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The William Scribner House
1 COMPO BEACH ROAD, WESTPORT CT
The site of the original historic home of the Owenoke-Compo
National Historic District was first deeded as land in 1832 to Daniel Murray
and sold 3 times over the next 20 years before a home was build in 1854
by William
Morris Scribner.
In 1835 Westport, CT was incorporated form areas that were parts of
Fairfield, Norwalk, Old Saugatuck and Weston.
Family deeds in following years included William H Couch
(1786-1868)
who in 1859 who lived there until the turn of the century. The price for
the home was $5000 and included a barn and 12 acres of land, stretching
to Compo Beach. (The barn
was moved in the 1900's to an adjacent property, now 3 Quentin Rd,
Westport CT)
In years that followed the home served as a homestead that included
several outbuildings to support a large onion farm. The onions were sold
to to New England shipping companies for foodstuffs that prevented
scurvy.
Through the 1850s and during the Civil War the farm served the
Union Army and Westport served as the largest onion supplier to the
U.S. Army during the war.
 In the 1900's the home was owned
by several families, including Morris and Reilly. In the 1920's the "Scribner House"
farm also operated as a tavern. Local residents claim that it also
operated as a speak-easy during prohibition.
Physical changes following World War II included a south side extension
and the movement of the adjacent barn to a new location. Today that barn
stands as a private home at now 3 Quentin Rd.
After 1960s the home was owned by James A Goldsmith
1907-1998
Other notable events and owners in since "The Sixties"
included several families that entertained
guests of celebrities, music business and fashion personalities.
One notable public stay was In November 1975 the Joe Cocker band
spent a weekend for the
famous night John
Belushi shared the stage with Joe Cocker on Saturday Night Live.
Through the 1980's several families lived at the Scribner House,
worked in Westport and today have become friends due to their
common history ...at 1 Compo Beach Rd.
Deed information dating to 1832 is available in Fairfield CT and at
the Westport Historical Society
Hand colored 1912 postcard ...looking towards beach
from Minuteman
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