Old Saybrook, Connecticut Totally Explained

Everything about Old Saybrook Connecticut totally explained

Old Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,367 at the 2000 census. It contains the borough of Fenwick.

History

The Saybrook Colony was established in late 1635 at the mouth of the Connecticut River, in what is today Old Saybrook and environs. John Winthrop, the Younger, son of the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was designated Governor by the group that claimed possession of the land via a deed of conveyance from the Earl of Warwick. Winthrop was aided by Colonel George Fenwick and Captain Lion Gardiner. As the principals of the group who had planned to settle the colony were supporters of Oliver Cromwell and remained in England during the English Civil War, the colony struggled. In 1644, Fenwick agreed to merge the colony with the more vibrant Connecticut Colony a few miles up river, which purchased the land and fort from him.
   The design of the Flag of Connecticut comes from the seal of Saybrook Colony. The seal was brought from England by Colonel George Fenwick, and depicted 15 grapevines and a hand in the upper left corner with a scroll reading "Sustinet qui transtulit".
   In 1659, settlers from Saybrook purchased land from Chief Uncas, leader of the Mohegan Native American tribe, to found Norwich, Connecticut.
   On October 9, 1701 the Collegiate School of Connecticut was chartered in Old Saybrook. It moved to New Haven in 1716, and was later renamed Yale University.
   The Turtle - the first American submarine - was invented in Westbrook Connecticut in 1775 by David Bushnell; a replica is housed at the Old Saybrook High School.

Recent developments

As of early 2007, plans were underway to return the former town hall building back to its original use as a theater. The building is to be named the "Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Theater". The town has committed spending almost $2 million on the renovation, and at least $810,000 is to be contributed by the state. A committee is attempting to raise another $2.5 million, partly for the renovation and to add two wings, but also for an endowment. The structure was originally built in 1901 and was a theater until the 1940s. After renovations, the theater will seat 268, and Hepburn memorabilia will be displayed there.

Trivia

The comic book character Hellboy worked with the character Father Edward Kelly on an unnamed mission located in Saybrook, Connecticut in 1961 as mentioned in the comic.

The 1994 movie "The Ref" with Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey was set in a town called Old Baybrook. A take off of Old Saybrook, right down to the old green lighthouse lights that the police cars had atop of their siren array.

Notable residents

Vin Baker — Professional basketball player in the NBA

Katharine Houghton Hepburn — (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003), a four-time Academy Award-winning American star of film, television and stage, lived in the Fenwick section of town.

Ann Petry — An African American novelist, journalist and biographer.

Elmer Eric Schattschneider — a prominent political scientist and former president of the American Political Science Association from 1956 to 1957

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.6 square miles (56.0 km²), of which, 15.0 square miles (39.0 km²) of it's land and 6.6 square miles (17.0 km²) of it (30.45%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,367 people, 4,184 households, and 2,920 families residing in the town. The population density was 689.5 people per square mile (266.1/km²). There were 5,357 housing units at an average density of 356.3/sq mi (137.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.75% White, 1.01% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.72% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.87% of the population.
   There were 4,184 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.90.
   In the town the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
   The median income for a household in the town was $62,742, and the median income for a family was $72,868. Males had a median income of $48,527 versus $36,426 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,720. About 1.5% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

List of National Historic Sites in Old Saybrook

Black Horse Tavern, added December 1, 1978

Elisha Bushnell House, added November 29, 1978

Connecticut Valley Railroad Roundhouse and Turntable Site, added April 28, 1994

Jedidiah Dudley House, added April 12, 1982

Samuel Eliot House, added November 9, 1972

General William Hart House, added November 9, 1972

James Pharmacy, added August 5, 1994

Lynde Point Lighthouse, added May 29, 1990

Old Saybrook South Green, added September 3, 1976

Old Saybrook, added November 29, 1978

Humphrey Pratt Tavern, added November 7, 1972

Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse, added May 29, 1990

William Tully House, added March 15, 1982

Ambrose Whittlesey House, added August 23, 1985

John Whittlesey, Jr. House, added October 26, 1984Further Information

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