Remarkable Women of Old Saybrook

Book excerpt: Situated at the mouth of the Connecticut River, Old Saybrook has been home to generations of remarkable women. The women of this quintessentially New England town have faced and overcome overwhelming adversity to leave indelible marks on their town and its history. Katharine Houghton Hepburn, mother of the legendary actress Katharine Hepburn, organized the Hartford Political Equality League to battle for women's right to vote. Anna Louise James fought to become the first black female pharmacist in Connecticut, and she took care of her community, serving them medicine as well as ice cream sodas at James Pharmacy. There is also local restaurateur Steffie Walters, who after emigrating from Austria remained at the helm of the much-loved shore eatery Dock and Dine for eleven years. Historian Tedd Levy chronicles the achievements of these extraordinary women who broke barriers, changed their communities and expanded opportunities for future generations.