Tercentennial Year Was A Celebration Of Newtown History

By Nancy K. Crevier

Sandwiched between two ecumenical services that brought together worshippers from Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish faiths, a year’s worth of memorable activities celebrating Newtown’s 300 years of existence filled the calendars and hearts of local residents in 2005.

A copy of Newtown’s original deed came into the town’s possession as the anniversary year kicked off. Signed by stalwart historic founding fathers and the Pootatuck Indians (who traded the property to become known as Newtown for four broadcloth coats, four blankets, four ruffled coats, four collars, ten shirts, ten pair of stockings, 40 pounds of lead, ten pounds of powder, and 40 knives) in 1705, the parchment paper is tangible proof of our town’s birth.

Furry faces about town were the norm as local fellows vied for first place in the Tercentennial Beard Growing Contest sponsored by the Newtown Congregational Church Men’s Club. It culminated in April with the “crowning” of the King of Beards, John Breny. Many contestants with itchy faces swiftly shed their growth by the end of the judging day.

While the men grew long in the face, more events unfurled about town. The February gala Tercentennial Colonial Ball was a festive night of dining and dancing for more than 600 residents, some in period costume and others gussied up in modern formal wear. Music by Third Shift was a popular choice, keeping partygoers up and at ‘em until after midnight.

As spring blossomed in Newtown, the petals unfurled at the launching of a special rose named exclusively for the Town of Newtown and created by Bailey Nurseries, an Oregon-based business that is known around the world for its exceptional rose program. The Newtown Rose is part of the Easy Elegance™ Rose Collection. It has deep pink, pointed buds that open to hot pink blossoms with just a touch of coral. The rose was sold at local garden club activities and at Lexington Gardens.

One of the most popular tercentennial events captured the history of our town. The “Newtown Notables, Gone But Not Forgotten” Cemetery Tours featured reenactors stationed at the sites of their character’s grave in Village Cemetery. The reenactors regaled visitors to grave plots with tales of their lives in the early days of Newtown. So popular was the Cemetery Tours program that an encore performance took place at Newtown Meeting House on Main Street later in the year to accommodate those who had missed the spring production.

Newtown Choral Society offered up their voices to the tercentennial, dedicating the spring concert to the celebration, as did Newtown Friends of Music with a free concert featuring The Aulos Ensemble on November 19.

The yearlong tercentennial celebration had something fun for every one of its unique citizens, at some point during the past year. The Lions Club’s Duck Race in the Pootatuck River attracted a huge throng of residents ranging from infants to the elderly. Who could resist the sight of 1,900 yellow rubber ducks spilling from a front loader into the river?

A folk art flag show, The Rooster Run and a Rooster Rally on Main Street brought out crowds of summer Newtowners and provided ample opportunity for a good time. Curious townspeople had the chance to take a peek at some of Newtown’s historic homes when owners opened their homes to a summer tour.

Another favorite summer pastime all over America is baseball, and Newtowners love their ball game as much as anyone else. This summer, baseball fans in our hometown got to enjoy the game from an historical vantage point. Whether residents were suited up to play or warming the bleachers, it was a stimulating session when the vintage base ball team took to the field and played ball the old-fashioned way, including one rousing game at the Tercentennial Birthday Bash in August.

If residents had not yet found their place in history by August, the colonial reenactment group encamped in the High Field of Fairfield Hills during the August 6 birthday extravaganza gave an overview of life as revolutionary soldiers and their followers.

A modern look at our military and a nice contrast to the revolutionary army was provided by an appearance that day by the Governor’s Horse Guard. The men, women, and horses of the 2nd Company Governor’s Horse Guard performed footdrills and honored members of the Horse Guard in an awards ceremony as hundreds of spectators looked on. The birthday bash, an all-day affair full of food, crafts, music, and camaraderie, ended with a spectacular display of fireworks.

Even as summer slipped into autumn, the Tercentennial Committee made sure that year 300 for Newtown did not peter out. “Happy Birthday, Newtown” was the theme of the 2005 Labor Day Parade. An extra-long lineup of floats, marchers, and bands headed up by Grand Marshal Mary Hawley (portrayed by Beth Cluff) left an indelible impression on the three-deep crowd that lined the parade route. Perfect weather for a perfect year was the order of the day.

All of that marching and gawking built up a big hunger, but Tony Posca of Andrea’s Pastry Shop on Queen Street was ready and waiting with a towering Newtown birthday cake in front of his bakery.

In September, the Health and Safety Fair held at Newtown Middle School was a great source for tips on staying healthy. The fair was dedicated to the honor of 300 years of police, fire, and ambulance service in Newtown and gave citizens the chance to check out emergency vehicles and put a face to some of the men and women who volunteer in emergency situations in town.

If the Cemetery Tours did not give history buffs enough of a taste of Newtown, the Tableaux Vivants presented at Newtown High School on October 1 increased the font of Newtown knowledge. Under the direction of Amber Edwards, the series of still-life tableaux narrated by Town Historian Dan Cruson was a delightful way to absorb Newtown history painlessly.

From start to finish, Newtown schools honored the town’s anniversary. Timelines, art shows, historic displays, and architectural renditions of local buildings were just a few of the ways Newtown’s schoolchildren learned and shared Newtown’s history during the tercentennial year.

December’s Heritage Day at C.H. Booth Library showcased historic Newtown families and captured the essence of the tercentennial year. An afternoon of displays set up by families who have had ties to Newtown for at least the past 75 years filled residents with a sense of awe and pride in the continuity of lives that have made Newtown all that it is.

A colonial service complete with tithing men and a fire and brimstone preacher at Newtown Congregational Church heralded the end of Newtown’s 300th anniversary, and Newtown’s religious leaders gathered once again — this time at St Rose of Lima — to celebrate 300 years of religious choice in our New England town.

Then, with a flick of the switch, Dan Cruson set aglow the Ram Pasture Christmas Tree on December 2 with a new look — thousands of colored bulbs — in the final official duty of the Tercentennial Committee, topping off a never-to-be-forgotten year by residents of Newtown 2005.