Johnson Estate Going To Auction

Overgrown landscaping has recently been trimmed back from the turn-of-century bungalow at 11 South Main Street after sitting neglected for the past decade. Frank Willard Johnson and his wife Catherine had moved there in 1967 from the Wakefield house on Bennett’s Bridge. Their son Tom maintained the house for the decade since his parent’s death while living mostly in Greece.  The Johnson family has resided in Newtown for over 100 years. 

The contents, which include generations of antique furniture, have been sent to Newtown’s auctioneers, Jack and Rosie DeStories, whose Fairfield Auction will sell the entirety on Sunday, September 26.

Items to be sold range from an 18th Century Connecticut secretary desk to a Mathew Brady photograph of Civil War soldiers.

“We were really shocked by how many family antiques were jammed into such a small house” stated Jack DeStories. More than 100 lots were culled from the local treasure trove.  “Even the attic and basement were full of great things,” said Mr DeStories.

Other items discovered include an 18th Century tall case clock signed James Batterson, numerous Persian carpets, paintings including a large landscape by famed Connecticut artist Arthur Parton, plus early china and glassware.

Items of interest selling in the same auction, but from other local estates, include a 1961 Jaguar sedan, three Victorian horse carriages, a very rare Tiffany Studios bronze table and a Steinway grand piano. In all, the sale will include over 500 items from estates in Fairfield and Westchester counties.

Fairfield Auction is at 53 Church Hill Road in Newtown. Bidding will commence at 11 am on September 26, but a preview will be held Wednesday through Saturday, September 22-25, 11 am to 4 pm each day. The gallery also provides for online viewing through FairfieldAuction.com.