Surprise Gift

Patricia Riemersma (l), CEO of the Westport Weston Famly YMCA, tonight presents a surprise gift to Dorothy Curran, president of the Westport Woman’s Club (WWC), of a portrait of Mary Anne Dingee Bedford, wife of Edward T. Bedford, the Family YMCA founder. Riemersma said the Family YMCA had the portrait in its collection, and it was approriately suited for the WWC. It was Frederick Bedford, Edward’s son, who, in 1945, purchased the 1881-built Sidney Watts house and grounds for the club at 44 Imperial Ave. The Bedfords also funded the subsequent move of the 1866-built Sabbath Meeting Hall of the Saugatuck Congregational Church to the Imperial Avenue location in 1950. The building became the club’s meeting hall and last year was officially named Bedford Hall as it underwant extensive renovations. Tonight’s event was called “The 150th Birthday Bash for Bedford Hall.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo