Town Historian's Annual Lecture To Cover 'What's Old That's New'
Town Historianâs Annual Lecture
To Cover âWhatâs Old Thatâs Newâ
Newtown Historical Society will open 2011 with the annual presentation by town historian Dan Cruson, on Monday, January 10, at 7:30. The program will be in the community room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street.
Mr Crusonâs lecture this year will be âWhatâs Old Thatâs New.â The presentation will showcase newly found photographs and historical incidents including photo material of the 1920s and earlier. These images will include the last of the early Newtown High School football teams of 1911, after which the town took a break from the sport, accompanied by a photographic survey of the townâs teams from the beginning in 1898 until 1911.
Mr Cruson also plans to revisit the spectacular murder of Andrew Peck, which took place in the southwest corner of town in 1888.
In an abrupt change of pace, the presentation will conclude with showing a short film of Newtownâs 1939 Memorial Day parade, which led to the dedication of the Peace and Liberty (now usually called the Soldiers and Sailors) Monument at the head of Main Street.
Dan Cruson is a retired teacher of anthropology and local history at Joel Barlow High School. He is currently president of Connecticut Archeological Society, and has collaborated with the archeology program at Western Connecticut on several occasions.
As town historian, he has also researched and written extensively about Newtown and Fairfield County. He is a past president of Newtown Historical Society, and currently serves as a trustee.
Newtown Historical Society programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the presentation. For further information, call the society at 203-426-5937.