Sharks and Nukes Plague Westport

Love the Bomb

With the summer of 1960 coming to an end, Economy Food Stores on 51 Main Street took out a full-page ad in the Town Crier warning about the possibility of a nuclear attack. Now there's a downer to an already bittersweet time of a year. Proprietor Samuel Friedson had some words of warning in this public service announcement.

"All ... thinking Americans pray that neither we nor our children ever see 'A-Day'! But, it can happen here!" he said.

A checklist of items to horde in case of nuclear attack included canned corn, powdered milk and instant coffee. Also, 24 sodas and two boxes of crackers were recommended.

Shark Week

As if the threat of nuclear devastation wasn't enough, some shark sightings in the area whipped beachgoers into a frenzy. A man was "nibbed" in Milford and after a pair of Westport residents saw some sharks while sailing, the town reacted calmly and rationally to the threat.

Beaches were closed and the police, armed with a shotgun, went out on a boat to find the sharks. Nothing was found. The Town Crier reportedly received a call from a "distraught citizen wondering whether he could pursue his favorite water sport for the rest of the summer."

The article did not elaborate what that sport was.

Bo Diddley Performs, Parents Gasp at Lewd Dancing

Music legend Bo Diddley came to Longshore Park to perform in front of a capacity crowd of 500. The reception was very enthusiastic for the famous black guitarist. Some older folks were less than thrilled.

"After moments of gasping to insure (sic) themselves that Bo Diddley was really in Westport, most of the teenagers began to dance," said the article in the Town Crier.

Some of the chaperones were less enthusiastic. They "questioned the Terpsichorean origin of the maneuvering done by the couples, but no complaint louder than a startled gasp was heard."

To illustrate the lascivious activities, a front page photo showed a male and female dancing with their hips touching. Has there ever been a generation where adults thought dancing by younger people was appropriate?

Deals Aplenty in Westport

There was a time when Westport was only somewhat rich. The classified section advertised "A Fine House." The price was even finer. A four-bedroom home with a "modern kitchen" hit the market for $22,500.  For those who couldn't afford to buy, a number of rentals were listed.  A three-bedroom salt box cost $250. A two bedroom was $125.

Back to school sales were also advertised. A pair of slacks were $2.98 – "a $3.95 value!" Model sport shirts, whatever those are, were $2.95 and up.