Rowayton has a rich history of being the place that everyone escaped to. In its heyday, the Roton Point area served as a steamship terminal for the many excursions that left Manhattan. From the 1870s through 1941, Roton Point Park was home to an amusement park. For the region, a dance floor offered the opportunity to dance the night away to the tunes of big band music that spanned a few decades. A hotel, carousel, roller coaster, and other attractions completed the entertainment on offer.
Because of that, a trolley left the South Norwalk Train station on a direct destination to the area, and so Rowayton has a fascinating tale to tell as it evolved through the decades.
The Birth of the Computer
One of the more interesting parts of Rowayton’s history is that long before silicon really became a thing, the engineers in post World War II toiled away on inventing the computer. Remington Rand established a group of engineers at 33 Highland Avenue who worked in what were formerly stables . Remington Rand at the time was a major manufacturer of office furniture, machines and systems. Ultimately the technology invented here became the Sperry Univac, and the information age took off. If you watched Oppenheimer, you’d be familiar with Gen. Leslie R. Groves, who came out of retirement to lead the team.
Today’s Rowayton
The Rowayton Historical Society has an extensive photo collection amongst carefully curated exhibits telling the story about Rowayton. They have an antique tool barn as well buildings to explore. They are located in Pinkney Park in the aptly named Pinkney House.
177 Rowayton Avenue, Rowayton, CT 06853
(203) 831-0136
