Stone monument marks ‘Camp Lookout’ and signs of early 20th century suburban development

Stone monument marks ‘Camp Lookout’ and signs of early 20th century suburban development
The mysterious stone structure in the woods just off Amity Road in Woodbridge, CT.

A TownHistory reader recently asked about the seemingly mysterious stacked stone monument that's sometimes visible from Amity Road through the tree line on the left, as you come from New Haven, just north of the intersection with Bradley Road.

The structure appears to be a stone cairn that was built from a combination of natural, rough stones of varying sizes and shapes, with some lighter-colored stones arranged in a distinct decorative or symbolic pattern. The overall shape is triangular or pyramid-like, with a pointed top – it is certainly eye-catching! But what is the story behind it? Let's look for clues...

There are some obvious sign posts to get us started on our journey – the stone monument is directly behind some street signs marking the turn-off to a private road called Cedar Rock Road, and to Schroeder Terrace (these roads run through the parking lot of the professional offices at 270 Amity Road and then proceed up the hill behind the building).

Interestingly, a variation of this surname—spelled Schroder—appears in the 1982 CUPOP Survey connected with a parcel in this area:

An entry in the 1982 CUPOP Survey mentions Robert and Anna Schroder

Robert Adolf Schroder (1883-1958) was born in Germany and settled in the New Haven area with his wife Anna Siebold Schroeder (1886-1970) and children around the turn of the century. They are the couple referenced in the CUPOP record for the 15-acre parcel known as the Old Derby Trail, which has been owned by the Town of Woodbridge since 1936. The address of this property is actually 80 Park Lane – which helps orient us to this area of Woodbridge that is unconnected by present day through roads, but was once traversed by well-used trails. The Town website's Tax Map provides a helpful visual:

https://woodbridge.mapxpress.net/ags_map/
Area of Woodbridge showing location of the stone marker in relation to the property formerly owned by the Schroder's at 80 Park Lane.

In the early 20th century, much of this area of Woodbridge was being considered for various development projects. It was known for potential building lots and also for a campground called Camp Lookout, where city residents could retreat to the countryside without traveling far. Of course, this proximity was especially noteworthy in the days before the automobile made for easier recreational getaways. The Schroders appear to have owned property here associated with the camp grounds — and the rock monument may have been a way of pointing travelers toward the campground entrance, visible from a distance as they made their way on foot along Amity Road from the trolley stop at the present day intersection by the Mobil Gas station on Whalley Avenue.

In fact, a series of advertisements that ran in the New Haven Union newspaper during the summer of 1913 promoted this same area's land for sale, with a focus on its natural beauty, health benefits, and proximity to the city. The ads provide a fascinating glimpse back in time to remind us of some of the enduring qualities of Woodbidge. While many of these descriptions may still resonate with today's residents, it's interesting to see how the attributes of the land were conveyed to daily newspaper readers more than 100 years ago:

The ads highlight the opportunity to live in a peaceful, rural environment while still being conveniently close to the city for work. The proposed development of ‘Amity Park’ is described as an attractive, affordable, and healthful place to build a home, encouraging prospective buyers to seize the opportunity for a better life away from the city. The sales pitch carries an appeal to families, emphasizing the healthful environment and the potential for children to grow up in a safe, inspiring place, surrounded by nature. Readers are also informed that new roads and other infrastructure developments are being planned, including a road to be named Easy Street, which is projected to become a prime residential section. Potential buyers are invited to visit the land and explore its beauty firsthand.

The land for sale is also presented as a safe and wise investment, better than stocks or renting, with the potential for future appreciation. The ads inform readers that they can come visit Woodbridge to see the property for sale, calling upon “Dr. D. S. Trowbridge, the manager of the Amity Association” who is described as overseeing the development, to show them around. The ads stress that flexible payment plans are offered to make homeownership accessible:

ANOTHER THING, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT

It is a well-known saying, and generally accepted as true, that “IT TAKES MONEY TO MAKE MONEY.” If you haven't got it you can't get it. As a general thing, the man with a bank account is the only man who has the privilege of investment. But a REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AT AMITY is a possibility to nearly all persons, no matter the limits of their capital!

Land at AMITY Is Selling On Terms to Suit Your Own Convenience

Just a few dollars as an original payment, and a little each week, places you in the way of a future home. Dr. Trowbridge intends to make it as easy for the ambitious as possible, and a few words of explanation from him of his payment plan may mean much to you. Do not fail to visit Amity, and do not fail to talk with the man on the grounds.

These ads certainly appear to be the handiwork of a slick pitchman, indeed! But who exactly is this Dr. D. S. Trowbridge? And how might a better understanding of his life story help us discern the motivations of this man who promoted Woodbridge real estate ventures so long ago?

Dudley Selden Trowbridge (184-1923) was born in Chester, New York to Dr. William Henry Trowbridge and Sylvia Peck Trowbridge, and spent most of his life in the Stamford, Connecticut area. Although not a medical doctor like his father, Dudley was well-educated and worked in various professions, including as a teacher, newspaper publisher (he appears to have published two local newspapers, the Stamford Standard and the Norwalk Express), and traveling salesman for a drug company, before taking up the profession of real estate broker toward the end of his life. (It's possible that today's Selden Road, a connecting road in the area of Woodbridge where he sought to develop Amity Park, was named for him.)

After his marriage in 1871, Dudley appeared to lead a fairly stable life until tragedy struck his family in 1886 when a diphtheria epidemic claimed the lives of his wife, Clara Bomford Paine (1846-1886), and three of their young children – William, Lily, and James – within the span of just four days. This devastating event left Dudley to care for an infant and three children under the age of 13.

Although he remarried the following year and had two more children, according to a biographical sketch, “upon the death of his second wife in 1899, leaving him again with two small children, he appeared to have abandoned his family responsibilities, leaving the care and upbringing of the smaller children to his daughter Clara, who supported the family as a school teacher. She never married, having devoted all her young years to the welfare of her half-brother and half-sister.”

Seen within this context of hardship and loss which he seems to have struggled to come to terms with, Dudley Selden Trowbridge's efforts to become a developer of land in Woodbridge could have been motivated by several intertwined factors. After his years as a newspaper publisher and other career roles, his transition into the real estate business would have provided him with a stable and profitable career, particularly in promoting suburban areas as attractive alternatives to city living. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, suburban expansion around cities like New Haven was growing rapidly. Dudley likely recognized economic opportunity in the increasing demand for suburban housing, driven by industrialization and urbanization.

After the tragic losses of his first and second wives and several children, he may also have been seeking a new focus and direction in life. Real estate, particularly in ventures promoting peaceful, idyllic homesites in natural settings, could have held appeal as a fresh start — both for himself and for others, particularly men with young families whom he may have hoped to influence. His personal hardships may have sharpened his understanding of the importance of creating a safe, peaceful environment for families, which is a theme in the ads. His involvement in developing Amity Park likely grew from a desire to foster the creation of attractive residential communities, particularly as he witnessed the effects of urban environments on health and quality of life, as understood in his time.

Perhaps the events that shaped Dudley Trowbridge’s outlook may also have left a lasting imprint on Woodbridge itself. As we now turn to modern efforts to encourage development, we might still hear echoes of these early aspirations — the belief that the beauty of the land and the experience of living close to nature offer profound benefits to those who call Woodbridge home.