Newtown Historical Society

08/31/2026

The Franklin Tree is in bloom! If you're walking by the Matthew Curtis House, stop and take a look. While the poor tree has been struggling, we've been nursing it back to health. It's got lots of buds and several big beautiful blooms. This bee certainly was enjoying his visit earlier today.

08/15/2026

EZRA AROUND TOWN: Ever notice the stone block in front of 27 Main Street? Turns out it isn’t just historic (it was used for climbing in and out of carriages back in the day); it’s also the perfect rooster-sized stage for my morning crow-concert! But just so you don’t think it’s all about ME, I did a little digging and found out this property has star power of its own: It was the longtime home of the one and only Judge William Edmond.

One of Newtown’s most distinguished residents, William came to Newtown from Woodbury in 1782 as a lawyer, went on to become a member of the U.S. Congress, and later served as one of five judges for the Superior Court of Connecticut. (Ack, what have I done since I got up this morning??)

Before all that, he was a Revolutionary War Patriot. In 1777, William took up arms in the Battle of Ridgefield and was struck in the leg by a bullet, leaving him incapacitated on the field overnight. When doctors recommended amputation weeks later, he rejected that advice and took another, riskier course of action: he operated on himself! He didn’t lose a leg but he did gain a persistent limp.

William built this house for himself and his wife, Elizabeth Chandler, in 1787, after buying the land from his father-in-law. The five-bay layout (five windows across) was typical of Georgian Colonial-style homes, as was its elegant front entrance flanked by four sidelights and molded panels. Inside, three fireplaces served as the primary heating and cooking centers.

William died here in 1838 but his family tree was fruitful—his great granddaughter was the legendary Mary Hawley. The house itself later changed owners in the late 1860s when it was bought by Henry Sanford, husband of Mary Booth and owner of a dry goods store at the corner of Main and West. It’s currently owned by Maureen Rohmer.

Next time you pass 27 Main, give that old carriage step a little tap and remember good ol’ William—and everyone else who’s made our town what it is over the past 250 years!

08/11/2026

08/09/2026

In the 1940s several one room schoolhouses were reopened due to overcrowding. On September 26th you will get to meet three alumni of these schoolhouses. There may be others added as the event approaches, so be prepared for possible surprise guests.

Evelyn “Evie” Watts, Margaret “Peg” Forbell, and Gloria Ricco will be participating in a panel discussion, a short “Then and Now” slideshow will showcase many of the Newtown schoolhouses, and Town Historian, Ben Cruson, will open with a little background surrounding the reopening of the schoolhouses.

Come prepared with questions as plenty of time will be allotted for public interaction and bring your children or grandchildren so they can experience this once in a lifetime opportunity. We anticipate some of the best questions will come from our current schoolchildren.

This is a free event, however, donations are accepted and welcomed in order to continue offering events such as this.

07/20/2026

VOLUNTEER FIELDTRIP: A group of our volunteers traveled to East Granby, CT yesterday to visit the Old Newgate Prison and Copper Mine. Although farther than our usual field trips, it was well worth the trip. Curator, Morgan Bengel, coordinated the visit, and Docent, Luke, led an excellent private tour of the mine and prison yard. Despite the threat of rain, the weather held, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the Prison Yard Scavenger Hunt. The friendly competition made for great team building,
and the long commute helped everyone get to know each other better. Looking for something to do this summer, we all highly recommend this destination. Old New Gate Prison & Copper Mine

07/18/2026

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Jim O’Brien joined the society in February 2024 and has volunteered at History Camp, Tag Sale fundraisers, the “Two Lights for Tomorrow” initiative for the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride, and as a docent. He arranged for Ben Cruson to give a lecture on Mary Hawley at Newtown Woods, and assisted Lynn Friedman with her Rochambeau lecture at the Senior Center and as part of the society’s lecture series. This fall, he and Lynn will present a program on Lafayette. He enjoys these projects and hopes to do more.

Jim grew up in NYC near Yankee Stadium, attended Manhattan College, and graduated with a psychology degree before choosing a corporate path. He began in data entry at Deering Milliken, then moved to St. Regis Paper Company and Union Camp Corporation, becoming a buyer for their chemical division. He later joined IBM as a buyer and retired in 2013.

Jim and his wife Jane, a nurse for over 50 years, moved to Poughkeepsie in 1979 and recently moved to Newtown to be closer to their daughter, a Special Education teacher at Reed. Their son is an optometrist in Atlanta.

Beyond the society, Jim volunteers with the Newtown Forest Association, serves on the Newtown Woods Rules Committee, hikes with the Greater Danbury Men’s Club, swims lap at the Newtown Community Center pool and exercises at the Edge in Danbury.

When asked why he volunteers, Jim said that after moving to Newtown he wanted to get involved and meet people. He especially enjoys teaming up with Lynn on presentations, helping with research, locating images, creating slide shows, and collaborating on the overall presentation.

07/12/2026

A postcard from when Riverside on Lake Zoar was a summer get away for city dwellers.

07/05/2026

Ezra stopped by the Matthew Curtis House this weekend, in his patriotic best, to watch the flag raising on the front door. Thank you Deb Altieri, Jane Brady, and Louis Altieri for making sure our house was properly dressed for this historic anniversary. To quote Deb "A flag was needed."

07/03/2026

A photo of Lake Zoar from the 1920s when it was a beloved summer escape for city dwellers feels especially fitting during this week's extreme heat wave.

Created as a man-made lake to generate electric power, Lake Zoar quickly became a popular vacation destination. As the colonies along its shores developed, visitors flocked there—mostly by train—to buy or rent lakeside bungalows and spend the summer months by the water.

Many families settled in for the season while husbands returned to the city for work, making the trip back to Lake Zoar each weekend. Within a decade the Lake Zoar area had become a favorite weekend and vacation retreat for people seeking relief from the heat of the city.