City Point, New Haven, Connecticut

The Story of the Ducks At Bay View Park by Doug Kelsey (born in 1920, a City Point resident from 1925 to 1942)

The park was always very neat and maintained by an old timer by the name of Steve Knupe. Steve and family lived in the last house at the end of Sea St. He raised chickens and ducks. The ducks in the pond were his.

Every morning he walked his ducks to the pond, and every evening he walked them back to their coop. He cut the grass, he raked the leaves and shoveled the snow. He maintained the waste barrels and took care of the flowers and trimmed the bushes.

The back of St. Peter's ("The Oval") was for ball playing, but sometimes a group of teens would try to play ball on Steve's grass--but they would be chased from the park as soon as Steve saw them!

[submitted by Doug Oct. 3, 2008]

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CITY POINT PARK (aka BAY VIEW PARK)

Of all the places everywhere, why did it have to be,

our beloved City Point Park, to yield to destiny,

A little corner all its own, of our beloved city,

where oystermen long years ago, helped make New Haven history,

Beside the path in open fields, the pink wild roses grew,

today the rumble of machines, has cut our park in two.

The road was white with oyster shells, as horse cars jostled through,

and friendly elms and maple trees, shaded the Avenue.

Our lovely park where twin lakes flowed, and ducks swam to and fro,

beneath the little rustic bridge we crossed long years ago.

We skated on the silvery ice, on a cold and frosty night,

and sang gay songs of olden times, in the flickering moonlight.

Time marches on and all things change, but an answer please,

if they must uproot our monument, our flowers and our trees.

Our monument where long ago our forefathers of old,

welcomed home a weary group of soldiers to the fold.

And if they destroy houses and leave folks with no home,

and cause untold unhappiness, who can for this atone.

Tho' wheels of progress ever grind, 'twill never be the same,

that tranquil little point of land, in keeping with it's name.

Yet somehow comfort may we find, that our forefathers true,

never lived to see the day, that came to me and you.

There is one consolation, I'm sure you will agree,

in mourning for City Point we used to know and see.

Tho' they down our houses, our flowers and our trees,

never can they take from us, our happy memories.

Written by: Miss Louise Nichols

(during 1950s construction of Conn. Turnpike/I-95)

Kindergarten teacher in Kimberly Avenue School

[Friend of Douglas ("Duke") Kent Kelsey who submitted this copy]

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The Story of the Ducks At Bay View Park by Doug Kelsey (born in 1920, a City Point resident from 1925 to 1942)

CITY POINT PARK (aka BAY VIEW PARK)