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Hayestown, Connecticut

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Coordinates: 41°25′12.35″N 73°27′13.44″W / 41.4200972°N 73.4537333°W / 41.4200972; -73.4537333
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Hayestown, Connecticut
Unincorporated area
Danbury Yacht Club, Hayestown Rd
Danbury Yacht Club, Hayestown Rd
Hayestown is located in Connecticut
Hayestown
Hayestown
Location in Connecticut
Hayestown is located in the United States
Hayestown
Hayestown
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 41°25′12.35″N 73°27′13.44″W / 41.4200972°N 73.4537333°W / 41.4200972; -73.4537333[1]
CountryUnited States
U.S. stateConnecticut
CountyFairfield
RegionWestern CT
CityDanbury
Elevation
460 ft (140 m)

Hayestown is an unincorporated area[2] in Danbury, Connecticut.[1] It is located in the eastern section of the city, along the southern shoreline of Candlewood Lake, west of Great Plain, northwest of Germantown, and east of Clapboard Ridge.

History

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View of Candlewood Lake and Hayestown causeway

Hayestown (sometimes historically spelled Hay's Town)[3] was considered part of the Great Plain District prior to being recognized as a separate settlement. Similar to Great Plain and other neighboring communities, parts of Hayestown were lost to flooding due to the 1928 construction of Candlewood Lake.[4] However, as a result, the area would become known as a travel destination of sorts, with lodging options for visitors, including Wildman's Landing Lodge, Candlewood Motel, and its own Holiday Inn.[5][6]

Wildman's Landing

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Postcard of Bathing Beach at Wildman's Landing

Wildman's Landing was a bathing beach and recreational area at the southern tip of Candlewood Lake's Lower Pine Cove, off Hayestown Road. It was named for William Wildman's farm, 76 acres (31 ha) of which were flooded to make way for the Lake.[7] The remaining land would then be owned by Carl Albert, who was instrumental in the development of the former lake resort.[8] However, in the early 1960s Albert began exploring real estate opportunities and sought to sell off portions of the property. Among the interested buyers was Anchor Marina Inc., which carried out plans to build out a 150-boat marina here.[9] In 1963 Albert submitted a zoning petition to establish a trailer park in what was left of Wildman's Landing, which threatened existing plans to expand Danbury Town Park westward. Albert had previously offered to sell the land to the town however, his offer was considered too high and was rejected.[10]

This contested section of Wildman's Landing eventually became two upscale condominium communities now known as Poet's Landing and Crystal Bay.

Danbury Slovak Union Sokol

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Danbury's Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol (Lodge #30), a social fitness club dedicated to the once prevalent Slovak population in the area, was originally located at the Lakeview picnic grounds in Hayestown.[11] The lodge included a duckpin bowling alley called Sokol Lanes, which is still in operation today as Danbury Duckpin Bowling Lanes.[12] In 1980 the City of Danbury purchased the 32-acre (13 ha) property from the club for recreational use and it is now known as Hatters Park.[13] Lodge 30 relocated to a different Candlewood Lake property in Brookfield, Connecticut where it remains active today.[14]

Geography

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In addition to Candlewood Lake, there are several ponds in the area: Doyles Pond, Kellners Pond, and Smiths Pond. The Padanaram Brook also runs along the northwestern section of Hayestown, thus leading this portion to often be referred to as Padanaram.[15]

Communities

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  • Candleview Ridge
  • Cornell Hills
  • Hayestown Heights
  • Jeanette Heights
  • Poet's Landing / Crystal Bay
  • Shoreview Estates

Education

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There are two public schools in the Hayestown area, Henry Abbott Technical High School, constructed in 1953[16] and Hayestown Elementary School, completed in 1956.[17]

Parks and recreation

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Hayestown". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ United States. Bureau of the Census (1952). Census of Population: 1950: Number of inhabitants. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 7–3.7–5. ISBN 978-0-598-46684-6. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  3. ^ Connecticut. Secretary of the State (1920). Register and Manual of the State of Connecticut. Volumes 63-64. The State of Connecticut. p. 601. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  4. ^ "Power Company to Replace Roads". The Bridgeport Telegram. Bridgeport, Connecticut. April 8, 1927. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  5. ^ CL&P (1972). Rocky River Project License Application, Connecticut Light and Power Company, Fairfield County: Environmental Impact Statement. United States. Federal Power Commission. p. 24. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "Royal Tourists See Vintage Vehicle". The Bridgeport Telegram. Bridgeport, Connecticut. June 23, 1955. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "A History of Candlewood Lake | Truman A. Warner Papers | Archives & Special Collections" (PDF). archives.library.wcsu.edu. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "Carl Albert Dies; Ex-Manufacturer, 69". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. September 5, 1965. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "Marina Acquires Land at Wildman's Landing". The Bridgeport Telegram. Bridgeport, Connecticut. July 18, 1962. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "Planners Seek Town Meeting". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. March 8, 1963. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Devlin, Bill (June 26, 2006). "SPORTS MEMORIES". ctpost. Hearst Media. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Tuz, Susan (February 23, 2012). "Danbury duckpin bowling 'here to stay'". News-Times. Hearst Media. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Do You Remember?". News-Times. Hearst Media. December 11, 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  14. ^ "Lodge 30 - Danbury Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol". Sokol USA. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  15. ^ Bailey, James M. (1896). History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 128. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  16. ^ FitzGerald, Eileen (January 31, 2009). "Henry Abbott Technical High School transformed". News-Times. Hearst Media. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "Do You Remember?". News-Times. Hearst Media. April 30, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
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