Rowayton

Rowayton is an affluent coastal village in the city of Norwalk, Connecticut, roughly 40 miles (64 km) from New York City. The community is governed by the Sixth Taxing District of Norwalk and has a number of active local associations, including the Civic Association, the Historical Society, the Rowayton Library, a Gardeners Club, and a Parents Exchange. Rowayton annually plays host to a Shakespearean production at Pinkney Park, produced by Shakespeare on the Sound,[1] and also has an active community of artists, many of whom are associated with the Rowayton Arts Center.

The Rowayton station on the New Haven line of the Metro-North Railroad is located within the community, as is an elementary school, a public beach and the Rowayton Public Library.

The Rowayton coastline has been a source of inspiration for centuries. John Frederick Kensett, a famous 19th century landscape painter of the Hudson School, frequently painted this seascape in his later life.[2] This tradition has been carried on in an active local arts scene.

Rowayton is home to a host of beaches, three of which—Roton Point, Bayley Beach, and a coastal enclave of Wee Burn Country Club—share a common history. In the early 20th century, the properties of all three made up the Roton Point Amusement Park.[3] A boat landing attached to Sunset Rock, just to the West of Belle Island, allowed steam boats to bring day-trippers from New York City to the park. A trolley ran from both Darien and Norwalk, arriving at the Park via Highland Avenue and over present-day Langdon Preserve, located across from Farm Creek.[4] At the Amusement Park, amenities included a bath house, a picnic grove, and rides ranging from the classic carousel to roller coasters with stunning views of the beach.

The former Rock Ledge estate at 33 and 40-42 Highland Avenue was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. In 1910, James A. Farrell, later president of the United States Steel Corporation, built a Tudor revival mansion, which burned down in 1913 and was rebuilt in granite. The estate was later bought by the Remington Rand Corporation, developers of the UNIVAC computer, which merged with Sperry Corporation to form Sperry Rand.[5] Since 1966, the Farrell family stables have been converted to the Rowayton Community Center and the Rowayton Library.[6] In 1964, part of the estate was purchased by the Thomas School for girls, a day and boarding school founded by Mabel Thomas in 1922.[7][8] The school later merged with other private schools in the area, eventually becoming King Low Heywood Thomas in 1988. The school is now co-educational and located in Stamford, Connecticut. The mansion and attached office building were previously owned by Hewitt Associates. Currently, the main house of the estate is home to Graham Capital Management, L.P.

Rowayton Avenue

"Main Street" (Rowayton Avenue), circa 1906

Methodist Church, 1917

Riverfront, downtown Rowayton

The Grove, Roton Point, 1905 postcard

Belle Island, 1907 postcard

Original Tudor look of the Rockledge Estate

Coordinates: 41°03′50″N 73°26′11″W  /  41.06389°N 73.43639°W  / 41.06389; -73.43639