Chimney Leaks in South Norwalk, CT

The area of present-day South Norwalk developed out of a local well referred to as the “Old Well”, where sailing ships would refill their water casks. Said well was in service since at least 1738, when a deed referred to nearby Washington Street as “the highway that leads to ye landing place called Ye Old Well”. The well’s location was depicted as east of Water Street, and about 75 feet South of Washington Street in a 1867 map by American cartographer Frederick W. Beers, although the exact location is unknown, though presumed to be near the site of Donovan’s Tavern, since sailors are said to have frequented the tavern.

The area evolved into a settlement named Old Well. after the well, and was involved in coastal trade, manufacturing, and shipbuilding, as well as having many farms with diversified crops.

“Old Well was scarcely a village in those days, but rather a group of farms, and the well which gave the place its name was on Water street, near the corner of Haviland street, on the property of Eliakim Raymond, a patriarch of several Norwalk lines. His house stood at the corner of Washington and Water streets before the Revolution and was burned with rest of the town.”