Morris Cove Memories Cross the Line

By the turn of the 20^th century, trolleys, then automobiles, made it easy for families to move back and forth between East Haven and Morris Cove. After all, it had only been in 1881 that East Haven had ceded that area to New Haven. 

The area still shared the same early settlement history and family names like Thompson, Townsend, Pardee, Bradley and Upson were common on both sides. Families from Foxon would flock to Lighthouse Park to ride the carousel; and Morris Cove kids would trek to East Haven to watch movies on Saturday at the Capitol Theater. Morris Cove matrons were also more interested in shopping East Haven’s stores than crossing the bridges to New Haven. 

In the years between 1881 and 1959, Morris Cove worked out an arrangement with New Haven — which had primarily wanted the waterfront port area, not the residents — to remain a separate entity, along with the rest of the annexed area. 

The Fairmont Association was incorporated in 1911 to provide municipal services to the 32^nd ward. The association maintained a separate tax rate to support the police and fire services independent of New Haven. The Fairmont Association was dissolved in 1959, but during its tenure, institutions such as the Nathan Hale Elementary School, St. Bernadette’s Church and School, the Annex Young Men’s Association, and the Cove’s parks, came into being. 

Donna Bigda, who has had a lifelong love affair with Morris Cove, says that there has always been some debate among the residents of the Annex-East Shore area as to where Morris Cove actually begins. 

“I’ve lived in Morris Cove for more than 30 years, and this debate has lingered. Most people seem to agree that Morris Cove is bordered on the north by Upson Terrace, on the east by East Haven, and on the west and south by the Sound.” 

Bigda, who is a realtor in Morris Cove, writes a blog extolling the attractions of the area. She moved to Forbes Avenue in 1969, but later moved with her parents to the home where she grew up on Fort Hale Road. 

“It is such a great neighborhood. The location allowed us to ride our bikes or walk to all the great places in the Cove,” Bigda said. “My favorites have always been near the water. Now that I have a grandchild, Lighthouse Point with the splash pad and the carousel are frequent destinations.”

“One of the great aspects of living on Fort Hale Road,” she said, “was the fact that when dignitaries landed at Tweed, they would drive up Fort Hale as they traveled into New Haven. When President Kennedy came, I got to shake his hand as the motorcade passed.” 

Her longtime neighbor, Marilyn Esposito, also recalls that day.

“The street was so crowded it was hard to see him. Everyone was just so excited.” 

Esposito also says that Fort Hale Road is a warm, close neighborhood. After her marriage, she moved next door to her parents. When her parents passed away, her son moved into their home. 

“The great thing is that many of the younger generation are moving back to the area,” Esposito said. “One of the boys who was an altar boy at my wedding has moved back with his wife to his family home.” 

As for Bigda, she said, “My husband is a native of the Cove; I just had the good fortune to move here. Over the years, we’ve moved away and moved back twice. This time it’s for good.” 

Bigda has always been impressed by the variety of activities offered in a relatively small land area. It didn’t matter if you were a child of the Cove, or just an East Haven kid who liked the water, the area pulled you for long summer days spent by the shore. And there were other attractions for area families, such as Lighthouse Point Park. 

Before there was a lighthouse on the point, the spot was achieved local fame as an invasion site during the American Revolution. After the British landed, they burned the nearby home and fields of Captain Amos Morris. Later, Morris repaired his house and today the Pardee-Morris House sits peacefully at 740 Lighthouse Avenue. 

After the Revolutionary War, Amos Morris Jr., sold the Point to the new Federal government for $100. Congress appropriated $10,000 for a lighthouse, which was built in 1847. It operated for 73 years and is now a picturesque backdrop for thousands of family photos. 

The Lighthouse Park Carousel, built in 1916, is one of less than 100 in use today. For years, a ride on the carousel was the highlight of a day at New Haven’s Lighthouse Park for residents of both East Haven and Morris Cove. It was closed for a time in 1977, then was revived. In 1983 the carousel and its clerestoried pavilion were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Further north on Woodward Avenue is the Fort Hale Park, near the site of the old fort. This area of beach, fishing pier, and general gathering place is another favorite for Donna Bigda. “Tropical Storm Irene has damaged the fishing pier quite badly,” she said, “I’ve spent a lot of time out there and it’s sad to see it like that.”   

Next door is the historic site that includes a reconstructed Revolutionary fort, and a partially restored Civil War facility. Black Rock Fort was constructed in the spring of 1776, by order of the Connecticut Colony, to protect the approach to the Port of New Haven. On July 5, 1779, thousands of British forces landed from war ships, attacked the fort and captured its 19 defenders.

In 1863, Fort Hale was built to thwart Southern raiders, but saw no action during the Civil War. Both forts have been lovingly restored and Fort Nathan Hale was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. 

A third fort in Morris Cove, Fort Wooster and its Memorial Park, sits further up Townsend Avenue atop the heights of Beacon Hill where signal fires were once lit to warn inhabitants of impending dangers. The park features walking trails leading up to earthen-work fortifications at the top of the hill. It was also an Indian burying ground for the Quinnipiac tribe. 

Three other institutions play a large part in the life of the Cove’s residents. One is St. Bernadette’s Church and School. The first Mass in Morris Cove was celebrated on May 29, 1932, at the Nathan Hale School. Then, on July 5, 1934, Bishop Maurice F. McAuliffe blessed the cornerstone of St. Bernadette Church. After the church was completed, it became a parish in 1938 with Reverand Edward Shea serving as parish priest.

Saint Bernadette’s School was dedicated in 1957, under the direction of Reverend Charles L. Hewitt. The Dominican Sisters initially staffed the school and taught for 31years, until their withdrawal in 1988. 

In Bigda’s youth, if you lived in the Cove and didn’t go to St. Bernadette’s,  you went to Nathan Hale Elementary School. It sits about three blocks up Townsend Avenue from St. Bernadette’s. The original building opened its doors in 1925 and looks much like the Union and Gerrish Avenue schools in East Haven. Today it has a state-wide reputation as a high-achieving model school. 

The Annex Young Men’s Association is the youngest of the Cove’s well-known institutions, opening its doors for the first time in 1940. The building at 554 Woodward Avenue became a venue for dances, athletic competitions and community gatherings. It has also played host to numerous wedding receptions, including that of Robert and Donna Bigda. 

As for Fort Hale Road, it sits on land bought in 1809 from Isaac and Kneeland Townsend by the new Federal government. Officials were interested in the area because they were building Fort Nathan Hale as protection against the British navy during the War of 1812. The eastern part, from Townsend Avenue to Burr Street, was laid out in 1824. The entire street became Fort Hale in 1930.  

[Editor's note: This story originally ran on Oct, 4 2011.]