Date: Fri 18-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Middle-Gate-tours-Colonial

Full Text:

Middle Gate Students Discover Their Home Town

(with photos)

Write-Ups & Photos By Middle Gate School Second Grade Students

The second grade at Middle Gate School in Newtown spent a month this year

learning about its home town. The four-week program was part of the school's

social studies curriculum to introduce the students to the history and present

status of the land, people and properties that are important pieces of make-up

in the face of the town in which they live.

Part of the program included a presentation concerning Colonial life during

May. Earlier in their studies, the second graders were visited by employees of

the Noah Webster House, a building in West Hartford that was home to the man

who is credited with having compiled the first dictionary of the American

English language in the early 1800s.

The Noah Webster people offered a presentation for the students concerning

Colonial life in America. The students also spent a day working and studying

in the circa 1850 one-room schoolhouse at Middle Gate, trying to imagine what

life would have been like for their second grade counterparts of nearly 150

years ago.

On Friday, June 4, the entire second grade of Middle Gate School spent the

morning visiting some of Newtown's historic buildings. The morning event was a

culmination of the month-long program and also served as a prequel to the

students' annual field day, held after the conclusion of the tours at

Dickinson Park.

The second grade students visited five locations Friday morning. The group met

as a whole at Edmond Town Hall, where they were greeted by First Selectman

Herb Rosenthal. After that, the group was divided into four smaller groups and

a rotating tour to the next four locations -- C.H. Booth Library, Matthew

Curtiss House, Newtown Meeting House, and the offices of the Bee Publishing

Co. -- took place over the next 2« hours.

Following are reports from some of the students themselves. Accompanying this

story are photographs, also done by Middle Gate students as they were formally

introduced to their home town.

TOWN HALL

By Robbie, Joey & Christian

Welcome to Town Hall in Newtown. We learned about people who helped to make

our town great and where they lived.

In the town hall murals are painted on the walls going upstairs. On the murals

are many scenes from our town.

In the town hall there is a movie theatre and a gym.

We went in two offices and we sat in the First Selectman's chair. We met

Newtown's Chief of Police.

In front of Town Hall is the statue of an eagle. Our class had a picture taken

there.

We learned a lot at Newtown's Edmond Town Hall.

BOOTH LIBRARY

By Lorissa, Alyssa,

Alex and Sara

At the library we learned a lot about Mary Elizabeth Hawley. We learned that

she donated money for Edmond Town Hall, Booth Library, the town cemetery

gates, vault and Hawley Pond.

Mary Hawley got married to the minister of the church across the street from

her church. When she went on her honeymoon to Europe she got sick. Her husband

told her that he didn't want to take care of a sick wife, so her parents came

to Europe to bring her home. Mary did not see her husband for about 15 years.

We saw a lot of Mary Hawley's things at the library. When Mary Hawley donated

money to build our library she asked that some of her treasures be displayed

there.

We saw some of her toys, like a porcelain doll. We also saw a quilt that three

of Mary Hawley's aunts made. It was small.

We all hope we will go to the library again soon. There are so many things

there that we enjoyed!

CURTISS HOUSE

By Max, Chris,

Brian & Michael N.

The thing that impressed us was how small the ceiling was. We were also

impressed with the ropes on the bed. It took effort to make just a loaf of

bread. We were also impressed how the fireplace got smaller and smaller as we

went up the steps.

It surprised Chris how the toys were made in the Colonial days. It impressed

Brian that they did not have a bathroom in their house. Instead of having a

toilet they used a chamber pot.

Michael N. was amazed how many children died from the fire. I was amazed how

messy the broom was. We were all amazed how much effort it took to get cloth

ready to sew and make clothing.

We all enjoyed the Matthew Curtiss House and our guide, Mrs Curtis, who was

really Mrs Wenblad.

THE MEETING HOUSE

By Keith, Michael B.,

Sam and Kristen

At the meeting house we saw the golden cock. There are bullet holes from the

Revolutionary War. Now it is a symbol of our town.

At the front of the inside of the meeting house there is a cross. There is a

musical organ with pipes.

There is a bell and you can only hear it from outside. Two of our classmates

were able to ring the bell.

The golden cock sat on the pole for 200 years.

The meeting house is used for weddings, town meetings and church services.

THE NEWTOWN BEE

By Nicole, Sara,

Jenna & Gretchen

This year was the first year that second graders visited The Newtown Bee . It

won't be the last! We had a great tour and really learned a lot.

At the Newtown Bee, we learned that it's been operated by the Smith family

since 1877. In the meeting room downstairs in the building there are four

portraits of the Smith family. This family has been operating The Newtown Bee

for 122 years. The first copy's name was The Bee .

Andrew B. was the first publisher. We don't know his last name. Maybe that's

were the "Bee" came from.

We were able to see many different reporters and offices. We learned that

reporters at a newspaper have a boss who is just like our principal.

When we walked around the building we saw many neat antiques. One of the neat

antiques was a giant bee which was made out of wood.

We had a great time visiting The Newtown Bee . We hope you will be able to

visit our town newspaper, too.