The Sea Lodge

A Community Treasure in Southport

Inspired by the original piece by Claire Langdon

A Vision Born in 1901

Nestled along the shoreline of Southport Beach, the Sea Lodge has been a beloved part of village life since 1901. Built by the civic-minded women of the Sasquanaug Association, it began as a simple solution to a common problem: how to give beachgoers a comfortable, convenient place to change and rest.

In 1900, they acquired the land for the Lodge from Edmund Gilbert, and by 1901, a two-story structure stood proudly at 1313 Pequot Road. Built for just $1,372, the Sea Lodge provided a practical amenity for beachgoers-a place to change, rest, and enjoy the shoreline with a bit more ease.

Before the Lodge existed, families would cart personal bathhouses to the beach each summer via horse-drawn wagons. The Lodge changed that. It quickly became a beloved spot for both year-round and seasonal residents to gather and unwind.

A Coastal Retreat with Character

The original Sea Lodge featured upper and lower porches lined with rocking chairs, where mothers could watch their children wade in the Sound. Elevated on pilings, the building allowed the tide to flow gently beneath it, adding to its coastal charm. Inside, wooden stairs led up to the "Bathing Pavillion," a simple yet vital space that offered comfort and convenience for the day's beachgoers.

Volunteer-Driven from the Start

From day one, the Sea Lodge has been run entirely by volunteers—neighbors and members who care deeply about the space and what it represents. Despite its welcoming spirit, the Lodge's size meant membership had to be capped. Only sixty-six locker holders were allowed at a time, with preference given to longtime and permanent Southport residents, followed by summer families and others connected to the area.

Rebuilding After the Storm

In 1950, a hurricane devastated the original building. But the community didn't hesitate. Just one year later, the Sea Lodge was rebuilt, this time with a design by noted architect and Southport resident Roswell Forman Barrat. Known for his commitment to historic preservation, Barrat created a structure that felt like a natural extension of the landscape-low, neutral in color, and resilient against future storms.

His redesign featured practical upgrades, including dressing rooms, restrooms, and boat storage underneath. Many of those original features are still in use today. Even the swimming dock from Barrat's sketches continues to serve Lodge members and the Sunfish racing fleet.

Stories That Make a Place

Ask any longtime member, and they'll have a Sea Lodge story. Tracy Van Buskirk remembers mischief with a bathing suit ringer that doubled as a water balloon launcher. She also recalls greased watermelon football games and peanut shell fishing at end-of-summer parties.

Walter Siemon, who once led the Lodge's sailing team, recalls a time when sailing was a serious pursuit. From the 1950s through the mid-1980s, the Lodge had an active sailing program that gave way to paddleboards and kayaks in later years. Walter also remembers unexpected guests—from comedian Rodney Dangerfield to actress Marlo Thomas and even Commander Whitehead, the dashing figure from Schweppes ads.

Tradition in Every Detail

One of the more charming artifacts from the Lodge's early days is a handwritten 1904 recipe labeled "Sea Lodge Drink," discovered in the Fairfield Museum archives. A mix of tea, fruit, and sugar, it likely refreshed many beachgoers and serves as a sweet symbol of the Lodge's long-standing social spirit.

A Legacy That Lasts

More than a building, the Sea Lodge is a living part of Southport's history—one of the oldest continuously operating community spaces in the area. It stands not just as a convenience but as a place where friendships form, traditions continue, and generations connect. As Tracy Van Buskirk shared, the Sea Lodge is "a gem"-and one the Southport community treasures deeply.