Our Town

We moved to Newtown Connecticut in 1972 with 3 kids in tow. Although we had lived in Maine for a couple of years, New England was basically a foreign country to us with it's winding roads, heavy forests with meandering stone walls and colonial houses. As you can see from the brief history above, it was alive and well long before the Revolution. George Washington camped on the grounds of the boys elementary school. The tea bag and Scrabble started here along with many prominent actors, writers and inventors (Click to enlarge pics)

It is well known for its Main Street which has a 100 foot flagpole in the center of the intersection. It is almost impossible to get a decent picture unless you stop traffic or risk life and limb so this is courtesy of the web. It has been controversial since it went up in the 1800's. It originally was wood but after being challenged by many a vehicle, it is now buried 11 ft into the ground and weighs 2.5 tons. Every so often, efforts are made to remove it to make the road safer.....but over the years citizens have rallied to "Keep the Flagpole" successfully. Despite a speed limit of 25 MPH on the road and it being basically a round about, (for which Villagers are expert at navigating because we have so many), you'd think it would be hard to miss but each year it snares a few unfortunate souls.

The church next to the flagpole is so typical except for the rooster weathervane on the top. It has small holes in it that are reportedly a result of target practice by British soldiers. The rooster is used as a symbol for the town.

Main Street is lovely, with historic homes, stately town offices and traditional white steepled churches.

When we left Newtown, about 8 years ago, most of our friends and all of our boys had moved away. It was a great place to raise kids with its excellent schools and small town setting. But it was time for us to go exploring ...........as I left, I said that the one thing
I would really miss was walking on Pond Brook Road. It is an unpaved road near our home that we both walked, jogged , biked on for over 30 years. I knew every rock, tree and hill. It followed Pond Brook, a meandering stream or a rushing brook depending on the season. It is always a beautiful peaceful respite and a vigorous outing over its 3 miles.
So, a couple years ago, Jon moves back and now his boys will go to the same schools as their dad and we get to wander our favorite by-ways once again............

We just don't jog anymore.......................