Rowayton, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rowayton
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| Village of Rowayton | |
Rowayton from above
Rowayton Aerial |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Fairfield |
| City | Norwalk |
| Time zone | UTC-5:00 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4:00 (Eastern) |
| Area code(s) | Area codes 203 and 475 |
Rowayton is a beautiful village located right on the coast in Norwalk, Connecticut. It's about 40 miles (64 km) away from New York City. This community is known for being a nice place to live.
Rowayton has many active groups that help make it special. These include the Civic Association, the Historical Society, and the Rowayton Library. There's also a Gardeners Club and a Parents Exchange. Every year, a group called Shakespeare on the Sound puts on a Shakespeare play in Pinkney Park. Many artists live in Rowayton and are part of the Rowayton Arts Center.
You can find the Rowayton train station here, which is part of the Metro-North Railroad. The village also has an elementary school, a public beach for residents, and the Rowayton Public Library.
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Rowayton's Inspiring Coastline
The coastline of Rowayton has been a source of ideas for artists for hundreds of years. John Frederick Kensett, a famous landscape painter from the 1800s, often painted the sea views here. This artistic tradition continues today with many local artists.
Rowayton has several beaches, some private and some semi-private. Three of these beaches – The Roton Point Association, Bayley Beach, and a part of Wee Burn Country Club – have an interesting shared past.
Roton Point Amusement Park History
In the early 1900s, these beach areas were all part of the Roton Point Amusement Park. People could take steamboats from New York City right to the park. A special boat landing was located near Sunset Rock.
There was also a trolley that brought visitors from Darien and Norwalk. It traveled along Highland Avenue and through what is now Langdon Preserve. At the amusement park, guests could enjoy a bath house, a picnic area, and many rides. These rides included a classic carousel and roller coasters with amazing views of the beach.
Historic "Rock Ledge" Estate
The old Rock Ledge estate is a very important place in Rowayton. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's a special building that is protected because of its history.
In 1910, a man named James A. Farrell built a large Tudor revival style mansion here. He later became the president of the United States Steel Corporation. Sadly, the first mansion burned down in 1913, but it was quickly rebuilt using strong granite.
Later, the estate was bought by the Remington Rand Corporation. This company was famous for developing the UNIVAC computer. General Douglas MacArthur was even the Chairman of their Board in the 1950s. Remington Rand later joined with Sperry Corporation to become Sperry Rand.
Since 1966, the old stables from the Farrell family estate have been used as the Rowayton Community Center and the Rowayton Library. In 1964, a school for girls called the Thomas School bought the main part of the estate. This school later merged with another private school and became coeducational, now known as King Low Heywood Thomas. The mansion and its office building were then owned by Hewitt Associates. Today, the main house of the estate is the main office for Graham Capital Management, L.P..
Famous People from Rowayton
Many interesting and famous people have lived in or had connections to Rowayton. Here are a few:
- George Abbott: A well-known producer, director, and writer for Broadway and Hollywood.
- Brian Cashman: The general manager for the New York Yankees baseball team.
- Crockett Johnson: A cartoonist and author who created the popular children's book Harold and the Purple Crayon.
- John Frederick Kensett: A famous artist from the 1800s known for his landscape paintings.
- Ruth Krauss: An author who wrote many children's books.
- Andy Rooney: A popular author, humorist, and television commentator.
- Treat Williams: A movie actor known for films like Prince of the City and Hair.
Gallery
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Rowayton Avenue
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"Main Street" (Rowayton Avenue), around 1906
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Methodist Church, 1917
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The riverfront in downtown Rowayton
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The Grove at Roton Point, from a 1905 postcard
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Belle Island, from a 1907 postcard
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The original Tudor style of the Rockledge Estate
