Ridgefield in Fairfield County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
The Spotting Tower and Railroad Warehousing
Ridgefield, Connecticut
— The Museum in the Streets —
Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 2, 2010
1. The Spotting Tower and Railroad Warehousing Marker
The small, white octagonal building on the corner was originally built as a boathouse on the estate of F.E. Lewis. It was moved behind the high school on East Ridge during World War II, and used as a warming hut for volunteers looking for enemy planes on the tower next to it. Over 200 men, women and children counted and identified more than 2,000 planes. In 1944 the Army shut down the site, but it was reactivated during the Cold War in the early 1950s. The warming hut was moved and the spotting tower remained standing until 1971.
A warehouse was built by Richard Osborn and William O. Gilbert on lower Bailey Avenue in 1880 shortly after the completion of the Branchville railroad spur in 1870. It sat on four and a half acres and was part of their lumberyard. It housed an elevator used to carry grain to the upper part of the building and also served as a warehouse for D.F. Bedient's Store.
Erected by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 3.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Ridgefield, Connecticut series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ridgefield, Connecticut (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Great Fire of 1895 (about 600 feet away); More of the Great Fire (about 600 feet away); A Much-Loved Old Church and a Watering Trough for Horses (about 600 feet away); The Village in the 1900s (about 700 feet away); Main Street in the Late 1800s (about 700 feet away); The Ridgefield Train Station (about 700 feet away); The Village Center in the Early 1900s (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ridgefield.
More about this marker. The photos on the marker show the spotting tower with warming hut at its base and workers loading a Bedient's appliance store truck from a railcar in front of the warehouse.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 2, 2010
2. The Spotting Tower and Railroad Warehousing Marker
Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 2, 2010
3. The Octagonal Warming Hut
Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 2, 2010
4. The Warehouse
The railroad siding was in the parking lot next to the warehouse.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 898 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 6, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
