Who is the “king” in Kingswood Place?
In some towns “kingswood” may have significance. Here, however, it’s just one of those pretentious names that developers feel have a distinctive and noble sound.
In a February 1978 story by Macklin Reid entitled “For Thou Art a Road and We Do Dub Thee …” The Press described the Planning and Zoning Commission’s rather lengthy and sometimes entertaining discussion of what Finch Realty Co.’s new subdivision road off Ashbee Lane should be called. Three names had been suggested: Kingswood Lane, by the subdivider; Clapboard Tree Lane, by this writer; and Nob Hill Place, by someone apparently embarrassed to admit its authorship.
“The commission had no problem disposing of Nob Hill Place, which all agreed would be easily confused with the existing Nod Hill Road and Nod Road — already confusing enough,” the story said. Good for the commission.
“Most of the commissioners also found similar objections to Clapboard Place, Clapboard Hill or Clapboard Tree Place — the variations increased as the discussion went on. Clapboard something-or-other roads existed in most of the surrounding towns, they said. Confusing again.” Maybe.
Clapboard had been suggested because a nearby ridge had been called Clapboard Tree Ridge in the early 1700s, probably because good wood for clapboarding the earliest Ridgefield homes was cut from trees that grew there.
Kingswood is not without significance in some communities. In pre-Revolutionary times, representatives of the government would seek the best trees in a forest and mark them to be felled for use by the crown, mostly in shipbuilding. Tall, straight trees for masts were particularly sought after. These trees, bearing the “King’s mark,” would be considered “King’s wood.” However, there’s no evidence any king’s — or queen’s — mark trees ever grew in Ridgefield.
Kingswood, Clapboard and Nob weren’t the only names considered. The new road, explained Commissioner Dan McKeon, “is right off Ashbee Lane, which is named after old Charlie Ashbee. He used to dress up as Santa Claus. Maybe we should call it Santa Claus Place.”
“Mr. McKeon’s suggestion had some appeal,” Reid reported. “Commissioners Mark Erwin and Dr. (Nelson) Gelfman played with some variations — Santa Place, Santa Claus Circle …” From here discussion wandered into the merits of lanes and drives versus circles and places.
“Mr. Chairman,” said an apparently impatient Joseph Heyman, “I would like to move that the road be named Kingswood Lane, the name suggested by the developer.”
“What about Santa Claus?” protested McKeon.
Heyman shook his head gravely. “I don’t think you should bring religion into road names,” he said.
After commissioners eventually approved Kingswood Place, not Lane, two conversations were overheard during a break in the meeting.
“Your (own) name is religious,” Gelfman told Heyman. “It might offend someone to have to call you Joseph.”
The doctor, who voted against Kingswood, also confessed why. “Kingswood,” he grimaced. “It’s a typically pompous name.”
A few feet away, Commissioner Erwin chatted with McKeon.
“Maybe if we tried St. Nicholas Place?” he wondered.—J.S.
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