Family: I was born 83 years ago on the farm across the street from my house. I can't read a map so I guess I'm stuck. My wife, Florence Snow, died about 30 years ago. We have four children, Joel, Jeffrey, Janice, and Jay, who all still live in Ne
Family: I was born 83 years ago on the farm across the street from my house. I canât read a map so I guess Iâm stuck. My wife, Florence Snow, died about 30 years ago. We have four children, Joel, Jeffrey, Janice, and Jay, who all still live in Newtown ââ I guess they canât read maps either ââ and I have ten grandchildren. We had a son, Jerold, who was about 4 or 6 when he was hit by a truck and killed on Poverty Hollow Road when we went to visit someone there. I sometimes go to the cemetery in Bridgeport where he is buried. My wifeâs parents were nice, honest people. I had someone in Sandy Hook build a six-foot round table so we could all sit around it for dinner every Sunday. After her death I had a second marriage but it didnât last, so here I am. I use a cane to get around to visit my neighbors and friends.
Life On Huntingtown Road: I used to live on a dirt country road, now itâs paved and everyone speeds. I had to cross the road to work the farm ââ I had cows and chickens ââ so I got a sign that said âhidden radarâ that helped for a while. Years ago this was a Jewish neighborhood, just Jewish people from Burnsteins (near Meadowbrook Road) all the way to Monroe, with our own synagogue here. One year I wanted to be a fruit farmer so I planted 600 trees â apple, pear, peach, plum ââ across the street. I built the store, I built stone walls. Fifty years ago I planted the trees in front of my house.
Biggest Change Iâve Seen In Newtown: I remember when Newtown had one cop, Hiram Hanlon, the resident state trooper. Now we have 44. What went wrong? Why are there so many people in prisons? I knew everyone in Newtown years ago. Itâs a nice town. But itâs expensive to live here now and lots of families have mothers and fathers who have to work. The most important people in society are our children. Why should mothers have to go to work?
Personal Philosophy: From the time I was about 2 years old, my father told me âlet no man be your judge.â He meant be honest. Iâve always lived by that and taught my children that, too. All I wanted them to do is be honest. I tried to be a good farmer, a good locksmith, a good painter, a good family man. But how you teach [these values] today is a very difficult task. I donât have the answers.