Christmas Ornament Project

Reaches Silver Anniversary

Newtown Woman’s Club has reached a milestone with its Christmas ornament project. Launched in 1988 featuring the town’s rooster weathervane as designed by Lorraine VanderWende, the project is a fundraiser for the club that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The silver anniversary ornament — which has once again been produced by Woodbury Pewterers, Inc — depicts The Red Brick Store.

William B. Glover built the 70-foot-long, two-story brick building on the northwest corner of Church Hill Road and Glen Road in 1857, to replace a wooden two-story building that had previously housed his business. The historic building served as a general store until the mid-1990s, and then as a number of different businesses including a video rental store and different restaurants. It has been home to Stone River Grille for two years.

The ornament will debut, per tradition, during the Labor Day Parade on Monday at a table set up in front of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. Mary Antey and Mrs VanderWende, who continue to coordinate the project for the club, will be selling the ornaments before and during the Labor Day Parade. Ornaments remain $10 each.

After Monday ornaments will be available for purchase at the library as well as Everything Newtown, the town clerk’s office at Newtown Municipal Center,  and The Newtown Bee.

Each ornament is packaged in a clear plastic bag and is accompanied by a brief history of the property written by Town Historian Dan Cruson.

Proceeds from the sale of the ornament will be donated by the club to local civic organizations.

Anyone looking for ornaments from previous years can contact Mrs Antey at 203-426-9787 or Mrs VanderWende at 203-426-4865.

Earlier ornaments have included Middle Gate District School 1850, Newtown Middle School, The Budd House, The Little Theatre, Newtown Meeting House, Edmond Town Hall, Newtown General Store, The Yankee Drover, C.H. Booth Library, and even the logo of The Newtown Bee, among others. Last year’s ornament memorialized the former Hawleyville Post Office building.