Chopped Up For Souvenirs 54 Years Ago––

Newtown’s Last Wooden Flagpole Comes Home

By Dottie Evans

Of course, it was only a coincidence.

On Friday, May 21, the day before the new summer flag would be raised on Newtown’s landmark 100-foot steel flagpole, a piece of the old wooden flagpole that flew summer and winter American flags from 1912 to 1950 showed up at the front door of The Newtown Bee.

The Bee sits only half a block east and a few steps away from the spot where the old flagpole stood for 38 years.

Actually, it was Jim Crick who entered The Bee offices that day carrying a foot-long remnant of the old pole. He had gotten it from a friend, Randall Watkins, the son of Reginald Watkins, who once had a machine shop in Sandy Hook.

“Randall knows I collect things,” said Mr Crick in what may have been the understatement of the year.

Mr Crick, who has spent 71 of his 72 years living in this town, is known for amassing all kinds of Newtown memorabilia. His collections include historic postcards numbering in the thousands. No doubt, a souvenir of Newtown’s last wooden flagpole will be a worthy addition.

After some discussion, it was determined there have been three wooden flagpoles at that prominent location since the first was erected in 1876 to celebrate the nation’s centennial. The 43 citizens who put the first one up called it the Liberty Pole, and over 128 years’ time the name has stuck.

Steel Beats Wood: Today’s Pole Dedicated In 1950

It was in January 1950 that the town decided to replace the third wooden flagpole with the sturdy steel version we know today. A front-page article in the February 17, 1950, issue of The Newtown Bee marked the flag-raising.

 The raising of the flag on Newtown’s newly erected all-steel, 100-foot pole on the historic site at the intersection of Main Street, Church Hill Road and West Street in dedicatory exercises last Sunday afternoon [It was February 12, Lincoln’s birthday] brought together a large gathering of townspeople from a score of town civic organizations marching to the site. A patriotic urge and loyalty to an historic town institution combined with almost balmy weather for February to make the convocation impressively large.

The ceremony was conducted under the auspices of the Raymond L. Pease Post, American Legion, and the flag used was one given to Newtown by his widow in honor of Captain Peter Lawson, World War I Marine Corps veteran who gave his life in World War II.

The parade was headed by First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson…and Rev Walter R Conroy, pastor of St Rose Church gave the invocation.

…In his dedicatory address, Judge Cavanaugh spoke briefly of the history of the town and of the nation during the period in which a Liberty Pole had stood on the location, and he concluded with these words: “If the hammer and sickle were being raised here today instead of the stars and stripes, you may rest assured that this pole would not be flanked by two churches nor would men of the churches of God be permitted on the program. Let’s preserve these precious gifts. Let’s be Americans in every sense of the word.”

Hunks Of History

Before these ceremonies took place, the last wooden pole, which had been fashioned from a very thick, 150-year-old pine tree, was taken down and cut into many small pieces. These were possibly sold or given away to interested citizens, and then dedicated by them in honor of certain other prominent Newtown citizens or institutions. Each chunk of the wooden flagpole was affixed with a plaque noting date and designation.

Many longtime Newtown residents might remember seeing those celebrated souvenirs in various public buildings and homes around town throughout the years. While some of the souvenirs have been lost, others occasionally come to light.

Jim Crick’s trophy piece was a foot-long hunk of polished pine bearing a broken cleat that once secured the flag’s ropes. Its exposed surface showed where layers of white paint had peeled and been repainted over many years. The brass plaque bore these words: “Dedicated February 12, 1950 by Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh.”

According to Mr Crick’s best recollection, Judge Cavanaugh was a prominent Newtown resident, a politician, a judge of probate, and “a very colorful character in this town.”

Another piece –– an impressive cross section cut –– sits on a shelf of the library’s genealogy room. Its plaque notes the following dedication: “Presented to the Cyrenius Booth Library by Arthur Treat Nettleton.”

Mr Nettleton was another prominent citizen and onetime financial advisor to town benefactress Mary Elizabeth Hawley. He donated many historic items to the library for its permanent collections.

Finally, Bee Publisher Scudder Smith remembers that his father, Paul Smith, once had two wedges of the old wooden flagpole in his possession.

“They had legs on them and had been made into footstools,” Mr Smith recalled.

Who knows how many other pieces of the last wooden flagpole have survived since 1950. They may have been consigned to fireplace mantels or library shelves or their significance has been forgotten, and are collecting dust in attics and basements.

If any have found their way into area flea markets, it is hoped that sharp-eyed Newtown history buffs will recover them. Not that anyone would ever want to reassemble the original, but the tercentennial is coming up in 2005. A display of wooden flagpole remnants might be just the thing.