A Familiar Face

To the Editor:

My cousin, Susan McNulty, and I were so pleased to see our grandmother’s picture on the front page of The Newtown Bee, January 14, 2011. The photo on the lower left side of that paper is a picture of the Newtown High School Girl’s basketball team. I gave this photo to Caroline Stokes several years ago to put in the Newtown History archives.

On the left is Jessie Martha Beers Wilson, our grandmother, and in the middle is Sarah Alice Beers Mitchell, our great-aunt. Sarah Beers Mitchell was head librarian for over 25 years at the Cyrenius Booth Library and was honored to be included in the Library Rose Garden.

For many years the Beers family called home the restored house on the corner of Church Hill Road and The Boulevard. At one time my great-grandfather George W. Beers owned land to Hawley School, up The Boulevard to the first vintage house on the left and most of the way up The Boulevard on the right to where the Budds owned property (Budd Drive) and down to the railroad tracks. The Beers family moved from the Palestine section where we first settled Newtown into town to accommodate Jessie, Sarah, Lillian Beers Tiemann, and G. Herbert Beers (three sisters and one brother). Winter trips to the high school were difficult. The Newtown High School was located across from St Rose Church on Church Hill Road (until it was destroyed by fire) just within easy walking distance.

We are so pleased this photo was used. Does anyone know the rest of the team? I was told years ago but have forgotten.

Sincerely,

Caryl Stuart Stratton

Susan Walker McNulty

40 Ruffin Road, Woodbury                                         February 1, 2011