By Karen Cuccinello Stamford Library archivist 6-2025
I posted a photo of a house taken in 1977 on the Stamford Neighbors Facebook page because I did not know where the house was. Thankfully quite a few people knew exactly where it was and had fond memories of previous owners. West End Ave. was probably a brand new street called Division St. when I believe W.R. Beckley built and lived in the house in 1868.
I believe Miles W. (1817-1880) and Mary Stanley sold the property to Wm R. Beckley in February 1868 for $127.00. In 1899 the estate of Rebecca H. Beckley sold the house to Mrs. Margaret J. Becker for $5,000;1906 Becker to Grant M. Dent; 1907 Dent to Selena M. Campbell of NYC; 1962 executors for Campbell to Donald W. & Dorothy Affleck; 1984 Affleck estate to Wayne J. & Brenda E. Vincentz of Ashland and in 2014 Vincentz to Andrew & Grace Wozniak of Roxbury.
William Redfield Beckley was born in New Britain, CT June 24, 1820 to Moses William (1791-1868) and Mary (Cornwell) Beckley one of seven children. He married Rebecca H. Maynard (1828-1900), daughter of Samuel Brooks and Mary (Judson) Maynard, in Stamford September 1846 and had children: Freemont (1848-1852), Mary Frances “Fannie” (Mrs. William Riseley,1854- 1922) and William “Willie” Maynard (1867- 1901). William learned the harness-maker's trade from his father, moved to Coxsackie, NY about 1842 and to Stamford 1844. He played a major role in the growth of Stamford as a harness-maker, blacksmith, speculator, ran a tannery, erected and sold about 15 houses, was one of the first to erect business blocks, was a merchant of clothing, grocery, dry goods, and also started a stage route. William died at home December 28, 1896, burial in Stamford Cemetery.
Mrs. Margaret Janet (Bathgate) Becker (1861-1934) was born in NYC December 1861 to Charles and Marion (Beck) Bathgate and married Charles E. Becker March 1893 in the Bathgates summer home Craig Gowan in Stamford. Marion commissioned the building of Craig Gowan in 1889 and Margaret gave it to Stamford in 1932 to become Bathgate Hospital, where Robinson Terrace Nursing home is now at 28652 Rte 23. Margaret is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx.
Grant Morris Dent (1871-1955) married Harriet Maria Buck (1879-1946), burial in Stamford Cemetery.
In 1952 Mrs. C. Bathgate Becker enter tained at her home in honor of Selena M. Campbell's birthday.
Selena Maycock Campbell (1866-1962) was from NYC. She was single and wealthy and devoted her life to charitable causes in NYC such as Industrial School No. 1 for the education of poor children and the Female Guardian Society and Home for the Friendless. In April 1951 she moved to Stamford year-round and had C.L. Many install a new heating system in her cottage. She is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx.
Donald William Affleck was born in Yonkers, NY July 24, 1896 to William and Mary (Strong) Affleck, served in the Army during WWI and married Dorothy Wadsworth on October 3, 1925 in Yonkers. He was employed at Central Hudson Lighting Company, Poughkeepsie and Long Island Lighting Company Mineola, NY. Donald's family spent summers in Stamford in the early 1900's before he and Dorothy moved to Stamford from Bayshore, L.I. following his retirement in1962. They were involved in Community organizations. Donald died January 27, 1977 at Community hospital, Stamford.
Dorothy was born December 1, 1898 in Mid dlebury, CT to Joel and Cora (Crawford) Wadsworth. She was a school teacher. Dorothy died in West Winfield, NY June 18, 1983, burial with her husband in West Winfield (NY) Cemetery.
Wayne J. Vincentz was born November 28, 1949 and raised in Teaneck, NJ and moved to Ashland, NY with his wife Brenda about 1973. They had sons Joshua and Adam and moved to Stamford in 1984. Wayne was an art and later 5th grade teacher at Stamford Central School and had a one man art show at the Rexmere in 1978. He retired in 2006. Brenda (Denig) Vincentz was born in NYC August 5, 1949 and was a preschool and art teacher for 30 years at Stamford Central. Second marriage to Stuart Smith. Wayne died in Oneonta December 1, 2008 and Brenda Eileen Vincentz-Smith died September 6, 2016.
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