WWII Clamdigger -
December 1944

One for the “D.A.”

Rowayton has another major mystery on tap! Who has bought the Farrell Estate? No one seems to know who the actually buyer in but Judge William F. Tammany has announced the sale. It has been bought by the Rockledge Institute, Inc., – "an educational corporation formed for the purpose of aiding the boys who come back from the front." The purchase price was reported to be under $100,000.

Remington-Rand, business machine firm, was nibbling for the estate a while back but due to the objection of nearby residents, did not buy at the time. Many people are wondering if they are interested in this transaction – but Judge Tammany says not.

When the mystery is cleared up, we'll be able to tell you what it's all about. Might be something you'd be interested in when you get back.

Bayley Park Questionnaire

Hope by this time you have received your Bayley Park Questionnaire and sent them back to us all filled out. We had quite a struggle to print, fold, seal, address and mail about 800 of them, but the job was done and returns are coming in rapidly.

We've had replies from a little more than 300 people, and it certainly looks as though everyone wants to see Bayley Park become something we can all feel proud of. Plenty of strange comments have been added to the answers and there have been a few people who just want to keep the park as it is. Generally speaking, though, we can anticipate everybody's cooperation when the war is over and we're ready to start doing things in a big way.

One of the highlights was a newspaper letter-writing feud between "Doc" Soybel and Ed Scofield, Chairman of the Planning Committee. The Sentinel came out one night with the headline "PROTESTS PLAN FOR BAYLEY PARK...George Soybel Sees Increased Taxes in Tennis Courts, Urges Baseball, Recreation".

Ed answered the following night and then "Doc" sent a second letter to the paper. Headline, "WILL DEBATE BAYLEY PARK IMPROVEMENTS, George Soybel Wants To Meet C. E. Scofield on Platform; Why He Is Against Expenditures".

Next Headline, "WON'T DEBATE BAYLEY PARK IMPROVEMENTS, C. E. Scofield Says All He Is Interested In Is Setting Plan For Future; Sees No Tax Boost."

"DELAY BAYLEY PARK PLAN SAYS SOYBEL...Rowayton Druggist Demands That Program Wait Until Serviceman Return".

The Hour put in its two cents worth with an editorial applauding the Committee's actions in sending out a questionnaire before making any definite plans. "The sending out of the Bayley Park Questionnaire to all residents is adherence to true democracy.......That is the American Way".

Latest activity was about sixteen cents worth in the form of a long letter from A. D. Sylvester. He wants to borrow the money and do the whole job right away. Particularly stressed getting the job done for the boys who are away at war. Then he went on with a beautiful dream of filling in the creek just west of Cape Horn, between McKinnely and Sammis Street building a real community center there....complete with stores, post office, parking space, fire house, etc.

If we can just get the ball rolling with some progress on plans for the Park, we will let you fellows finish getting the actually work done and then if you want to start a community center we'll back you 100%.