National Hall (1873)

On the west bank of the Saugatuck River in Westport, at 2 Post Road West, is the National Hall Building. It was built in 1873 to house the First National Bank of Westport, two stores and a meeting hall called National Hall. The building was constructed at a time when the west bank of the river was Westport’s commercial and social hub and it represents the town’s growing prosperity after the Civil War. Horace Staples, a prominent Westport businessman and president of the bank was the driving force behind its construction. Various businesses have used the building over the years, including the Fairfield Furniture store and a luxury hotel, the recently closed Inn at National Hall, where President Bill Clinton once stayed. Today it is home to Vespa Italian Restaurant.

Next to National Hall, at 8 Post Road West, is another Italianate commercial building with a brick facade. The First National Bank of Westport’s former home had been a wood frame Federal-style building on this site. The current building was erected c. 1880 by John Burke, who owned the the property between 1875 and 1896.