Westport building officials are reviewing an application to demolish the house at 4 Hawthorne Terrace, which is off of Bayberry Lane. The 1954 house sits on one acre of land. It sold last month for $885,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The house at 8 Calumet Road in Westport was demolished this morning. The 1940 house sits on .4 of an acre of land and sold for $655,000 last August. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Dec. 23. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Workers demolished the house at 29 Compo Beach Road in Westport today. The 1923 house was on one-third of an acre of land and sold in December for $1.3 million. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Aug. 31. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Jennifer Connic

Following failed efforts by preservationists to save it, the house at Westport’s 16 Minute Man Hill designed by Modernist architect Paul Rudolph was demolished today.
Today’s demolition of 16 Minute Man Hill ended weeks of controversy during which preservationists tried to save the structure. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com ©2007 WestportNow.com

Precisely at 9 a.m.—when construction can begin on weekends in Westport—a giant yellow claw of an excavator began attacking the corner of the structure as contract owners David and Yvette Waldman looked on in a light rain. By the end of the afternoon, it was gone.

The Waldmans hired a policeman to keep journalists and the curious off the property as the demolition got underway. The exception was WestportNow photographer Dave Matlow.

“It’s sadly ironic that as interest in Modernist architecture is awakening, this house goes down,” said Morley Boyd, Westport Historic District Commission chairman. “This serves as an example that underscores the importance of designating a home as historic. If a house is not designated, it isn’t safe.”

Westport building officials are reviewing an application to demolish the house at 27 Spicer Road, which is behind Volvo of Westport. The 1929 house sits on .3 acres, and the application will be reviewed by the Westport Historic District Commission because of the house’s age. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport building officials are reviewing an application to demolish the house at 173 Riverside Ave. The 1935 house sits on .9 acres along the Saugatuck River, and because of its age, the Westport Historic District Commission will review the application. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport building officials are reviewing an application to demolish the house at 6 East Meadow Road off of Old Hill Road. The 1926 house sits on .9 acres of land, and because of its age the Westport Historic District Commission will review the application. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport officials are reviewing an application to demolish the house at 113 Newtown Turnpike. The house was built in 1910, and the Historic District Commission will review the matter during its Jan. 9 meeting. The house was sold in December for $650,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport officials are currently reviewing an application to demolish the house at 40 Reichert Circle. The 1955 house on .43 acre sold this month for $714,500. An earlier version of this item had an incorrect address and price. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com