To the Editor:

We moved here 51 years ago. Thirty years ago, I became a trustee of the Newtown Historical Society. That’s when I met Dan Cruson. He helped me date old houses, which I was very interested in. Since I was born, I have lived in nine different houses. Age 1-2, a 1910 house in Springfield, Mass. — My father got another job, so we moved to Stratford, Conn. to a 1910 house, then to Milford on the water in a 1930s house. The house across the street burned and the smell was awful. My mother couldn’t stand it, so we moved to another 1930s house, about four blocks away, across from the water. We actually stayed there 13 years.

Then the state of Connecticut decided to buy up all the houses, tear them down and build “Silver Sands State Park.” Well, we moved inland to a 1950s ranch.

When I got married, we lived in a 1910 house in Norwalk, then we bought a 1920s “Craftsman” style house in Westport, which was my favorite house. Then my husband got a job in Naugatuck, so we moved to Newtown to a 1950s raised ranch.

Now we live in a 1960s colonial. Nine houses in all since I was born.

Dan was amazed when I told him all this. He said you can always tell a 1700s house or early 1800s house because the windows are small. Glass was expensive and no one could afford it.

I will miss him...

Louise Baker

17 Hyvue Drive, Newtown