The sun., 1908-03-22
ON TIE CONNECTICUT SHORE
SUBURBS ALONG THE SOUND FROM
so. NORWALK TO NEW HAVEN.

The NSw Electric Railway Service Has
Brought the Most Picturesque Region
OF New England within Easy COmmut-
Ing Distance OG Downtown Manhattan.
The Connecticut territory between South
Norwalk and New Haven, . region that
has long been popular for summer resi-
dence. il steadily growing In favor as a
place for permanent homes, The express
service on the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad brings q large part Of
tho attractive interior country within reach
" the city, and commuters who can AFFORD
to spend from an hour 70 an hour and q
half on the train are locating there In In
creasing numbers.
The ve1atious delays due to the work
Of depressing the tracks at the Grand Gen.
trail station have now beenl done away
with and the new electric service IL work.
ing smoothly. Al present motor drawn
trains are operated as far east as Stam-
ford, but there Is no doubt that In time
tho electric zone will be extended to Bridge
port and New Haven. Under the present
service South Norwalk is only an hour and
ten minutes from New York and Bridge
port an hour and half.
The country east Of the Norwalks is even
more attractive than the western end OF
tho committing district and the only bar
10 it's development thus far has been the
time Of travel to and from New York. It
is a region Of many brooks and springs,
lakes and rivers, inlets and harbors. The
Sound broadens out beyond South Nor
walk and has more the appearance Of the
open SEA than Of a protected hay. Numer-
ous islands dot its surface, varying In size
from mere rocks TO broad areas several
acres in extent Some have been converted
into. summer resorts with facilities for
bathing and boating. while others have
l,een transformed into country estates.
The appearance Of the shore changes
gradually IA one travels eastward beyond
the Norwak River. The promontories
became holder and more rocky. the harbors
are deeper and more spacious, with wider
intervals between them. The curves OF the
coast line grow longer and more sweeping
and wide stretches OF sand succeed the
narrow shingly benches Of the western
part Of the State. In the interior the country
becomes increasingly wild and rugged.
Back from the railroad the towns dwindle
down 10 country villages and crossroads
settlements. containing. in typical cases,
post office. a general store and a few
houses about the frame church on the
village green Low rooted farmhouses,
surrounded by apple orchards and shaded
Ivy tall elms take the place Of the long,
even rows Of dwellings in the manufactur-
lng towns. On every hand patches Of thick
woodland appear. Country roads wind
in and out among the hills, fanked on
either side by low stone walls and rail
fences.
Many of the older settlements date back
10 tho Colonial period, and the entire region
abounds in quaint landmarks and relics Of
early times. Connecticut suffered severely
during the Colonial wars with the Indians
and during the Revolution. A number
Of the towns we're sacked by the British or
by bands Of Tories, and the battered walls
of churches and meeting houses bear witness
to the stirring events Of the struggle for
independence.
The first stop on the railroad beyond
South Norwalk is at Westport and Sauga-
tuck. two closely related towns situated on
r tidal stream known as the Saugatuck,
into which flows che Aspatuck River. The
town Of Saugatuck consists Of che railroad
station and few frame houses clustered
around a little wooden church, whose
weather worn white steeple, festooned with
the bulky paper nests Of wasps and hornets.
ia topped by a single giant elm, the village
landmark.
A mile and 4 hal! to the northward on the
trolley line ia Westport. a thriving village
that has overhowed across the bridge
spanning the river into the township Of Fair
field Between Westport and Saugatuck,
ON the west bank Of the river. are several
mills and factories. operated by water
power. The east bank rises abruptly from
the shore in a series Of wooded bluffs. along
which are located several attractive summer
homes.
Green's Farms. the next stop 10 the east
ward, is quiet. rural community spread
ont over a wide stretch OF open country.
Along the old post road, broad. well kept
highway leading from New York to Boeton,
are the summer homes Of few city folk.
The settlement has an air Of quiet and rest
ful seclusion that attracts each year an in
creasing number Of commuters. Bathing,
boating and fishing are prominent features
of summer residence there. A broad strip
of white sand extends eastward from COmpo
Beach. at the mouth Of the Saugatuck River.
to Phpp's Beach at Green's Farms. Rising
from the sand is a steep bluf. from fifteen
TO twenty feet in height, along which runs
the shore road. From here on to Bridge
port the beach is lined with summer cot
tages. hotels and fine estates. each with Its
wooden pier and boathouse.
Southport and Fairfield. two adjoining
towns. are purely residential settlements
A trolley line brings them within twenty
minutes ride Of the shopping districts and
the stores and markets Of Bridgeport, 30
the local business sections are not very
extensive. Southport is an attractive
settlement, with winding, shaded streets
md old Colonial dwellings whose broad,
cncrcling verandas and spacious rooms
give the visitor an impression of homelike
comfort and simplicity. In sharp contrast
10 the old fashioned residences ia the modern
public library, a massive granite structure
facing the main square Near the present
railroad station is Sasoo swamp, now
known as the Pequot tract. battle-ground
ON which was fought a decisive contest
between the early settlers aud the Pequot
Indians