Historical Society's Annual House And Garden Tour Is This Weekend

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Jul 18, 2008 12:00 am

Historical Societyâs Annual House And Garden Tour Is This Weekend

The 13th annual Newtown Historical Society House & Garden Tour will include four antique homes dating from 1767 to 1826 and their beautiful surroundings, as well as a 1994 home with spectacular gardens, as well as the celebrated gardens of two women who are known well beyond the borders of Newtown for their style and expertise.

The event, which will take place rain or shine on Saturday, July 19, will be this summerâs only public viewing of prominent garden author and lecturer Sydney Eddisonâs very special garden. The private garden of Maureen McLachlan, a master gardener who lives within the Borough, is also a part of the event.

In addition to the homes and gardens that are part of this yearâs homes and gardens tour, the historical society will present an exhibit of works by a number of celebrated residents.

A picturesque antique barn surrounded by gardens on historic Main Street will house an art exhibit featuring the work of 12 artists with a wide range of artistic visions in a variety of media. All residents of Newtown, the artists are Paula Brinkman, an illustrator turned doll creator; Betty Christensen, who began her career as a watercolor artist but turned to oils and pastels, en plein aire, a few years ago; the internationally known photorealist Robert Cottingham; the childrenâs book author and illustrator Bruce Degen, who is also internationally known; the illustrator Ross MacDonald; Grace McEnaney, a watercolor artist and designer; Paul Meisel, childrenâs book illustrator; Ruth Newquist, NWS, a watercolor and oil artist who specializes in cityscapes and landscapes; primitive folk artist Stacy Olszewski; Linda Pickwick, a watercolor artist; Michelle Rosenthal, also a watercolor artist; and Virginia Zic, an abstract realist.

The setting for the art show and sale will be the antique barn behind The Budd House at 50 Main Street. George and Shane Miller have been restoring the building for a few years, and Mr Millerâs gardens have been growing exponentially by the season. Those gardens will also be included in the homes and gardens tour.

On The Tour

*The modern home (circa 1994) and gardens of Judy Fishman and Andy Wiggin, 11 Farm Meadow Road.

*The circa 1770-80 home of Sigrid and Kent Carpenter, 40 Flat Swamp Road.

*The gracious Matterich House, circa 1790, and gardens, owned by Matthew Schlansky and Richard Barker, at 188 Hattertown Road.

*The property owned by Richard and Nora Murphy, which includes a 1Â½-story circa 1767 Colonial and its gardens, at 159 Poverty Hollow Road.

*The circa 1826 home of Mary Fellows and John Conk at 120 Walnut Tree Hill.

*Sydney Eddisonâs gardens, which surround her home at 65 Echo Valley Road.

*The gardens of Maureen McLachlan at 32 The Boulevard.

Proceeds for the homes and gardens tour will benefit the Newtown Historical Society and are used to maintain the circa 1750 Matthew Curtiss House Museum as well as the educational programs of the society.

This self-guided tour will take from 11 am until 5 pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour. Send checks to Newtown Historical Society House Tour, PO Box 189, Newtown CT 06470, before July 10. Please include name, address, and telephone number (for confirmation).

Tickets are limited to prevent overcrowding and may also be purchased at the circulation desk of Cyrenius H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, during normal library hours; The Red Garage, 78 South Main Street; and Drug Center Pharmacy, 61 Church Hill Road.

On the day of the tour any remaining tickets will be sold only at the Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main Street, from 10 am to 2 pm.

More information is available at www.NewtownHistory.org or 426-5937.

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It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for "Gross Stupidity." This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents. Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit. Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc. Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn't that what we elect people to do? I applaud Pisani's dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.

Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

I Get It!

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Historical Society's Annual House And Garden Tour Is This Weekend

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