Golden Shadows and Nike Missile Site Information

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The following PDF documents pertain to the Golden Shadows and Nike Missile Sites.

GOLDEN SHADOWS FINAL REPORT

At its April 8, 2014 public hearing, the Westport Historic District Commission supported a request made by a resident to consider designating a portion of town-owned property known as “Golden Shadows” as a local historic landmark property.

Prior to its purchase by the Town of Westport, Golden Shadows had been the country estate of the founder of a prominent perfume manufacturer, Baron von Langendorff. Subsequently, the HDC supported an additional request to expand the proposed designation by adding two other structures which were part of the Baron’s estate, the guest house (a.k.a. 70 Compo Road South and the garage (a.k.a. 72 Compo Road South).

With the support of the Representative Town Meeting, the HDC as the official study committee sought the assistance of a subcommittee of four volunteers and two HDC members. The HDC was awarded CLG Enhancement Grant funding to hire an architectural historian to determine the property’s eligibility for local historic designation. Cece Saunders of Historical Perspectives, LLC in collaboration with Nora Lucas prepared the study report in collaboration with the study subcommittee.

The reports were submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office and the Planning and Zoning Commission for comments and recommendations. The final report was accepted by the HDC on June 2, 2016.

NIKE MISSILE RADAR SITE FINAL REPORT

At its October 14, 2014 public hearing, the Westport Historic District Commission supported a request made by residents to assess the historic and architectural significance and existing conditions of a town owned property that once functioned as a Cold War era Nike Missile Radar Site.

While the associated missile launch facility had been demolished before transfer of the site from the U. S. Army to the town, the radar site with its distinctive structures remains substantially intact. The HDC was awarded CLG Enhancement Grant funding to hire an architectural historian to determine the property’s eligibility for local historic property designation. Cece Saunders of Historical Perspectives, LLC in collaboration with Robert C. Stewart, industrial archaeologist, of Historical Technologies, Inc. prepared a study report in collaboration with the HDC appointed study subcommittee. The draft report was accepted by the Historic District Commission at a public hearing on March 24, 2016.

The reports were submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office and the Planning and Zoning Commission for review and recommendations. The final report was accepted by the HDC on June 2, 2016.

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