Every building has a story, and in the summer of 2019 The Newtown Bee sat down with Newtown Historian Dan Cruson to get his take on some lesser-known sites that deserve their day in the sun.

With a list of more than half a dozen commercial and residential sites — each nestled away in different parts of town — research began to discover the past and present of these buildings for a new series called, “Exploring Newtown’s Historical Places.”

The first spot to be highlighted was Upham’s Japanese Tea Garden, a popular attraction throughout the late-1920s and early-1930s created by local entrepreneur William Upham to house his eccentric and eclectic hobbies.

Inside the building was his extensive collection of Japanese and Chinese antiques and furniture, along with a restaurant for people to dine in. Outside he created ponds large enough that patrons could enjoy the tranquility on rowboats and canoes, a bathhouse for people to change into their swimsuits, and he even built and island for an 18-hole miniature golf course — the largest in Connecticut at the time.

Today, more than 80 years later, the building is owned by Newtown resident Bryan Roth and houses Big Buddha Cigar Lounge, which consists of a retail shop, a public smoking room, and a membership lounge.

While the building currently stands at 27 Hawleyville Road, it was originally located next door at 31 Hawleyville Road when it was built in 1850.

The building was physically picked up and switched with the then Hawleyville Chapel, which was also featured in the series.

The Hawleyville Chapel, built in 1900, was a non-denominational private chapel that was a popular place to host weddings and funerals.

Over the years, it has been a housed a variety of small businesses, such as the Hawleyville Naturopathic Medical Center in 2002 and Sound (A Center for Music, Creative Arts, & Mindfulness) in December 2012.

The Hawleyville Chapel building is currently owed by Linda E. DeStefano, who runs her law office on the main level and Journey Yoga & Wellness upstairs. She also rents a room to healer/therapist Aimee Dos Santos for her practice, Seeking Up Healing & Wellness.

The businesses continue to honor the building’s past by displaying an original plaque that reads, “In grateful memory of Alpheus Geer Baker, who faithfully labored for the erection of this chapel 1847-1900,” indicating Mr Baker’s date of birth and death.

The sign references A.G. Baker, who also constructed the nearby warehouse at 28 Hawleyville Road in 1877 and used it as his furniture retail outlet until his death 1901.

That historic building was also highlighted in The Newtown Bee’s series in the article, “Exploring Newtown’s Historical Places: The Red Building In Hawleyville.”

During the 1900s, the warehouse was home to a number of businesses, including S.B. Blackman’s general store, the Hawleyville Lace Curtain Factory, Mr Upham’s Food Products Plant, De Sherbinin Products that produced lamp parts and adapters, and Edelman Leather.

At the turn of the century, Jeffrey Miller, MD, bought the warehouse for his company, Mission Allergy.

Across town, the original Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company’s Firehouse, located at 40 Dodgingtown Road, was featured in the series.

The building was constructed in 1912 thanks to Dodgingtown resident Al Bevans.

Not only was the building utilized as a firehouse, but when the engine was pulled outside the space was used for dances.

The 40 Dodgingtown Road property is now home to the Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, which purchased it in April 2000 from the Newtown Montessori School.

In 2009, the building was completely demolished and rebuilt in a similar sized blueprint. In August 2010, renovations were completed, and the building became a classroom.

“Exploring Newtown’s Historical Places” featured another former firehouse in its article on the former Glover Hall, at 6 Glen Road.

In Glover Hall’s heyday, it was the place to be for social gatherings in Sandy Hook. People were frequently renting out the space for their dances, parties, and events.

Most notably, Glover Hall housed the Sandy Hook Free Public Library, and it was the first location of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company when it was established in 1938.

Since the fire company moved into its current facility on Riverside Road in 1977, the building at 6 Glen Road has been used for retail and office space.

Over in the Botsford area, the series delved into the history of the Botsford Post Office, located at 26 Botsford Hill Road, which dates back to the 1890s.

When Albert Rasmussen became the postmaster in April 1920, he ran the post office and his general store there — and even lived in the building — until his death in 1961.

After 1961, the post office changed locations and moved to South Main Street, and then later to its current location at 1 Botsford Hill Road.

As for what happened to the 26 Botsford Hill Road building once the Botsford Post Office moved out, Mr Cruson told The Newtown Bee, “It was an antique store for many years.”

The next installment in the series is set to showcase internationally known sculptor John Angel’s house and studio on Old Mill Road... stay tuned.

Interested in learning more about a specific historical place in Newtown? Send suggestions to features reporter Alissa Silber at alissa@thebee.com or call 203-426-3141.