To the Editor:

No doubt some have noticed a new and spectacular view of Taunton Pond from Route 6 this week, but some may be saddened by the loss of another of the town’s beautiful, old barns. Although the barn property passed from our family a decade ago, just as with the passing of a loved one, I feel compelled to tell the life story (as I know it) of that barn for the sake of those who are feeling its loss and enjoy pondering on Newtown’s past.

When a young Swedish family bought the property in 1924, the original house needed to be demolished to make way for the construction of the new US Highway 6. They constructed a new house in 1926 and used the old barn (on top of the hill) until it burned to the ground in 1931 and was promptly replaced. The property operated as a dairy farm for 40 years, with 60 cows at its height. If you’ve ever wondered why that ranch house was so close to the barn, that’s because it was originally the tractor shed. A residence was added on top to house the farm manager much later. Taunton Lake Road originally went straight by that ranch and joined Route 6 more towards Newtown, but since the cows grazed on both sides of the highway, the path that they took to the barn ultimately became the roadway.

When the dairy was done, and the ancestors had passed, multiple new generations raised their families on the property and enjoyed tending to horses and other farm animals in the barn. The old farm was a great place to grow up with plenty of adventure, open space, sunshine, and good American values.

Randi Allen Kiely

70 Mount Pleasant Road, Newtown         March 20, 2019