house in 1963 after seeing it for the first time because it immediately appealed to both of them. Charles is a native of Westport, a painter and a member of the National Academy of Design. Judy became a resident in 1963. The Reids said that they “love living in Westport and are very interested in preservation.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Weingarten for WestportNow.com

An application for a permit to demolish the house at 9 Maplegrove Ave. off Imperial Avenue is under review by various Westport officials.  Built in 1936, the 1 3/4-story colonial has 2,036 square feet and is situated on a .52-acre lot. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com