Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Old Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,242 at the 2010 census. It contains the incorporated borough of Fenwick, as well as the census-designated places of Old Saybrook Center and Saybrook Manor.

Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Town
Seal
Location within Middlesex County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°17′38″N 72°22′57″W
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyMiddlesex
Metropolitan areaHartford
Settled1635
Incorporated1854
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanCarl P. Fortuna, Jr (R)
 • SelectmanScott Geigerich (R)
 • SelectmanSteven Gernhardt (D)
Area
 • Total21.6 sq mi (55.9 km2)
 • Land15.0 sq mi (38.8 km2)
 • Water6.6 sq mi (17.0 km2)
Elevation
39 ft (12 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total10,242
 • Density682.8/sq mi (263.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06475
Area code(s)860/959
FIPS code09-57320
GNIS feature ID0213484
Websitehttp://www.oldsaybrookct.org/

History

In 1623, shortly after establishing their first settlement at Governors Island, Dutch settlers established a short-lived factory at present day Old Saybrook.[1] The trading post was named Kievits Hoek, or "Plover's Corner". Kievits Hoek was soon abandoned as the Dutch consolidated settlement at New Amsterdam. In 1633, Fort Goede Hoop (Huys de Goede Hoop), was established at present-day Hartford.

The Pequot siege of Saybrook Fort[2] took place from September 1636 to March 1637 during the Pequot War.

Following the August 1636 Massachusetts Bay attack on Manisses, Pequot, and Western Niantic villages, the Pequot retaliation fell on the English at Saybrook. During an eight-month time period, the Pequot killed and wounded more than twenty English at and near Saybrook Fort. The English were attacked when they ventured far from their palisade, and the Pequot destroyed English provisions and burned warehouses while they attempted to interrupt river traffic to Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford. During the Siege and Battle of Saybrook Fort, the Pequot and English assessed each other's military capabilities, and adjusted counter-tactics. Each side’s tactical modifications show a high degree of sophistication, planning, and ingenuity. Lessons learned during the siege of Saybrook escalated the Pequot War in Connecticut Colony, and indirectly resulted in the attack and destruction of Mistick Fort[3] (May 1637).

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 Robert Rich, 2nd 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 "Qui Transtulit Sustinet".

In 1647 Major John Mason assumed command of Saybrook (Colony) Fort which controlled the main trade and supply route to the upper river valley. The fort promptly and mysteriously burned to the ground but another improved fort was quickly built nearby. He spent the next twelve years there and served as Commissioner of the United Colonies, as the chief military officer, magistrate and peacekeeper.

In 1659, almost all settlers from Saybrook under the leadership of Mason, purchased land from Uncas, sachem of the Mohegan tribe, removed to and founded Norwich, Connecticut.[4] In 1661 there was a witch trial of Saybrook residents Margaret Jennings and her husband Nicholas, who were accused of causing the deaths of Marie Marvin and others. The trial resulted in a finding that they were probably witches, but there was not sufficient proof to execute them.[5]

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.

Turtle - the first American submarine - was invented in Westbrook, Connecticut in 1775 by David Bushnell; a replica is housed at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex.

Turtle replica on display at the Royal Navy submarine museum

The General Assembly created the separate town of Old Saybrook from Saybrook in 1852. Old Saybrook was partitioned again in 1854 when the northern part became the town of Essex.[6]

A 1964 meeting at Old Saybrook, the First Invitational Conference on Humanistic Psychology, was key to the early development of humanistic psychology. Saybrook University in California, established in 1971, is named after the conference.

Later development

In early 2007, plans were established to return the former town hall building to its original use as a theater. The theatre was completed in 2009 and is named "Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Theater".

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in 2011

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 250, and Hepburn memorabilia will be displayed there.[7]

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 is land and 6.6 square miles (17.0 km2) of it (30.45%) is water.

Principal communities

Flora

Coastal Connecticut (including Old Saybrook) is the broad transition zone where so-called "subtropical indicator" plants and other broadleaf evergreens can successfully be cultivated. Old Saybrook averages about 90 days annually with freeze (temperatures of 32 F/0 C) - about the same as Baltimore, Maryland, or Albuquerque, NM, for example. As such, Southern Magnolias, Needle Palms, Windmill palm, Loblolly Pines, and Crape Myrtles are grown in private and public gardens.

Education

Old Saybrook is home to a district educational system. Kathleen E. Goodwin School is for grades Pre-K through 3, Old Saybrook Middle School is for grades 4 through 8, and Old Saybrook Senior High School is for grades 9 through 12. The high school competes in the Shoreline Conference. In 2018 and 2019, the boys' soccer team won back-to-back state championships.

Old Saybrook is also home to the Pre-K through grade 8 St John's Catholic School. The town also has a number of students who travel to private schools, including nearby parochial schools such as Xavier High School and Mercy High School.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18601,105—
18701,21510.0%
18801,3027.2%
18901,48414.0%
19001,431−3.6%
19101,5165.9%
19201,463−3.5%
19301,64312.3%
19401,98520.8%
19502,49925.9%
19605,274111.0%
19708,46860.6%
19809,2879.7%
19909,5522.9%
200010,3678.5%
201010,242−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

2000 U.S. Census

At the 2000 census, there were 10,367 people, 4,184 households, and 2,920 families 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 per square mile (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.

Of the 4,184 households 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 households were one person and 12.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $62,742 and the median family income 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.

2010 U.S. Census

As of the 2010 census, the total population was 10,242. There were 4,247 households and 2,923 families living in the town. 1,108 households had children under the age of 18. The population density was 682.8 people per square mile (263.6/km2). There were 5,602 housing units at an average density of 373.5 per square mile (144.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.9% White, .9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.0003% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

Of the 4,247 households 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.9% of households were one person and 14.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.71.

The age distribution was 21.4% under the age of 20, 3.4% from 20 to 24, 16.4% from 25 to 44, 33.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% 65 or older. The median age was 50.1 years. The population consisted of 4,852 (47.4%) males and 5,390 (52.6%) females.

The median household income was $80,347 and the median family income was $97,399. Males had a median income of $74,298 versus $49,913 for females. The per capita income for the town was $43,266. About 4.5% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[9]

Transportation
The platforms at the Old Saybrook train station.
Main article: Old Saybrook station

Old Saybrook's train station opened in 1873 and was rebuilt in 2002. Amtrak, the national rail passenger system, provides daily service along the Northeast Corridor to Boston, New York and points south. The high-speed Acela Express passes through Old Saybrook but does not stop; service is provided by the conventional Northeast Regional. The Connecticut Department of Transportation provides regular commuter service to New Haven, New London, and Stamford via the Shore Line East.

The Estuary Transit District provides public transportation services throughout Old Saybrook and the surrounding towns through its 9 Town Transit services.

Media

One radio station is licensed to Old Saybrook: WLIS AM 1420 (variety). The town is also covered by Shore Publishing and the local newspaper the Harbor News.

National Register of Historic Places in Old Saybrook

Notable people

See also

Notes
  1. Tully, William B. (1884), "Town of Old Saybrook", The History of Middlesex County 1635-1885, J. H. Beers & Co., p. 442
  2. "The Siege and Battle of Saybrook Fort | Battlefields of the Pequot War". Retrieved Jul 27, 2020.
  3. "The Battle of Mistick Fort | Battlefields of the Pequot War". Retrieved Jul 27, 2020.
  4. Caulkins, Frances Manwaring (1866). History of Norwich. pp. 57.
  5. Mahan, Russell, Thomas Leffingwell: The Connecticut Pioneer Who Rescued Chief Uncas and the Mohegans; Historical Enterprises, Santa Clara, UT, 2018, pp. 57-61.
  6. "Connecticut Society of Genealogists: Old Saybrook". Retrieved Jul 27, 2020.
  7. Wojtas, Joe, "Hepburn's Town to Honor Her With a Theater", The New York Times, "Connecticut" section, page 2, February 18, 2007
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
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