Short Beach at one time was a community within Lordship. Originally a narrow beach that eventually was filled in and cottages were built upon it. Half Moon Cove extends from Short Beach to Stratford Point. Legend has it that one ?Minto? or ?Lord Minto? lived near Stratford Point, that he owned many slaves and ships and with other merchants across the Housatonic at Milford, trafficked with England and the West Indies, bringing slaves and rum to these shores. "Lord Minto" was an alias and is one of the possible sources for the name Lordship. In fear of seizure legend asserts, they build subterranean passages from the shores of Half Moon Cove to the warehouses. The sandbar separating the Housatonic River from Half Moon Cove was called Minto's Bar in Colonial times and upon which a servant was chained until drowning by the rising tide. Today Short Beach is a popular recreation area with a golf course, tennis and basketball courts, picnic pavilions and other facilites. Short Beach is home to the Independance Day fireworks each year. Approximately 50,000 people pour into Lordship from all directions to enjoy the fireworks. As you will read, Short Beach and Half Moon Cove have had the most interesting history of any section of Lordship.
June 3, 1892 - CONTRACTOR MORTON ARRESTED: W.H. Morton, the wealthy New York contractor who built the Stratford Breakwater, was arrested in New Haven yesterday by Constable Hogg. He is charged with assault with intent to kill. The authorities have been looking for him since December 1890. The breakwater contract was productive of much trouble for Morton. Several arrests of his men were made by United States Marshal Strong for violation of the navigation law. In December 1890, in a store at Stratford Point, Morton had trouble with his men and drew a pistol and fired. He escaped at the time, but the warrant issued for his arrest has been in the hands of the authorities ever since. Morton secured bail and is now at liberty.
May 24, 1922 - WATERLlNES WILL BE LAID TO SHORT BEACH: Residents of Short beach are to have city water laid to their cottages this summer. This will greatly increase the desirability of sites along this beach for summer cottages. The beach at this point is owned by the town and is leased for a small amount annually to persons having summer cottages there. In the past it has been necessary to secure fresh water by catching rain in barrels placed under the eaves of cottages or by making a trip to the Stratford lighthouse, a quarter of a mile distant from the beach. It is planned to lay a water main from Lordship to Short Beach to furnish the beach residents with fresh water.
 Half Moon Cove |
 Half Moon Cove |
March 6, 1923 - PROHIBITION AGENTS SEIZE CHOICE CARGO OF LIQUOR OF RUM-RUNNER IN STRATFORD - One Hundred Cases of Scotch Whiskey Valued at $15,000 Confiscated by Police as It Is Unloaded from Boat at Mouth of Housatonic-Three Are Held: Taking advantage of the exceptionally high perigee tide, Stratford police and federal prohibition enforcement agents were trying early this morning to float the motor boat "Giant," which went aground In front of William B. Tuttle's cottage at Short Beach, just inside the mouth of the Housatonic River, yesterday. One hundred cases of Scotch whiskey valued at $15,000 was piled on the shore preparatory to loading it back upon the boat and taking it up the river as soon as the craft should be floated. While police were making arrangements to float the "Giant" and convey the cargo to Stratford center where it was to be locked up in a cell at police headquarters, Herbert Buck of 1601 Stratford Avenue, who claimed ownership of the craft, was endeavoring to raise a $500 bond. Harold Peterson, also of Stratford Avenue, was also trying to get a bondsman. Vincent Sullivan of No. 60 Barnum Terrace had succeeded in raising $500 and is out on this bond. While two men, Enforcement Agent Edward Flaherty and Stratford Police Officer Fred Donaldson stood guard over the 100 cases of choice liquor seized after the boat had come ashore, other police officers and federal men endeavored last evening to catch a few hours of well earned sleep, preparatory to starting the work of trying to float the boat at three o'clock this morning. Seizure of the cargo of liquor early yesterday morning came as the culmination of weeks of watchful waiting on the part of the prohibition men and the Stratford police. Flaherty, Victor Wardwell, Edward Doolan, and James Holt of Enforcement, Agent James Fowler's force have spent many cold nights secreted in a cottage at Short Beach hoping to catch the rum-runners in the act of bringing their cargo into the river. With them have been officers of Chief William Nichols Stratford police force, Sergeant Ben Smith, Officers David Dinan, P. J. Flanagan, Donaldson, Leonard Holmes, and Edward Manchester, who have taken turns lying in wait along the shore for the arrival of the rum-runners, who were known to be landing liquor near the mouth of the Housatonic. Success crowned the vigil of the enforcement agents and police early yesterday morning when the boat came around the Stratford breakwater and began to buck through ice floes toward the Stratford shore. The police and federal enforcement agents waited until the crew of the boat had unloaded the cargo and stored it in a cottage on the beach owned by William Tuttle, former Stratford druggist and more recently proprietor of Minor's shore house near Washington bridge. While one officer kept watch on the cottage the other officer' silently slipped across the salt meadow dike and made his way to the nearest telephone in a house almost a mile from the place where the whiskey had been landed, summoning reinforcements to surround the cottage. Officer David Dinan of the Stratford Police force and Federal Prohibition Enforcement Agent Victor Wardwell were the two men who were watching the rum-runners at their labors. When they had telephoned to Stratford police headquarters that the rum-runners had arrived at the mouth of the Housatonic, Police Chief William Nichols gathered together his force and notified the prohibition men. In the party which made its way to the Tuttle cottage after a devious passage across the salt meadows to Short Beach were Chief Nichols, Sergeant Ben Smith, Officers Leonard Holmes, Frederick Donaldson. Victor Marcus, Edward Manchester and P. J. Flanagan of the Stratford force and Enforcement Agents Edward Doolan, and James Holt. Dinan and Wardwell pointed out to the new arrivals the cottage in which the cases of liquor had just been stored. The police surrounded the cottage. "Open in the name of the law!" boomed out Chief Nichols. The inmates of the cottage only rushed to barricade the door, refusing to open the cottage to admit the police. The men inside the cottage were armed with shot guns and Colt automatic revolver. The police had sawed-off riot guns and revolvers. Had either side fired a shot, a debacle might have resulted. Instead of firing through the heavy planks of the doorway of the cottage, the police decided to try first to force an entrance into the place. Officer "Jim" Holt's ponderous form lurched against a rear door of the cottage and the door crashed in. When the three rum-runners inside the cottage saw the number of policemen and enforcement agents who were outside the building they surrendered without a fight.
March 7, 1923 - LIQUOR DESTROYED TO MAKE ROOM FOR MORE: In order to make room in the Stratford police station for the $15,000 seizure of choice Scotch liquor confiscated at Short Beach early today, a supply of choice liquor seized by state police and Stratford police officer recently at Hollister Heights was destroyed last night by smashing open the cases and emptying the contents in the Housatonic River. The destruction of the liquor was in charge of State policeman Bernard Scully and other police officers.
March 13, 1923 - MOTORBOAT GIANT HOLD FILLED WITH WATER DUE TO LEAK: Cases Against Alleged Rum-Runners Are Continued for Week. Opening of the seams of the motorboat, "Giant," as the result of pounding on the sand-bar at Short Beach where it was floundered Sunday night is believed to be responsible for the fact that there is now a couple of feet of water in the hold of the boat as she lies at the foot of Broad Street. The boat is on a mud-bar adjoining the Pootatuck Yacht Club anchorage, and can be put in seaworthy condition without great expense if the government places the boat up for auction after the rum running case involving this boat, has been disposed of. Several Stratford watermen will attempt to purchase it. When the cases of Vincent. Sullivan, Herbert Buck and Harold Peterson came up in court today continuances were granted for one week. Prosecuting Attorney Ivan L. Morehouse said that he intended to confer with the State's Attorney, Homer S. Cummings, to decide the best disposition to be made of the cases. There is a three-quarter legal squabble on to decide whether the Town authorities, prohibition enforcement officers or the Customs authorities will take jurisdiction in the case. There is a $15,000 supply of liquor seized by Stratford police and Federal authorities locked up in cells at the police station with a US Government seal at the present time. There is also a libel on the motorboat.
October 6, 1922 - STRATFORD TOWN COUNCIL TO RAISE BEACH PROPERTY LEASES: Believe $900 Now Obtained from This Source Ridiculously Low: Owners of cottages at Long and Short Beaches, who have leased from the town the land upon which their cottages are built, will have to pay more for their leases when they ask for renewals, according to members of the council, who express themselves as opposed to again leasing the land at the shore at the present low rental. For years past it has been possible for five or ten dollars a year to rent from the town a plot of ground on the water front large enough to build a cottage on. The total annual revenue from all the shore leases, including the ones along the Housatonic River mouth at Short beach, and the ones at Long Beach, near Lordship, is only $900. "This sum of $900 is a ridiculously small amount to be receiving for beach rentals," states Donald Sammis, chairman of the town council. "I believe I can speak for the entire council when I say that the town should increase the rental figure for these shore lots. If we raise the rental when the new leases are granted we should be able to receive enough revenue from the beach property to pay for the building of jetties and breakwaters which would stop the erosion which is now in progress along the shore front. To save the beaches we must have improvements. To pay for these improvements we should increase the rental figure for the shore lots." In the past, these beach rentals have been handled by the real estate firm of Wood and Yarborough. The town has taken over the matter now and future rentals and leases will be handled through the town manager's office.
February 27, 1925 - PROPOSES SHORE ROAD FROM DEVON TO PLEASURE BEACH: Councilman Donald Sammis of Stratford Says Boulevard Skirting River and Sound Would Cost Comparatively Little: Council Chairman Donald Sammis, discussing today the future development of Stratford, pointed out that the town could at comparatively small expense establish one of the most beautiful seashore drives in the state by connecting up existing links of highway along the river and beach front. By following out the plan first proposed by Council Chairman Sammis at last night's hearing on the Short Beach land exchange proposition, the town would have a drive beginning at Washington bridge and continuing south along the banks of the Housatonic River to Lordship, around through Lordship and along the peninsula (Long Beach) to Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport, and to out onto Seaview Avenue. For nearly the entire distance from Washington Bridge to Seaview Avenue, Bridgeport this drive would skirt the waterfront. There are already constructed roads along a great part of the distance and no great engineering feat would be involved in connecting up these sections of road so as to make one complete boulevard. Construction of a culvert or small bridge near the old "duck farm" property and the building of a road along the level stretch of shore land between the old road near the Housatonic yacht club and the town sewage disposal plant and so around the curve of the shore town line to Sniffen's Point, to connect up with the road back of Short Beach, would be the chief connecting link that would have to be made. There is already a shore front road from the vicinity of Washington bridge, down Housatonic Avenue to Broad Street and Lockwood Street, to Stratford Avenue and thence around at the back of the beach property near the river. Another connecting link would have to be a road from the bathing pavilion at Lordship to the bathing pavilion at Pleasure Beach.
November 8, 1927 - SHORT BEACH MAN CLAIMS INTEREST IN AIRPORT CUT SITE: Will Contest Right Company to Dig Channel. Counsel has been retained by A. M Nearing of Short Beach to safeguard his interests in the title which he claims to the 250-foot stretch of beach front through which the Stratford Town Council recently gave permission to the Bridgeport Airport, Inc to dig a channel giving access for seaplanes to the new airport on the Lordship meadows. Judge Frank Wilder of Bridgeport is the attorney engaged by Mr. Nearing to represent him. Judge Wilder on Sunday afternoon visited the site of the proposed airport, and held a lengthy conference with Attorney W. Parker Seeley, one of the directors of the airport corporation: Colonel Rex DeLacour, president of the corporation, and other interested parties. While taking the position that the strip of beach front in question is town property and is not included in the Nearing holdings at the beach, the representatives of the airport corporation made it clear that they will not deprive Mr. Nearing of access to his home, which stands on the beach at a point some distance north of the place where it is proposed to cut through the beach in constructing the seaplane basin. The contractors plan to build a road along the north side of the canal, extending from the beach to South Main Street. Representatives of the airport corporation have searched the titles to the property at this point and have found no records on file which would support Nearings claim to title in the 350-Ioot stretch of beach front through which it is planned to cut the seaplane canal. The airport project is expected to enhance the value of property in the vicinity. An Indication of what is taking place as a result of the plans to establish an airport here may be obtained from a statement by L E. Nunnold, real estate operator at Lordship who reported that on the day following publication of the news that an airport was to be established at Lordship, six persons who had given him their places at Lordship Manor to sell, called him up and told him they had decided not to sell at the present time. Dykes are being constructed on the main flying field preparatory to beginning the pumping operations. A considerable force of men is already at work there. Due to the fact that the owners of the large sand-sucking pump which is to do the major portion of the work at the airport, accepted another job at New Haven when It appeared that there would be some delay in getting the work started at Lordship, it will probably be a week or two before the big dredger arrives here to begin operations on the seaplane canal. In the meantime it is hoped to iron out all legal difficulties in connection with the Nearing claim.
These ten points summarize in brief the administration's viewpoint of the proposition. On the other hand, opponents of the plan sweep these arguments away with the single statement that the town should surrender none of its rights to any of the beach front. Opponents of the plan, as they have expressed themselves repeatedly, are for "fighting the matter out to the highest courts if necessary," even at the risk of losing all of the beach. That they mean to fight the proposition in real earnest was indicated last night when some 40 residents gathered in the Lovell building, and organized the Short Beach Association. Speakers at the meeting said that the purpose of the association, or club, will be to preserve the entire beach frontage for the Stratford townspeople. The organization, it was announced, was merely to defeat the referendum in the coming election, there would be no dues, and it would be disbanded following the election. The move of the opposition in forming the Short Beach club was met today by the issuance by the administration of a pamphlet illustrated with maps, showing Short Beach as it is at present, and as it will be if the proposed development is permitted to go through. The pamphlet states that over a year ago the town manager recommended a definite development of Stratford's beaches, this recommendation being approved by the committee of the council on beach policy. The first step in the making of definite plans for such development was to find out just what land the town owned, states the pamphlet. On investigation it was found that the town's title was not clear on Short Beach and that it would be difficult if not impossible, to prove definitely in court that the town holds any title. To add to this unfavorable situation it was found that originally the salt meadows went to the river bank and were privately owned and that there was no sand beach or dune as now exists. The addition of sand forming the beach and dune by natural causes since that time in no way gives the town right or claim to the land which was covered. Old boundary stones and salt meadows can today be uncovered by digging through the sand to the meadow level. The development plan was one which would give opportunity for greater use of the beach and more cottage sites than are now available, also water and lighting services, fire protection, and gas. The objection to this plan was the claim on the part of the Y. M. C. A. of Bridgeport that through deed they owned to the beach, that is, they controlled and owned the land to the water's edge because this land was acquired from A. W. Burritt and as he owned a large part of the meadows adjoining the Y M. C. A. property he was consulted in reference to the titles he held and in so doing Mr. Burritt was completely informed of the proposed plan for the development of the beach property. After some thought and deliberation Mr. Burritt made no appointment with the town manager at which time he signified his belief in the soundness of the proposed plan. Without any payment on the part of the town, Mr. Burritt agreed that if the town could procure a satisfactory title through some arrangement with the Y.M.C.A., to the 1,440 feet of beach which was in question, he would buy that portion of the meadow bounded by the Y.M C A. South Main street, and Little Neck Creek and would deed the same to the town for park purposes. This offer was made because Mr. Burritt saw the possibilities and benefits to the town of Stratford, his birthplace and early home, the pamphlet points out. This amount of land involved in the gift to the town is about 62 acres, and carries with it the title to the balance of the beach. This would make a total of about 80 acres. Until the council was stopped by the referendum petition they were going ahead to clear this title in the manner indicated, and accept the gift from Mr. Burritt. In fact, at that time Mr. Burritt had obtained practically three-quarters of all this land and was ready to deed it to the town. In order to In order to clear the title on the 1,440 feet claimed by the Y.M.C.A., a conference was held with officers of the society at which it developed that their real need for water front did not exceed 400 feet at the narrow section of the beach at the southerly end. The first proposal was to quit claim to them this 400 feet of beach and they would quit claim to the town the balance of the 1 440 feet of beach front. A hearing was held in the town hall on February 24, 1925, at which time it was brought out that it would be better to lease on long term lease than to deed any portion of the beach, if such a program could be affected. A further conference was held and the Y.M.C.A., agreed to the long term lease of 90 years with renewal privilege. This seemed satisfactory to the town authorities as the lease would preclude any use other than for social and recreational purposes. The proposed lease reserves to the public rights of way by road through this section and the free use of the beach by the public at above (but near) and below high water. The legal battle recommended by some, for the determination of the titles on this beach has not been considered a sound program by the present town authorities in view of the expense involved, the probability of losing all of the dunes, and the certainty of losing practically all but the shore line, leaving a beach to narrow for cottage sites. With the consummation of the program outlined with the Y.M.C.A. and the acceptance of the gift of Mr. Burritt it is pointed out by Manager Hunter that the town would be in undisputed possession of all the beach for all time and would have a park site which compares favorably with the beginnings of Seaside Park in Bridgeport. The claim of the council and the manager is that by leasing 400 feet the town will get in exchange a good title to all the 1,440 feet of beach front along the Y.M.C.A. meadows and in addition the balance of approximately 2,000 feet of beach through the gift of Mr. Burritt. "This makes a very certain and simple way of clearing the title to the whole beach," said Mr. Hunter.
September 21, 1947 - Down at the end of Short Beach, close by the marine basin, lives a grizzly old fisherman with friendly water-blue eyes, who admittedly leads "the life of Reilly," and who can spin many a fish yarn with such a straight face a listener is stumped trying to distinguish between truth and imagination. His name is Peter Walters, but few know his last name. Short Beach dwellers and scores of others who hire his boats to fish for blues, mackerel, striped bass, flats and weaks, call him Pete or Cap'n. In a shack-Iike cottage which he built himself, Pete with beard unshaven for "more'n a week," puffed on his pipe one warm night last week as he sat in a chair close to a rusty belly pot stove which he put to good use on wintry days. Some members of the "club" sat around listening to him, among them Thomas Hungerford, member of Bridgeports Board of Recreation; George Gibbs or "Gibbsy"; rheumatic crony from Shelton vacationing with Pete and Smitty, Post Publishing company driver, whose official name is Charles Smith. The men were attired in faded, wrinkled dungarees; Gibbsy had his pants rolled up to his knees. Although his face and arms were brown and weather-beaten from the sun, Gibbsys legs were white and skinny stretched out comfortably minus shoes and stockings. "Say fellas" Pete said. "Did I ever tell you the one about that eel I caught out at Fresh Pond?" "Naw, gowon, tell us," the men hurled back in unison as they shook their heads. The "club" knew it was going to be good and already grins had begun to broaden their faces. Wa-ll Pete continued "I wux fishin' out at Fresh Pond one day and lo and behold this here eel sticks his head out'n the water, jes askin to be caught. I had a rope and tied it round its neck, and towed him in a mile to my dock. And say fellas kin y imagine? When I got to shore that dern eel had not got its tail out'n its hole." As Pete chuckled at his own story the men laughed without restraint. The Capn was at it again, spinning yarns. The little house was in apple pie order, fresh colorful curtains hung from the windows. Dishes neatly lined the kitchen cupboard. A crisp flowered slip cover decorated the divan. The floor was swept and shinny. If you're wonderin why this place is so clean," Pete declared. 'Its my daughter. She comes in every week from Shelton. Keeps tabs on me and cleans up around here. Shes a good girl. He puffed again on his pipe, his attention suddenly concentrated on the sky outside. Look at them birds, the way theyre flockin' together means a storm. Which reminds me felIas, did I ever tell you about the day I went to Long Island and a storm came up?" No well the wind blew so hard out there; it blew the anchors right off'n my brass buttons." The club roared again with laughter. Betcha don't believe it. Well, it's true, Pete insisted. Pete, a native of Shelton and a builder by trade first put up stakes in Short Beach 35 years ago. He and a friend had come down the Housatonic River fishing when they learned that a woman was planning to tear down an old shack on the other side of the basin. They asked her if they could buy it. The woman sold it to them for $30 - $15 each; with the condition they move it off her property. We moved it in a barge and set it right across the way there," Pete pointed. And we use it as a summer place. Of course it's been rebuilt and I've built this house I live in and another besides since those days. Six years ago, Pete retired as a carpenter to become a full-time fisherman. He never sells any fish he catches... he gives them away. I was an expert stair builder, but quit workin' five or six years ago. I'm takin it easy now. How old do you think I am? Take a guess. Seventy-three years thats me." He removed his cap which once had been white, to scratch his head. I bought this cap right after Rader and Hayes had their fire and Ive worn it ever since," he commented. The 85 families living down at Short Beach all know Pete. His dock as well as his house is a popular spot. He owns 10 boats which he rents out for their convenience at a $1 or $1.50 a day and minds other boats for a little more than nothing. Many a time, one of the boats he rents comes back without an oar or anchorless. Pete does nothing about it and rarely ever charges the loss to the renter. "You should see this place sometime," Mr. Hungerford declared. "Kids coming in asking Pete if he has some bait, or a hook, or a piece of line. Pete gives it to them for nothing." During the war, Cap'n Peters allowed sailors and soldiers in uniform the use of the boats without charge. "So long as they had a uniform on, Pete let 'em have anything for nothing," Gibbsy said. "Some of the guys didn't appreciate it though and Pete didn't do anything about it. Especially the time two in uniform came and we let 'em have a brand new boat. They never brought it back." Pete builds his own boats and can make one in a week. At present, he's concentrating on a truck vintage 1924 trying to find out what's wrong with it. "It starts all right, and goes, but it makes an awful noise," he said. "I got it all apart now and I'll fix it afore long. I need it to go to the store with." Asked whether he intended to spend the rest of his days at Short Beach, the little old man replied. "That depends on." His voice dropped on the word "on," as though it were the end of a sentence and needed no further explanation. "Depends on what?" he was asked. "Whether they'll let us stay here or not." "The "they" in this case is the Town of Stratford. Pete's house is on land leased by the town. The assessment had at one time been $5 a year and was recently boosted to $75 annually. "I ain't got no complaint with the town. They've been pretty good to me. I don't mind payin' the $75. But there's talk now that the town won't let us own any more property out here. It's all on account of a lot of residents have been leasing their cottages for a lot of money for a season," Pete explained. "I hope it ain't so." The little boatman has had some narrow escapes from that "debbit sea." Once, he went out to Long Island, and on his way back the kicker in his boat gave way. He was in Middleground about eight or nine miles off Stratford shores. He began the tedious work of rowing in, when he spotted a luxury yacht. "They were on deck having a lot of fun, drinkin' champagne, and when they saw me, they said sure, they'd tow me in. But they threw me one of those four-inch ropes. I tied it to my line. They hadn't even got started, when my line untied. That there yacht just kep on goin', leavln' me behind. They didn't even miss me. Well, I started to row in agin, when a man comes along with a speedboat. He throws me a line. This time I tied it good to mine. Boy that was one wild ride coming in. Faster 'n I ever came into the Stratford lighthouse even when I used my kicker. I was soaking wet." Then there was the time Pete went up the Housatonic River with his row boat for a load of wood. "I went up to Turner's dock, filled up my boat and on the way back a tugboat passed me. I got in its whirl and was sucked under. The boat, the wood and I all went under. That tug didn't even know anything had happened. It kept on goin'." Pete held on to the overturned boat, simultaneously trying to paddle into shore with one arm. "My kicker made an awful noise when the boat went over and some man on Turners dock heard it. He saw what had happened, and came out and got me. I don't think I'd have made it without help," he said. It's the same old gang who use Pete's boats and who linger around the shack evenings to hear him talk or play a game of pinochle with him. They come from Bridgeport, Shelton and Stratford. No hard liquor is allowed in the place, and the strongest drink is tea, which Pete brews himself. The Cap'n lives out at Short Beach pretty near all year round unless it gets "really, really cold." "I got a house up'n Shelton, I go to. That's when it is really cold," he said. "Boy, when it gets cold out here, it gets cold. Why I remember the day, I came down and lit the stove, filled up the kettle with water to make me some tea. And when I came back to check if the water was boiling. Guess what I found. Hot Ice..." The club laughed again. "He's off again,' they chuckled, "That's the worse one you've pulled off yet, Pete."
1933 - BATHING PAVILION BUILT AND MAINTAINED AT SHORT BEACH BY STRATFORD WITHOUT ANY COST TO THE TOWN OR COMMUNITY: Bathhouse Given Free to City; Seawall Made by Unemployed. American Legion Members Launch Float and Keep Guard: A bugle sounded out across the waters of the Housatonic River at Short Beach, Stratford Saturday morning as Sergeant Bugler George Comstock of the Stratford American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps officially opened the 1933 season at Short Beach, the 1,000 feet of shore front on the Housatonic River as a town beach. Sergeant Comstock sounded attention and the members of the American Legion who have been assisting in getting the beach in order clicked their heels together and saluted smartly at the strains of To The Colors as the American flag was hoisted on the new pole furnished by the Legion. A short time later the American Legion public bathing float was officially anchored in the river a short distance from shore. There is nothing commercial about the beach, it is owned by the town, the concession and bathing pavilion was donated by John Simpson, a Bridgeport contractor and the work of painting, decorating and the masonry work on the shorefront was done by the unemployed. From a mere tent colony with no roads and no modern conveniences, Short Beach in Stratford was grown to be one of the most popular bathing beaches in the state. Daily it is visited by hundreds of persons from all parts of the state and on Sunday thousands of automobiles are parked in the vast meadow area in the rear of the beach. Cottages have been substituted for the tents until today there are 100 one story cottages on the town land. A year ago Town Manager Donald Sammis decided that the constant call for cottage spaces on the beach was gradually taking away from the town its public bathing beach and he appealed to the town council for authority to enlarge the public beach. Four cottage owners were ordered to move their buildings from their sites to new locations selected by the town and workmen from the unemployed gangs were set to work to clear up the debris and make the beach presentable. The Stratford Post American Legion always alive to the possibilities of civic works in the town, requested permission to be of some assistance and the members constructed a bathing float which was launched officially for the first time last summer. Members of the corps volunteered as life guards and with no expense to the town protection was furnished the thousands bathing in the river. Complaints flooded the police department of persons visiting the beach and undressing in the meadow shrubbery and in automobiles and the problem was made public. John Simpson of Bridgeport and a summer resident of Lordship reading of the problem conferred with Town Manager Sammis and offered a building to the town with the provision that it be operated by the American Legion. The building was moved to the town beach and set on the highland in the rear of the sand. Unemployed carpenters were set to work reconstructing the building. A new roof and floor was put in for the concession and Manager Sammis planned for a series of dressing rooms and rest rooms in the rear of the building to be used free of charge by the public. The building was finished in the late fall and was given its first coat of paint at once. In the early spring the painting work was finished and the building made ready for public use. Manager Sammis presented to the American Legion a set of town rules and regulations for the operation of the building and beach, and the work of submitting the concession for bids was started. Several bids were received by the Legion from out of town persons but it was decided that under the terms of the gist the building must be operated by a Stratford Legion member and Comstock was awarded the concession for the year. The town regulations provide that no beer or alcoholic beverages can be sold in the concession. Comstock must keep the beach in first class condition, must provide a public telephone, the first to be installed at Short Beach and provide first aid equipment for swimmers who might be injured. The town has absolute control of the beach and the pavilion but is able to maintain it without cost through the cooperation of the American Legion post. In the early spring when the building was beginning to take on the appearance of a new structure the beach was visited by a heavy southeast storm which drove the high breakers up beyond the pavilion and into the salt meadows beyond. Four cottages were torn from their foundations and swept into the meadows and the roadway running in the rear of the cottages was washed out and became impassable. But for the forethought of Town Manager Sammis, Stratford would have lost its first public bathhouse in this storm. Manager Sammis who had been studying the beach and its possibilities as a public resort was the necessity of providing some kind of seawall to combat the huge seas of a southeast storm. With hundreds of unemployed and unlimited amounts of fieldstone available in Stratford, he authorized after submitting his plans to the council, the construction of a seawall of fieldstone and concrete all along the front of the public beach. The wall is buried sufficiently deep in the sand that it withstood the terrific pounding of the worst storm which has ever visited Short Beach and in the rear of the concession where it was protected only by the seawall was the only place where the road did not wash away. Immediately after the storm, Manager Sammis made plans to extend the wall further along the beach until more the 1,200 feet of stone wall protects the town beach. The seawall is directly in front of the pavilion and Legion members have constructed a wide stairway from the wall to the beach. Many events are promised at the beach this summer, Comstock said on Saturday during the official opening. During the month of July he has planned for a moonlight boat regatta. Sailboats, motorboats, rowboats, canoes, even some palatial yachts owned by Stratford residents have been invited to participate. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated boats and the most original idea presented. At various time during the summer season there will be public hotdog and corn roasts on the beach and special moonlight bathing parties under proper supervision. Parking facilities have been greatly improved, much low land having been filled in and graded by the unemployed and the roads leading to the beach from South Main Street and in the rear of the cottages have all been improved. It is expected that within the near future a regulation championship quoit court will be constructed by the Legion members at one end of the beach were matches with teams from all parts of the state can be played. Edward Beebe a Red Cross life guard will be on duty at all times. He plans to organize a corps of volunteer life guards recruited from the cottage residents and the Girl and Boy Scouts of Stratford. A schedule will be arranged so that all have ample duties to perform without making any job too arduous for anyone. Classes in all grades of swimming and lifesaving will be held regularly every week. Special instructions will be given to those unable to be present for the classes. A nurse is to be on duty at the bathhouse to render first aid assistance whenever it is necessary and courses in first aid work will be conducted in addition to the lifesaving work. Speaking of the beach, Town Manager Sammis said, The beach is not far away from any section of the town so that it is not accessible to even the poorest of the towns people. We hope to get the thought across to the people of Stratford that it is their beach for them to use. The parents of children can with all confidence allow their children to enjoy the beach and feel certain that their safety with competent lifeguards to watch over them. Plans are underway for a family outing of the Legion members and their families at the beach later in the summer. It is expected that the drum corps will present a concert later in the season before leaving for Chicago to attend the Worlds Fair.
August 30, 1934 - MARKED CHANGE SEEN AT BEACH RUN BY LEGION: A Section of Short Beach Can Accommodate 4,000 Bathers: The public beach located at Short Beach and operated by the Anderson, Dunn, Kochiss Post No. 42, American Legion Department of Connecticut, 3rd District Fairfield County, comprises a 3,000 foot sandy beach and can accommodate 4,000 bathers and has parking space for 300 cars. This beach is equipped with three 4-way fireplaces, 8 dressing rooms and 2 rest rooms for men and women, a 20 foot square float, 2 shower rings, a first aid station and a Red Cross Life Saving ring all of which is free to the public. Post 42 built the float and provide the first aid equipment and life saving equipment. There is also a refreshment stand provided with a public telephone. Previous to 1933 this beach had none of these facilities, i.e. no dressing rooms, no canteen, no showers, no drinking water, no toilet facilities, no first aid station and no life guards. The success of this popular beach is due to the wonderful co-operation of the town of Stratford with the Anderson-Dunn-Kochiss Post 42. From August 15, 1933 to August 1, 1934, there have been 124 people who have received first aid, consisting of minor cuts and bruises; 8 persons received the Red Cross Senior life saving award; 12 persons received the Red Cross Junior life saving award. The Senior Life Guard Corps comprising of 10 Red Cross life savers organized a Junior Life Guard Corps of 16 boys and girls and also swimming classes of 32 people. One man was rescued from the public float during a terrific northeast rainstorm, with a rough high tide. This man was seized with cramps when a junior life guard noticed that he was in difficulties. The guard went to his rescue in the life boat and applied first aid on the float, later bringing him to shore where the nurse relieved the life guard. After temporary relief, the man was provided with transportation home. A young 14 year-old girl who had run away from home, was found at 12:30 at night making preparations to sleep in one of the bath houses. Her mother and father, who had been at the beach in the early part of the evening, notified the attendant of the situation. After discovering the girl, it was fully one half hour before she was convinced that she should return home. The attendant took her home and patched up the differences between the parents and the child. A moonlight water regatta was held and 8 decorated boats were in parade before a huge floodlight. Prizes were given to the best decorated, the funniest and the most original boat. Approximately 2,000 people attended. A Mardi Gras was held the Saturday after Labor Day. Activities began at 1 pm and finished at 11 pm. Water races, land races and boat racing were the principal events in the afternoon. In the evening, bonfires, beach parties and block dancing were the features. Approximately 4,000 people witnessed this final celebration. This season the life guards are very active, having planned a water carnival and an exhibit of fish life of Long Island Sound, as well as an old relic exhibit of ships that go to sea. Also, open air plays and pageants will be held on the float and sand bar during low tide. This will be known as the Theatre in the Sea. This year the life guards have augmented their force to 15 seniors and 24 juniors. The entire shore front is policed, including all the lessee properties as wells as the public beach at all high tides. A graduate nurse is in attendance 24 hours a day for any emergency that might arise at Short Beach. No serious accidents have ever happened at Short Beach since the American Legion has been managing it. We have only had to call a doctor to the beach twice and the ambulance once and each time this procedure was uncalled for as the Red Cross examiner and nurse had the situation well in hand; but their friends became panicky and frightened hence SAFETY FIRST. In a report from Dr. Howland, town health office to Donald Sammis, town manager, he stated that it was one of the cleanest and most sanitary beaches that he had ever inspected. The state health department gave the beach an AAA rating, the highest rating issued.
1934 - Short Beach fieldstone wall built as part of the WPA. Wall is now buried under sand between the parking lot and beach.
May 3, 1935 - NEW ROAD FOR SHORT BEACH: Lordship Park Association Deeds Land to Town for Route: Construction of the new Short Beach Road in preparation for the opening for the summer season was started Wednesday morning under the direction of Superintendent of Public Works Daniel McLeod. Approval of the work was given by the town council at its last meeting. Since that time the Lordship Park Association has deeded to the town necessary land to change the route of the road. The entrance is South Main Street near the Stratford Marine basin used since the road was first constructed is to be blocked off when the roadway is completed and motorists will use the new route on Stratford Road, just south of the Guckert house. The change in the route will give motorists a straight roadway from Stratford Road to the beach front eliminating the many curves in the present narrow road. Councilman Stephen Lucas, a resident of the beach area during the summer months has been fighting for reconstruction of the road for more than two years. Under the present plan the roadway will be 24 feet wide from Stratford Road to the beach front and after reconstruction of the roadbed and new top dressing the entire area will be oiled. The shore road from the town beach north in back of the front row of cottages will also be repaired where storms and winter tides have undermined it. Superintendent McLeod said Tuesday that he will require about three weeks to put the road in first class condition for summer travel.
August 13, 1937 - OWNERSHIP OF SHORT BEACH LAND DISPUTED: Lordship Park Association Declares Town Encroaching On Its Land In Rear Of Short Beach: Robert Trevathan, counsel for the Lordship Park Association, communicated with the town council recently and raised the question of ownership of land in the rear of Short Beach at the south end of property allegedly owned by the Town of Stratford. He asserted that his company has in its possession certain deeds which indicate that the town is now encroaching on Park Association land. The encroachment he states started when high tides and winter storms washed away a large portion of the south end of Short Beach. Cottages located on land leased by the town were moved back each year as the erosion program continued until today several of them are located on private land, according to the Park Association. Town officials who were consulted on the matter declare that the town owns by deed and on maps filed for many years, in the town clerks office, all land from the mean high water mark to a road running in the rear of the cottages. The Association contends that the present road is not the one specified in the deeds and that the old road owned by the town was located almost in front of the present cottage line. Members of the finance committee discussed the matter during a meeting this week and agreed to ask the Park Association attorney to attend a meeting in September when the matter will be discussed. It may be proved that neither the town nor the Association is definitely certain of its rights and an agreement may be suggested to establish a line and settle the controversy. It has been pointed out that the Association can not bring an action against the town in the matter, inasmuch as the town does not in its deeds or leases, fix any size for building lots at Short Beach. A square on the maps is numbered and the lease committee members said that they felt that this would relieve the town as the cottages are privately owned and the action by the Park Association is against the owners of buildings encroaching on private lands. The Park Association has expressed a willingness to sell the land in question to the town if it is established that it is the property of the Association and not the town. Councilman Everett Sniffen several years ago, proposed to the town that all the land in the rear of the town beaches, particularly land at Short Beach be taken over by the town and that by pumping in sand and by landscaping a shore resort with summer cottages, a municipal bath house and yacht basin be established to produce revenue for the town. The proposal was voted down by residents.
May 6, 1938 - STAPLES DRIVE: If Frank Staples of the Lordship Park Association has no objections the road from South Main Street to Short Beach, constructed several years ago by the town will be named Staples Drive. Mr. Staples donated considerable of the land through which the road was constructed. (Note: In September 1938 the road was named Short Beach Drive)
June 24, 1938: DISPUTE OVER LAND ENDS AS DEEDS ARE FILED AT TOWN HALL: Short Beach Area Is Divided By Town and Lordship Company; Believe Association Without Status: The deeds formally dividing ownership of Short Beach to the south of the present public bathing beach between the Lordship Park Company and the Town of Stratford were filed with Town Clerk W. Howard Wilcoxson on Wednesday afternoon. The deeds, approved by the town council at its last meeting, block all possible chance for action by the owners of cottages along the beach front who have been notified to remove their buildings from the land before July 1, 1939. One deed signed by Town Manager William Shea deeds to the Lordship Company a 300 foot beach front while the second deed signed by Frank Staples for the Lordship Company to the Town of Stratford an equal amount of beach front and adjacent land. It is provided in the deeds that no buildings for dwellings can be built on the town land. The compromise was reached by the town and the land company when a search of the title of the land disclosed the possibility that court action might prove the town without ownership. Legal opinions yesterday indicated that the filing of the deeds eliminates any possible action by the Short Beach Association owners of the cottages. The association had recently hired an attorney to search the title.
July 17, 1942 - BEACH COTTAGE OWNERS EVADE LEASE EDICT: Evolve Scheme To Beat Ruling Of Town Council On Rents: Laws are made to be broken and some of the property owners at Short Beach who have cottages on land owned by the town are accused of trying to beat the one laid down by the Town Council regarding the leasing of cottages. Some time ago the Council passed an ordinance forbidding the renting of cottages and it a cottage owner wanted to keep the lease he must live there himself. At the last town council meeting this law was modified so that a person owning a cottage could rent it to army men in the service. But this seems to have created a desire to rent them to any and all comers. But the law was plain so a scheme has been evolved by which a man sells his cottage on a conditional bill of sale and if the prospective buyer decides at the end of the season that he does not want to buy, he can move out. By this means he has occupied the cottage at a price not much more than he would have paid had he leased it. According to the viewpoint of the council this is the same as renting and the council members admitted that it would be hard to block. It was suggested that by making the prospective purchaser pay a substantial down payment, he would hardly make the effort to occupy the cottage. It was decided by the council to keep a close watch and in any such cases the cottage affected would be moved off the beach regardless of the feelings of the owner. It was also suggested to move all the cottages off the beach and throw it open to the public which has long been the hope of those who enjoy a days bathing. It was the final decision that if any of the owners violate terms as laid down by the council, they would be prohibited from using their cottages even for themselves.
August 7, 1942 - BEACH COTTAGE HEADACHE BOTHERS TOWN COUNCIL: Question Believed Settled Will Again Furnish Fuel For Arguments On Monday Pastor Of Methodist Church Spoils Dreams Of Content By Objection To New Rental Ruling Declares Soldiers Will Suffer If Rents Go Up: Fondly hugging the belief that they had definitely disposed of that much mooted question concerning rentals and sub-leases of beach cottages on land owned by the town, members of the Town Council were treated to a rude awakening from their dreams during the past week when the Reverend Melville Bulmer, pastor of the Methodist Church and chairman of the council sub-committee, which has to do with housing, threw a monkey wrench into the works. Accordingly, when the Town Council comes together for its regular meeting Monday night, it will be called upon to go all over the ground again with the entire matter as much up in the air as ever. What the result will be is anybodys guess, but the question will cause more or less argument before it is again disposed of. The matter of beach cottage rentals and leases has furnished plenty of fireworks from time to time over a long period, but as far as anyone knows, it has never been definitely settled to everybodys satisfaction. It will be recalled that at the last meeting of the Town Fathers, it was decided to allow cottage owners who so desire to sub-lease their cottage to military men. It was then decided that as sub-leasing was a violation of a town ordinance; the town should receive some consideration for allowing a violation of this ordinance. It was voted to compel each owner to chip in 30 percent of the rental received to the towns coffers and that the cottages should not be granted to civilians. The members of the council wanted it understood that this move was not to be taken as discrimination against servicemen but as a concession to them because of the shortage of living quarters in the town. It was an exception taken from a former order of the council that no renting or leasing of property would be condoned or allowed. The request for 30 percent of the rent, the council intended to convey, was to discourage property owners from renting or leasing their cottages. The matter when discussed at the last council meeting was not approved by all the councilmen, but none of them openly opposed it. Some question was raised as to how they were going to collect the 30 percent but it was finally decided to let matters shape themselves. Then came the bombshell from the Rev. Bulmer who did not mince words in saying that he thought that instead of the increased rentals helping matters they would have the effect of the landlords adding that much to the rent to break even. This would mean he said that military men would be obligated to pay what might result in exorbitant charges. It would compel the soldier to pay more than any other person at the beach and would eventually prove a hardship. It is probable that the Defense Council will ask the Town Council to rescind its action taken at the last meeting. But this will not happen, it is intimated, without considerable argument and from present indications the meeting should be interesting. There is also a possibility that the Council will have visitors from the beach section who will add their objection to the Councils action at the last meeting. There are several other matters to be taken up by the Council but most of these are of a routing nature.
July 20, 1945 - LORDSHIP PARKING AREA TO BE INCREASED BY A NEW PURCHASE: Thirty-Four Acres Back Of Short Beach Acquired From Y.M.C.A. Needs To Be Filled: By directing the purchase of thirty-four acres of meadow land lying immediately eastward of Short Beach, Town Council last week expressed the hope of having proper fill made in the comparatively near future so that the space will be available for automobile parking or any other public needs. The ground as it lies is low and swampy and cannot be used for anything. W. Parker Seeley presented the matter of the land to Council on behalf of the owner, the Bridgeport Y.M.C.A. to which it was given a score of years ago by the late A. W. Burritt. The Y.M.C.A. offered to sell it to the town for $9,025. Peter Ring Jr., in whose Tenth District the ground lies, immediately moved that the offer be accepted. The whole area can be filled in with little trouble and probably at no expense to the town, said Mr. Ring, and it will afford additional parking space if nothing else. The space is needed. On nice Sundays and other days when folks are at leisure a lot of them just can not find any convenient place to put a car if the happen to come late. Many have to park a long distance from where they wish to go. Chairman Carleton Schwable suggested that it be stipulated that the purchase money be taken from that part of the surplus of $66,000 from the last fiscal year which remains unappropriated and Mr. Ring amended his motion accordingly. Several of the other councilmen corroborated Mr. Rings statements about the desirability for additional parking space from observations they have made when visiting the Tenth District. All of the ten members voted for the purchase.
April 29, 1947 - STRATFORD ORDERS COTTAGES MOVED IN PLAN TO RECLAIM SHORT BEACH: Moving toward eventual clearance of a section of Short Beach for public use, the Stratford Town Council has ordered that 12 cottages on town owned land must be moved by owners by April 1, 1948 to new sites in rear rows at the north end of the beach. The owners affected are: Patricia Martinbano, Mount Kisco, N.Y; Blanche Tenny, New York, N.Y.; Francis Dunigan of Bridgeport; Nora Lindley of Trumbull; George Hugo of Stratford; James Borck of Bridgeport; John Vickers of Bridgeport; John Murray of Stratford; Joseph Werner of Stratford; Harvey Sastram of Bridgeport; Arthur Dial of Stratford and Elsie Trefrey of Stratford. Under the resolutions adopted last night by a nine to one vote, Councilman Edward Hawie opposing the move, the Stratford residents owning any of the 12 cottages will be given first preference on the new lots at the north end of the beach near the Marine Basin. Other available lots will be provided for the out of town owners. The cottages will be moved at the expense of the present owners the council voted and the area cleared will be devoted to public beach. Occupancy will not be permitted in any of the cottages on the present location after the present summer season. Discussion of more than two hours resulted before the council went into regular session for a final voter. Previous attempts within the past month to get a vote on the matter resulted in a five-five tie until agreement was reached to provide new sites for the cottages. Town Manager Harry Flood was authorized to complete negotiations with the Lordship Park Association for lease to the town of a one acre tract of land on the so-called Lordship Bluffs to be used as a pubic parking area during the summer months. Entrance to the parking area will be made from Prospect Drive and the town construct a stairway from the Bluffs to the beachfront so that residents of the town may use the so-called Russian Beach. Policing of the area will be provided by the town.
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July 27, 1947 - ASSOCIATION OF COTTAGERS AT SHORT BEACH REVIVED: Frederick Kirschner Is Chosen President At Meeting Held Last Monday: Cottages at Short Beach met on Monday evening in the auditorium of Borck and Stevens in Bridgeport and reorganized the Short Beach Improvement Association which had lapsed into inactivity in recent years. There were 104 persons at the meeting and officers were elected as follows: President Frederick Kirschner, Vice-president Thomas Hungerford; Secretary Mrs. Richard Budde; Treasurer Joseph Fennell. The officers and three others will constitute the advisory committee of the Association; the three are George Hugo, Francis Donegan and James Borck. Numerous lively discussions marked Mondays meeting, attention being given such topics as the increases in rentals of town property ordered last winter by Council; the proposed evacuation of a dozen cottages from the beach front, prohibition of living the year around in beach cottages and kindred matters. The Association is to hold another meeting next Monday evening at the beach cottage of Mr. and Mrs. Budde.
September 4, 1947 - 100 Children Pass Tests As Beginning Swimmers: In one of the most successful water safety programs ever sponsored by the Stratford chapter Red Cross 100 children were recorded as having passed the beginners tests, 75 the Intermediate tests, 41 the swimmers tests, nine were successful in junior life saving and three received awards in senior life saving, Mrs. Olivette Husted, executive director of the Red Cross chapter, has announced. The programs were carried out daily from July 1 through Labor Day at Short Beach, Mrs. Husted said, with the town and Red Cross chapter sharing the expenses. Bertram Walls was senior instructor and life guard, assisted by Rowland DeRoucher and a corps of volunteers.
August 3, 1948 - Court Order to Delay Moving Beach Cottages: The Town's plan to enlarge the public bathing facilities at Short beach by the removal of 12 cottages there on land leased from the town has been blocked until October according to Town Manager Harry Flood who said three of the cottages still remain in spite of every effort made by the town to effect their removal. Counsel for the town has filed a wit of removal against the three cottage owners, James Borck, Francis Dunigan and George Hugo who in turn have obtained a stay of execution until Oct 1. The removal of these three cottages would extend the public beach area 200 feet, Mr. Flood said, and "provide bathing facilities at Short beach unequaled along the shorefront. Mr. Hugo one of the cottage owners explained the only reason he had not moved to date was the difficulty in obtaining another site or selling the cottage and he expressed a desire to move as soon as possible under the conditions. The nine cottages have been moved farther back from the beach on town owned land. It was expected to have the new area ready for use before the end of the present season, Mr. Flood said.
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March 23, 1949 - TOWN MAY GET SAND TO AID IN CURBING BEACH EROSION: Plans Would Add 100 Feet Along Short Beach Front Town Manager Says: Unless something unforeseen intervenes the Town of Stratford may get more than one million yards of sand to assist in the fight against erosion at Short Beach Town Manager Harry Flood revealed upon his return from Hartford Monday where he attended a meeting with members of the State Water Policy commission and Army Engineers. Flood said that present plans call for pumping at least one million yards of sand onto the Stratford side of the Housatonic River when work is started sometime in July. A part of the sand taken is to be pumped onto the Milford shore he said. For several years Manager Harry Flood has been conferring with Army officials to obtain sand from pumping operations to build up the fast disappearing bathing beaches, but it was not until the Housatonic River dredging project was proposed by the Army that any plan could be worked out so that the town might furnish sufficient area fore the large amount of dumping involved. Studying maps yesterday Manager Flood said that if the sand is pumped onto Short Beach it will add approximately 100 feet to the beachfront in the area used for public bathing.
July 15, 1949 - BUS SERVICE TO SHORT BEACH?: A hearing will be conducted by the Public Utilities commission, Monday July 25 at 2 pm in Room 595, State Office building in Hartford upon application of Harry Burns doing business as the Gray Line Bus Company of Bridgeport for authority to operate a motor bus service to Woodend Road. This application is an outgrowth of another application which was a petition filed by residents for service by the Lordship Railway Company in Stratford in the Frash Pond area and in the area of a housing development known as Woodend Homes. A hearing on that petition was held January 13, 1949 in the Town Hall. The hearing was continued in order that a route suitable to all parties might be worked out. The Lordship Railways certificate has since been transferred to the Gray Line Bus Company. At the same hearing another application by the Gray Line Bus Company represented by Mr. Burns will be heard in regard to the extension of a Stratford local route. Mr. Burns requests authority to extend the companys present service along Main Street and to operate motor buses from the junction of Main Street and Short Beach Road to Short Beach and return. That area in town has long been a source of trouble to ardent swimmers. Bus transportation to Short Beach has been nil and the closest stop still leaves a highly undesirable walk in the hot sun on a dusty road for those who want to swim. It has also been said that by the time one swims, gets ready to go home and walks up that road again, all the refreshing effects of the water are gone.
June 14, 1955 - The Arundel Corporation has started the task of dredging the Housatonic River from Stratford Point to Culver bar. Working around the clock since last Friday night the company has moved some of the sand from the river bottom; plus-a large amount of oyster shells onto Half Moon Cove.
September 5, 1957 - SHORT BEACH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM UNFOLDED: The proposed 100 acre development program along Short Beach was outlined by the Lordship Improvement Association at a meeting with the Town Recreation Committee last night at the Town Hall. The preliminary plan drawn by a professional planner and landscape architect includes provision for small boat facilities, bathing pavilion and concession, parking area for 4,200 cars, recreation activities and a concert area for municipal events. The area included in the plan is bounded on the West and South by Short Beach Road and on the East by Long Island Sound. About 80 acres are located on the dump being filled in by the town. It is expected that the site will be completely filled within the near future. A special committee of the Association headed by Paul Pjura and including John Banks and George Opdyke has had the plan under consideration for the past year. The plan was drawn by Weld Thayer Chase, site planner and architect who was retained by the Association for the work. The cost of preparing the Short Beach development plan has been underwritten by the Lycoming Division of the Avco Manufacturing Company. The plan includes recreational facilities, picnic area, comfort stations, bath houses and a pavilion. The recreational facilities would include 10 tennis courts, which would be the only set of municipal courts in Stratford, since the Sterling House courts fell victim to the Connecticut Thruway. Also provided for are three softball and one baseball diamond and facilities for basketball, handball, archery, horseshoes, shuffleboard and paddle tennis. Two parking lots are planned, one accommodating 2,700 autos and the other 1,500. The small boat marina would provide an outboard launching ramp, small service area, boat showroom, fuel and marine supply center and a maintenance and storage area. Pjura pointed out that there are very limited public craft launching areas in the Stratford area and that the marina would be a great asset to the large number of small boat owners who need room and can not find it now. Roads within the park would provide for easy control of traffic and parking and for the collection of a parking fee if necessary. Pjura commented that the plan makes available a natural recreational facility. With the growth of Stratford such a facility is badly needed now and will be of even greater value in years to come, particularly for our youngsters. The need for municipal recreational facilities is acute.
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August 17, 1958 - Lordship Plan Studied To Revamp Short Beach: Members of the Stratford Town Council interested in the eventual development of Short Beach say that they will ask the Stratford Waterfront Authority to study carefully the plan of improvement sponsored by the Lordship Improvement Association. The Lordship group developed the plan a year ago with the Lycoming division of Avco Manufacturing association underwriting the cost of paying for the landscape architect to layout the area and prepare the detailed plan. Members of the Waterfront Authority who have viewed the plan say they like it and if funds can be found would recommend that work be started without delay. The Town Council last week granted the cottage owners at Short Beach leases for one year expiring on Sept. 30, 1959 at which time all cottages are scheduled to be removed and the entire beach front developed as a public beach and park. Under the plan suggested by Council members the Waterfront Authority after reviewing the plan would recommend that it become a part of the town master plan for development of the beach area. Costs would be ascertained and plans made for a bond issue, as authorized in the special legislation establishing the Waterfront Authority. Councilman Joseph Venables, who fathered the resolution granting one year leases for the cottage owners said, If the Waterfront Authority develops the program we will be ready to take affirmative action at the time the leases expire next year." It was pointed out by Council members that the town now owns, except for the so-called airport seaplane base planned as a small boat marina, all of the land necessary for the park in contrast to the purchases which would be required to develop Long Beach, at the western end of the town.
September 28, 1958 - SWA WILL ACT ON SHORT BEACH PROJECT FUNDS: The Stratford Waterfront Authority intends to ask the Town Council what financial support it can expect in the plan for preparing Short Beach for use as a public bathing beach during the next summer if the present cottage owners are ordered to remove their buildings from the town-owned land after Wednesday. Walter M. Goddard, chairman of the Authority, discussing the matter yesterday, said, "If we intend to prepare the beach for use by the general public which appears to be the wishes of most people in the town, the Council will have to lend some financial assistance. It would be foolish at this time to issue bonds, even though the special act grants us that power, when the amount needed for "the first step in the development program may be so small." Mr. Goddard said that his group has discussed the idea of having the entire beach area from the so-called Marine basin to Half Moon Cove regarded and some new sand placed on top of the present beach area. This, he said, would be the first step in the long range program which would eventually see the construction of pavilions and bathhouses, recreation areas, picnic grounds, and a large parking area. Although no actual vote has been taken, members of the Authority indicate that if Town Attorney Raymond Ganim informs the Council at its October meeting, as he has said he would that the Council no longer has authority, over the beach and that the action of granting one year leases beyond Wednesday was illegal, notices will be sent to all cottage owners ordering them to vacate the premises in accordance with the terms of the leases which expire Tuesday. Meantime members of the Short Beach Cottage Owners association have indicated that they will fight removal of their cottages, at least until the lease for a one year period offered by the Council expire on Oct. 1, 1959. They say that they are also developing in detail a plan for development of Long Beach on Long Island Sound from Lordship to Pleasure Beach which would be far better than spending town funds for development of the Short Beach area on the Housatonic River." Council members have indicated that when the Town Attorney reports on the legality of their action in offering new one year leases to the property owners the matter will be turned over to the Waterfront Authority.
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 Short Beach develop 1969 |
July 9, 1959 - DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR SHORT BEACH ARE REVEALED THANKS TO LORDSHIP: While the Town Council, the Planning Commission and the Airport Authority jostle back and forth over the future of Short Beach, one section of town and a local industry have joined to offer positive suggestions. The Lordship Improvement Association in a committee headed by Paul Pjura has advanced a detailed proposal for the development of the area as a park. The cost of preparing maps and sketches and planning the proposal has been paid by the Lycoming Division of Avco Manufacturing. Pjura said that the Lordship group had pushed the project as a public service rather that to further any interests of its own. He pointed out that the park would be a public facility and would especially provide bathing and parking facilities which would probably be less used by Lordship residents than by other residents of the town. The plans for improving the park were drawn by architect Weld Thayer Chase. They provide a variety of recreational facilities for youngsters and adults. The beach would be developed into areas set aside for separate use by families and by teenagers with a distinct separation between each. Two blocks of bath houses would also be provided. One end further north or upstream would be set aside as a picnic area. Parking for a total of 3,100 cars would be provided. Parking for 1,400 cars would be on paved areas while the remaining space of 1,700 cars would be on grass. An unusual feature of the plan calls for construction of a large outdoor assembly area suitable for concerts and fireworks. A soccer field would also be provided. There would be three baseball diamonds and three softball diamonds as well as half a dozed tennis courts. The baseball fields would each have 300 feet of room along the foul lines while the softball fields would have 200 feet each along the foul lines. Considerable space would be reserved for ornamental planting. Access to the park would be by a single road connecting with Stratford Road north of Hartland Street. No park traffic would be routed over the nearby residential streets.
December 1, 1966 - COTTAGES AGROUND ON TOWN BEACH: Just past the public recreation area at Short Beach is a complex of some 60 odd cottages. For six years the Town has been fighting in court with the owners of those cottages. On Monday the State Supreme Court declared the Town the winner in that fight. The battle was waged over ownership of the land on which those cottages stand. Cottage owners, who for years have leased the land from the Town, claimed they had title to the land and the Town made the same claim for itself. The Town had given notice in 1959 that cottage owners would have to vacate the land within one year. Officials had decided to expand the public beach are at that time. It took a title search that went back to the early colonial times, almost 300 years ago in order to support the Towns claim. But former Town Clerk Howard Wilcoxson made that search and came up with convincing proof for the court if not the cottage owners, that the Town received title to the land on May 25, 1685 when it was given a patent designating certain areas to the proprietors of Stratford. The patent was granted by the governor of the colony and the general court. Contesting the Towns right to the property, the cottage owners claimed ownership on three counts by adverse possession and by accretion. All three counts hinged on land transactions made around the turn of this century. A large tract of land in the area was acquired on May 18, 1897 by Charles Curtis. The land owned by Curtis, according to his deed ran east to a creek. But Curtis sold the property to Timothy Ryan who thought he was also buying land east of the creek. It is on the property east of the creek, between the creek and the waterfront that the cottages are constructed. The deeds showing that Curtis did not own and therefore could not sell the contended land were used to disprove all the claims made by the cottage owners first claim was ruled out by the court. The claim to title by adverse possession was overruled because the Association could not prove that it has exercised dominion and control over the property for a period of 15 years. Because the cottage owners had leased the property from the town, the court decided that the Town was apparently still in control of land it owned from the colonial era. On the matter of accretion the cottage owners claimed that some of the contended land did not exist when the Town took possession of its patent and was added by nature to the shoreline. The court dismissed the claim, saying that the Town as owner of the land that may have been added to would be the beneficiary of any accretion. With the resolution of the case, Town officials are not quite sure what their next steps will be. There is a matter of unpaid rent on the cottage land and the timetable for moving or destroying the cottages has not been set. The court ruling established that the Towns claim to title was a better on that the claim made by the cottage owners. The judgment emphasized that the case dealt only with a choice between the two parties. No attempt was made to establish the Towns claim legally against any other possible claims. But Town attorneys indicated that the cottage owners would have used such other claims to support their cause if there were any to be found.
April 24, 1969 - SHORT BEACH REC COMPLEX PROPOSED: Preliminary plans for a multi-faceted recreation park at Short Beach were presented to the Waterfront Authority Monday. The plans are the first phase of a projected master plan for the redevelopment of Stratfords waterfront areas. Richard Warde, project director of the waterfront survey told the Authority that plans will also be devised through his firm Planning Associates for the development of Long Beach area. Warde said though he felt such planning would not be feasible until the Lewis Gut Bridge and dredging issues are resolved. The blue prints submitted by Warde illustrated plans for an 18 hole par three golf course from the projected center to the north side of the park. In the middle of the course would be a marine basin. A new road running perpendicular to the beach from Main Street is proposed as the main entrance to the park and would be immediately to the south side of the golf course. On the other side of the entrance road are several playing fields for football, soccer and baseball. To the east of the playing fields are additional smaller fields and basketball courts. According to Warde the plan is to develop the recreational areas as the hub of a park for Stratford. Cost analyses are presently being devised and the consensus of the Waterfront Authority is that several facets of the park such as the golf course could function on a self supporting basis. The eastern head of the park would consist of a building complex that includes an indoor-outdoor swimming pool. Warde showed color slides of various pools that have been recently built on this scale. The walls of the structure and the ceiling are of special resistant glass allowing the sun in at all times of year. During the summer the eastern wall would open onto the sand beach designed for the eastern most end of the park. Other buildings would include locker facilities, community rooms, a small theater and facilities for an ice skating rink and a performing arts plaza. The eastern end is also planned for picnic areas, a small boat marina and recreational facilities for the elderly including a complex of small court games such as shuffleboard. Our plan suggests Short Beach as a recreational center with emphasis on pool swimming while Long Beach would be designed for swimming in the Sound. Short Beach would be more of a sun beach, said Warde. According to Warde the sand at Short Beach is good while the swimming is bad. Long Beach he said is the opposite. Warde told the Authority that he felt the present political implication of the Long Beach area specifically the Lewis Gut Bridge and the dredging issue leave the recreational development of Long Beach in question. The Waterfront Authority has gone on record as favoring the construction of a bridge across Lewis Gut to get to the western end of Long Beach as the area is by far the best in Town to be considered for use in water oriented recreation. According to Frank Patterson, chairman of the Authority, there are projected plans for a bath house, boat marina, restaurant, cabanas and other facilities for the Long Beach area. The Authority agreed that a cooperative approach to the development of the land should be taken with the City of Bridgeport since it owns a large portion of the Pleasure Beach area. The Bridgeport section functions under the City Department of Parks although it is zoned for light industrial uses the Authority was told.
 Mickey Hannah drawing |
 Mickey Hannah drawing |
February 14, 1972 - SHORT BEACH COTTAGES SET FIRES RAZE 18 VACANT COTTAGES: 13 Destroyed During Night in Stratford Houses Were Scheduled for Demolition in Park Project Vandals Blamed - Fames Visible in Most of Town and on Turnpike: Thirteen cottages and three garages at Short Beach, Lordship, burned down last night about 11:30 pi and the one remaining for demolition was razed early today, Stratford fire officials reported. Fire Chief Hans Lundgren said today the fires were of an incendiary origin. The fires last night followed a series of other set blazes Saturday night at Short Beach where four other cottages and two garages were destroyed by flames. Firemen battled the blaze at the 13 cottages until 4 a.m. today. A fire at the remaining cottage began shortly before 8 a.m. today firemen said adding that this fire was out before the morning ended. The town owned cottages were scheduled for demolition today to make room for a shorefront recreational facility. Chief Lundgren said all the fires were caused by vandals. The flames from the fires last night were visible over a good portion of town and from the Connecticut turnpike, observers reported. Firefighters from Company Three were summoned to the scene Saturday at 11:33 p.m., approximately four hours after responding to another Short Beach fire, when a ditch filled with debris from cottages already demolished began burning. Chief Lundgren said the cottages were completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. He said the firemen stood by until 3:45 a.m. yesterday to make sure the fire did not spread, but did not attempt to save the structures since they would have been removed this week. The removal operation of 54 cottages at the beach began last week to make way for the Stratford Waterfront Authoritys shorefront park. A fire of suspicious origin destroyed one of the cottages last Wednesday night and two of the buildings were destroyed by a blaze in December. The removal of the 54 cottages at the site sparked much controversy when first proposed, as regular tenants opposed the plan. Most of the cottages were demolished last week and the rest were scheduled to be razed today. Stratford Waterfront Authority chairman David Martin said last week the authority plans to provide a safe, clean swimming area and a new family type beach boat facility on the Short Beach land by Memorial Day. Plans call for shelters, picnic tables and benches, grills and sanitary facilities. Plans also will include an enclosed play area for children with slides, swings and other attractions for youngsters. The Authority has negotiated a contract with Planning Associates, Bohemia, N.Y. for the project, which was estimated to cost $15 million in 1969. Mr. Martin said an adjusted cost estimate is to be made.
November 12, 1970 - SHORT BEACH LEASE QUERY: David Martin Chairman of the Waterfront Authority has written a letter to the Town Council asking for a meeting between the Council and the Waterfront Authority sometime during the month of November. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss the termination of leases of the cottages at Short Beach. Under the terms of the leases, either party, the Town or the resident may terminate if it gives a one year notice. (The leases in question are only for the land on which the cottages stand, not for the cottages themselves). The Waterfront Authority is expected to propose that the land on which the cottages stand could be better used as a public recreation area open to all Town residents. The Council is expected to return with a question of how much revenue will be lost when and if the leases are terminated. Each cottage owner pays the Town $200 per season for the use of its land. If the Waterfront Authority is successful in its request there would be two options open to it. The leases could either be terminated as of January 1, 1972 or at a date later than that but before the opening of the summer season in 1972 (when the leases are scheduled to expire). Either of these dates would allow for the one year's notice which the lease requires. The earlier date would seem to be the more logical choice because it would allow the Authority time to tear down the cottages in the spring so that the new recreation area would be ready for the beginning of the summer season. A problem is likely to develop however if the Council objects to the Waterfront Authoritys plan on the basis that it will not have sufficient funds available to develop the area in 1972. If this is the case then the cottages might be allowed to stand until the money for development becomes available. As the question now stands, May of 1972 is the expiration date for the leases. It is expected that the Waterfront Authority will ask that they be terminated some time before that date.
April 16, 1971 - CITY STUDYING DUMP SITE: The city of Bridgeport may require the town of Stratford to halt dumping operations at the town's Lordship dump off Short Beach Road, Stratford. The city attorney's office has asked the city engineer to survey the dump and see if it's intruding on Bridgeport-owned land. City attorney, J. Edward Caldwell said that if it is found that dump operations are trespassing and if no conditions of the deed are found to permit this, he will ask the town to halt the trespass. "If they don't stop we'll take further action" he said. Mr. Caldwell said the city previously transferred about three acres near the dump to Stratford ownership for dump purposes. The land is near the Bridgeport airport, situated in Stratford. He said he recently received complaints that dumping operations have extended outside of this area, onto certain land still owned by Bridgeport. The announcement comes following complaints yesterday that a fire at the dump produced enough smoke to severely handicap airplane landings and takeoffs. Acting Superintendent of Operations Morgan Kaolian said yesterday that "the smoke was the worst we've had in a long time." As a result, air traffic was diverted from the "cross winds" runway near the dump, Mr. Kaolian said. A number of flyers reportedly were preparing appeals to Stratford Health, department director Chester Haberlin, Town Manager Joseph Venables, state Health department Solid Waste director Charles Kurker and elective officials to seek an end to open burning at the dump. They will also seek support from Protect Your Environment club of Stratford in their efforts, a spokesman said. Stratford officials stated that the town must conduct open burning at the dump in order to reduce the volume of dumped materials. They explained that the town is rapidly running out of space to deposit the materials and open burning is utilized as a reduction method. Stratford fire officials said that yesterday's fire occurred when burning operations under a Health department permit got out of hand and reached a pile of trees, causing the black smoke to billow into the air. Firefighters were at the scene for nearly 10 hours until 7:55 p.m. to insure that the flames would not erupt again. Firefighters also returned to the town dump one half hour later at 8:27 p.m. and remained until 9:05 p.m., wetting down the area.
January 13, 1972 - SHORT BEACH COTTAGES TO BE DEMOLISHED THIS MONTH: After a long series of disputes between cottage owners and the Town, the summer cottages at Short Beach are now being prepared for a giant bulldozer. The cottages themselves were actually owned by individuals, but they were constructed on land leased to them by the Town of Stratford. Some time ago the decision was made that when those leases expire on January 1, 1972 they would not be renewed because the cottages were scheduled to be torn down to make way for the development of Short Beach into a town wide recreation area. The feeling of the Town fathers was that since the cottages were built on Town land, the land might be put to better use as a recreation area for all the people of Stratford. They were helped in this thinking by the fact that many of the cottage owners did not live here in the winter and that the Master Plan for the development of Short Beach was far behind schedule. When the leases were allowed to expire on January 1, the cottage owners had 30 days in which to remove their buildings from the land. At the end of that period which expires on January 31, the dozers will move in to level the area. Before that is done however, all electrical lines will have to be removed and the gas and water lines disconnected. The large bulldozers rent for up to $75 an hour. The Town holds a $100 escrow deposit from each cottage owner. That deposit will be forfeited if the cottage is not removed by the January 1 deadline. Because the number of cottages has been steadily diminishing over the years, the Town government now has about $18,000 which has been collected from forfeited deposits. The demolition of the cottages will not come without some bitterness. Even though the area had degenerated over years into what one former Town official described as Stratford's Tobacco Road, the cottage owners staged a long hard fight to retain their leasing rights. That fight ended late last fall and the Short Beach cottages now await the bulldozer.
February 29, 1972 - PLANS SPURRED AT SHORT BEACH: Memorial Day Target Date Set for Stratford Recreation Area: Shooting for a Memorial Day opening, the Stratford Waterfront Authority last night discussed priorities and plans for a family recreation area at Short Beach. Removal of the 54 cottages on the 24.6 acre site was completed February 18, paving the way for the Authoritys initial planning to provide Stratford residents with a complete recreational complex. Eventually the Authority plans to construct an outdoor skating rink, two swimming pools, baseball fields, shelters and other attractions on an area covering nearly 100 acres. In 1969 the initial cost estimate for the entire project was $15 million, Planning Associates of Bohemia, N.Y. is currently updating the original plan to further outline the areas development and bring cost estimates up to date. During last nights meeting the Authority set its first priority at developing the area left vacant when the cottages were removed. By Memorial Day, the Authority hopes to provide Stratford residents with 20 picnic tables, 10 grills, two large shelters, a tot lot complete with gym equipment for children, water lines and electricity at the site. Also planned is an entry control point building with emergency communications equipment providing improved access control in the Short Beach area. Authority Chairman David Martin said a capital improvements budget of $25,000 is currently being considered but has not been approved by the Town Council. The funds will be used for the project. The Authority originally submitted a capital improvements budget of $28,000 for fiscal year 1972-73 but the additional $3,800 was cut by Town Manager Joseph Venables while he was preparing the towns budget. A total of $10,000 was originally earmarked to fund an access road running from Short Beach Road just south of the dump into the beach area. Mr. Martin said however that the Authority hopes to use that money to provide additional facilities at the beach. The Authority is hoping that the Town Council will allow it to use funds not expended during the cottage removal operations to construct the road. The estimated surplus is $10,000. Present at the meeting was First District Councilman John McGrath who said that residents in the area have been asking for many years that such a road be built to alleviate high speed traffic along Short Beach Road during the night. The road would detour traffic before it reached the residential area, providing a direct route to Short Beach rather than allowing cars to curve around the road near the homes. While Authority members have set the beach development as a first priority, the access road has been in the master plan of development since the projects beginning and Mr. Martin said it would be built on a priority basis. Richard Ward, president of Planning Associates attended the meeting and will present plans following the Authoritys guidelines during its meeting next month.
 SB cottages |
 SB new pavilion |
April 19, 1973 - NEW SHORT BEACH PARK IS VANDALS TARGET AGAIN: Acting only hours after a new brick and mortar sign base and elaborate wooden sign had been installed at the entrance to the Short Beach Park a person or persons unknown Friday destroyed the bases and stole the sign. The mortar in the posts had not even been given the opportunity to set said Town Manager Joseph Venables. The sign was recovered the following day at Hyde Park. The incident Friday was only the latest in a series of destructive acts by vandals at the park. A bath house concession stand has been defaced more than once and benches in the park have been hacked and cut. Town Manager Venables said Monday he was offering a $25 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. It is pretty damn discouraging. The guys that worked on it are just about ready to give up said Venables. The signposts were the work of Highway Department employees James Brooks and Domenic Esposito while the sign was obtained out of town. Waterfront Authority Director Robert Sammis was furious. I guess they (the vandals) think they are funnier than hell. They must think they are proving something. I think these guys have a couple of screws loose and if we ever catch any of them they should be remanded to Fairfield Hills (a mental hospital in Newtown) for psychiatric examination. Sammis and Parks Superintendent Edward Yeomans asked that residents cooperate in a drive against vandalism by taking down the license number of any car seen in an area where vandalism is spotted and inform the police department. The town guys are really mad said Sammis referring to the employees whose work was wrecked. The Short Beach Park has been in the works for more than 20 years, starting off as a town sanitary landfill area. The property to the Northeast of the park is still being used for that purpose. In recent months however the town has been able to make substantial progress in the beach-park recreation area installing a beach house-concession stand, slides, swings, benches, shrubbery and most recently the sign posts and sign which were to be the first part of a neatly landscaped entrance to the park. But vandalism has plagued the park almost from the beginning of the recent improvements and town officials are at or near the boiling point over it.
May 29, 1975 - MAJOR WORK OF WATERFRONT AUTHORITY DESIGN OF FACILITIES AT SHORT BEACH SITE: Stratfords Waterfront Authority was established following a legislative act passed in 1957 which allowed the Town Council to appoint a five member commission to make all ordinances pertaining to the waterfront and its uses. Meeting once a month in their small office in the basement of Town Hall, this town body may possibly be the least heard from Commission in Stratford in terms of controversial issues. The major work of the organization has been the design of a Master Plan involving millions of dollars for recreation facilities on a 20 acre site at Short Beach. The plan includes a community center, golf course, swimming pool, ice skating rink and a games court. According to John Sober, Chairman of the Commission, the $181,500 for the construction of the games court had been approved by the Town Council after a second plan had been submitted changing the location. The Town Council then asked for a public hearing which we had Mr. Sober said. Everyone present spoke in favor of the games courts. I have handed this information over to the Council Chairman and this is where it is at the moment. Designed into the games program are tennis, handball and basketball courts and a deck tennis court, plus added parking. Part of the Master Plan is the eventual elimination of the Stratford dump. This is considered to be a difficulty according to Mr. Sober, since part of the land belongs to Bridgeport. Where fill is needed, the Waterfront Authority has arranged with the Army to take the silt presently being dredged from the Housatonic and dump it in designated areas at Short Beach. Additionally the Commission is concerned with other areas of the waterfront. In fact as Mr. Sober puts it, wherever land touches water if the Waterfront Authority's domain the docks and ramps, piers and moorings and of course the beaches. The Commission has a $17,000 a year operation budget which it spends primarily for lifeguards and beach maintenance at Long and Short Beaches. This year area residents received car stickers which permit entrance to the beaches, included with their tax bills. Making use of the Town computer to issued the number of stickers per cars owned had a twofold purpose says Mr. Sober. It is certainly more convenient for residents and it has taken the burden of paper work away from the Fire Department which had the previous responsibility. With temperatures climbing, beaches will probably be in use before adequately staffed with lifeguards. The four Stratford beaches officially opened May 24th however the seven lifeguards hired to protect swimmers begin their short tem jobs at Long Beach and Short Beach on June 21st. With too few guards to go around, swimming at Lordship Beach is not encourages and the seldom used, Stratford owned part of Pleasure Beach has never been a protected swimming area. There is little doubt that the best beach Stratford has is the expanse of machine sifted sand at Short Beach. The Waterfront Authority is working toward making it a more desirable recreation area despite the dump and the odors emanating from it. The trees planted along Dorne Drive leading to the beach area have met with some unexpected misfortunes. Some have been knocked down and others have died. The Parks Department is cooperating and hopes to put more trees in. In the meantime, the Commission will be looking to the Public Works Department for the general maintenance of the beach and parking lot in preparation for the approaching summer bathers.
