Quilt Celebrates Newtown’s Historic Families

A “friendship quilt” that features the signatures of members of some of Newtown’s oldest families will be showcased at the Sunday, December 4, display to celebrate historic families on the upper floor of the C.H. Booth Library from 11 am to 4 pm.

Redding resident Tad Sanford contacted the committee that is arranging the display for the town’s tercentennial after reading about the event in the newspaper. Mr Sanford said he had a quilt that had been in his family for several generations.

He obtained the quilt, a will, and other memorabilia from the estate of Dr William T. Bronson, who was a great-uncle by marriage. Dr Bronson’s father, William H. Bronson, who died in 1874, was a doctor in Bethel and Newtown.

“Two quilts are mentioned in his will as part of the estate,” Mr Sanford said. “But whether this quilt is one of them, I don’t know.”

The names on the quilt include many Northrups, Johnsons, Crofuts, and Botsfords, among others.

“A friendship quilt is usually made by many individuals who make the squares, then get together to put the quilt together,” said Sally O’Neil, one of the committee members. “A lot of times it is given to people who are moving.”

Among the memorabilia that Mr Sanford has is a postcard dated 1908 sent from Regina Leibold in Newtown to Dr William J. Bronson at 12 Liberty Place in Danbury. The photo showed the house that Regina Leibold grew up in, at the corner of Mt Nebo Road and Phyllis Lane. This house, Mr Sanford learned at The Bee, burned down about two decades ago.

“Regina Leibold was my grandfather’s sister,” explained Bill Leibold, a member of the Bee’s production staff.  “At the time the postcard was sent, there would not have been electricity or plumbing in the house. After my grandparents died, the house went out of the family and later burned down. Subsequent owners converted the barn to a house and that is still there.”

The Committee to Celebrate Historic Families for Newtown’s Tercentennial is looking for families to participate in the December 4 event.

People whose families have lived in Newtown for 75 years or more will be considered notable families; those who have been in Newtown for more than 100 years are classified as historic, and those who have been in town for more than 200 years are called founding fathers.

Displaying and showcasing is very easy, according to committee member Mae Schmidle. The committee will supply a table, red felt cloth, hand-printed name signs, and a display board, if requested. Exhibiting families need only bring a few photos, some information, or any memorabilia or family items they might choose to share.

“What a wonderful way for today’s Newtowners to see and develop an appreciation of their Newtown roots,” said committee member Sally O’Neil.

Ms Schmidle said the information requested on the showcase application is extremely simple: the name of the family to be featured in the showcase, and the person to contact with phone and address including city and state. A fax number or email address, if available, would be appreciated as well, Ms Schmidle said.

To receive an application, or for more information, contact any member of the committee including Marg Studley, 426-3651; Sally O’Neil, 426-2607; Mae Schmidle, 426-6264; Colleen Honan, 426-0714; Marie Walker, 426-9781; Barbara Bloom, 270-7703.