Mr. Stamford
The Authoritative Blog on Stamford Connecticut
The most exclusive neighborhood in Stamford
Author: jr23 May
While checking out satellite images of Stamford in Yahoo! Maps the other day, I found this:
I traced the roads leading to this mysterious island and took a drive through the neighborhood. Making my way past the bodegas and crowded multi-fams in the Cove, I found a sign warning me that Wallack’s Point was a Private Neighborhood and that if I were to proceed, I would be shot. OK, I made that last part up. Maybe.
Wallack’s Point was in the news recently because it’s where William F. Buckley lived and died. I’m not sure which house was his and I’m not creepy enough to try to find out.
I should mention that I didn’t take any pictures because I wasn’t sure how crazy-secretive the people of the Point were. Plus I’m always afraid Martin Kove will jump out and attack me.
Back to the ‘hood in question…all I have to say is: WOW. It makes North Stamford and Shippan look like (perish the thought!) middle-class neighborhoods.
Most of the homes have beachfront property and lots of sunny exposure. Check out this real estate listing for a house on Willowbrook Avenue: $1.75 million.
The crown jewel of Wallack’s Point, however, is a little place called Caritas Island, which is what I saw on the satellite map.
Here’s a nicer picture: 
It was actually on Forbes’ list of the most expensive private islands in 2006 - $25 million+.
The entrance to the bridge to Caritas Island is gated, complete with an intercom to announce your presence and be judged worthy or unworthy of passage.
If you want to take a drive through the Point and feel insignificant, drive down Cove Road, turn south on Soundview Avenue and take that past Cummings Park. From there, check out Willowbrook Avenue, Wallacks Lane and Wallacks Drive. Just don’t tell them I sent you.
-JR
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11 Responses for "The most exclusive neighborhood in Stamford"
I used to live in the Byram area of Greenwich (I used to affectionally refer to it as the Slums of Greenwich). A neighborhood with normal, middle class people for the most part but there’s a part of Byram shore road that is abruptly choked off into one of those “private neighbohoods”. And they actually had a COP posted there, that they paid to turn back the riffraff.
I’m a runner so I’d go every day and get turned away, until finally one day where the cop was either late or sick, and I got to run all the way down Byram Shore Road where I was so entranced looking at the gi-normous houses and yard sculptures that I somehow managed to step on something funny and I fell down and sprained my ankle.
I couldn’t walk, and I thought I was going to be arrested. Luckily an off-duty nanny saw me sitting on the street and she took pity on me and drove me home.
Dang, those neighborhoods are dangerous.
if you take away the fact its a private island, the house itself doesn’t look anything special. but then its hard taking away the fact it’s a private island .
Caritas Island is (was?) owned by the great grandson of one of the mega Newspaper tycoons of the 20’s(and you ask me if I can remember his name now? No!) I know this because we at the HD we involved in a small dispute some time ago concerning a septic system on the island. In this case we won and they are hooked to city sewers via a pipe under the bridge. it was an interesting event.
Wallack’s point is a great part of Stamford. The major negative is I believe their elementary school is KT Murphy. Then again, if you can afford to live there, then you can probably afford to send you kids to private school. I’m not blown away by Willowbrook avenue, and prefer many roads in Shippan to that area. Also, if you want to see another beautiful neighborhood, check out Dolphin Cove and Southfield Point. I think they also get shafted on the school districting.
Thanks to too many summers spent at the Cove, I am a bit of an aficionado of that island. There are (or perhaps were - it’s been a long time) two homes on it. One is clearly the main house while the other, which is visible from Horseshoe Beach, seems to be the guest cottage. I’d take the guest house, truth be told; it looks more than comfortable and you can’t beat the location. I believe there’s a salt water pool (you can see this from the aerial view, just behind the docks) and the grounds are enviable.
The Buckley’s house is easy to pick out from the water. It’s a gracious home set on a rolling hill, with by far the nicest landscaping in the neighborhood. I believe Pat was the chief gardener, back in the day.
I love Wallack’s Point and would live there in a heartbeat. As a bonus, residents get an up-close-and-personal view of Tony Christmas’ annual light spectacular. Although something tells me a true appreciation for the display may well be lost on most Wallack’s Point residents.
Doc: What’s so bad about KT Murphy? I don’t know anything about our public schools.
Patty: Where’s Horseshoe Beach? And what’s the Tony Christmas light spectacular?
Horseshoe is the smaller of the 2 sandy-ish areas (dare I call them beaches?) at Cove Island. The larger area is known as East Beach.
As for the Tony Christmas light spectacular, there is a firefighter who lives in the Cove. Forgive me, I can drive there with my eyes closed but I am horrible with street names; I believe the house is on Lewelyn, not far from KT Murphy. Each year, he covers the entire exterior of his Cape with lights. He also has a display in his back yard. It’s truly worth the drive, especially (but not only) if you have children.
Sometimes the homeowner comes outside to say hi and he introduces himself as Tony Christmas. Because everything gets a proper name in my house, we refer to the display as the Tony Christmas Light Spectacular.
I think he is literally a stone’s throw from one of the bigger estates in town. Each December, you can see the glow of the lights from several blocks away.
I’m no expert on the Stamford Schools, but generally speaking the majority received failing grades on their recent tests. I know several teachers, as well as have several friends in the KT Murphy district both groups say KT Murphy isn’t the best elementary school in Stamford. My friends in that district are considering moving since their kids will be off to school in a couple more years. For what it’s worth their are some supporters of KT Murphy. The school is one under consideration to be closed and I have seen “Save KT Murphy” posters.
The name of the island was Morgan’s named after JP Morgan now known as Caritas. Development of nearby Vincents Island is being proposed but only if all the necessary permits can be obtained. The price offered 3.5 mil.
Everything ok Mr. Stamford? Almost a month since your last blogging.
The house is/was owned by the Morgan (J P Morgan) family and was also known as a”Greenway”. I’ve been to several parties there - a number of years ago. Large salt water pool area fed by the rising tide. There used to be a large model of a ship owned by the Morgans in the living room. Also there use to be a Psychedelic painted room on the third floor which legend had it was used for experimental LSD treatments in the early 60’s.
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