A Fresh Face For The Flagpole

By Nancy K. Crevier

Father and sons restoration team Robert, Paul, and Moe Bastiaanse of Valley Restoration in Torrington spent most of the breezy and sunny Monday, June 7, shinnying up and down the flagpole in the center of Main Street. The men were renewing the pole, which takes its share of bumps and scrapes every year as motorists “Hail Mary” their way through the challenging intersection at Main Street and Church Hill Road.

Plans for gussying up the pole included a week’s worth of scraping, sanding, and repainting, as well as the replacement of ropes and clips for the American flag that snaps in the wind over the center of town.

The trio set up a safety barrier and ladder early in the day on Monday, and removed the Go Right traffic signs posted on each side of the pole before beginning work. Steeple jack Paul Bastiaanse had a special trip to make up the flagpole, though, for the renovation of Newtown’s famous icon. Secured by ropes and balanced on a swing set-like wooden seat, Paul quickly inched himself up the 100-foot-tall steel pole, which is just six inches in diameter at its apex, where he fetched the 16-inch-diameter golden ball from the top of the pole and carried it carefully down the pole. Restoration plans included a new coat of gilt for the orb.

The renovations to the flagpole are funded through the efforts of retired Newtown Police Department Lieutenant David Lydem, who appointed himself unofficial caretaker of the flagpole in 1983.

“I noticed then that the pole was kind of raggedy looking, so I spearheaded a drive to raise funds to fix it up, and have been doing that ever since,” Lt Lydem said Monday morning.

The ball was regilded, and on Wednesday, June 9, passersby saw Paul, once more, perched on high, replacing the newly glistening ball. Lt Lydem had a heart-stopping moment, though, on Wednesday as he turned onto Main Street and saw the ball being replaced by the family trio.

“I looked at it and thought it was dented,” said the retired police officer, “but it turns out it was so shiny, the sun was reflecting off of it!”

The ball is at the top of the 100-foot flagpole, and is just a small dot when being viewed from the street level. So why bother putting so much effort — and cost — into redoing the ball with such fine material?

“Why? Because it looks nice!” Lt Lydem said when posed with that question Wednesday morning. “Look at it. It’s so shiny right now you can see the reflection off the flagpole.”

Following this week’s project, funds will be fairly depleted, said Lt Lydem, who is hoping for new donations to replenish the coffers. Checks made payable to Town of Newtown Flagpole may be sent in care of Dave Lydem, 75 Georges Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470.