The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-06-10
BETHEL.
AN ANCIENT LANDMARK

AN ANCIENT LANDMARK
la tn. lower part of Bethel Center
School district at place called Chestnut
Ridge, on an elevated location that over
looks the present city of DAnbury, there
mas stood for Two centuries or more one
of the original forest chestnut trees
when is undoubtedly Older than the
town of Danbury, that flrner.y
extended to hometown ScnooI district i'll
II 3ddlng The I'D chestnut tree has late
Nv been cut down. At the roots OF the
Tree the circumference measures II feet,
and nine feet through. The trunk OF
the tree mas been hollow for many years.
and was capable of shelteriDg q dozen
small children from the storms. The
tree was very old one when the village
of Danbury was burned in 1777. The
light from that fire shOne upon its wide
spreading branches. Eight or nine gen.
eratiOns Of schoCl children have gather
ed chest nuts that fell by the ROADSIDE il
abundance, and perhaps the dusky chill
dren Of the original inha bitants gathered
before them. The locality took It's name
from the immense growth of chestnut
trees that formerly covered the ridge.
This tree, which is probably the last,
was saved by the early settlers because
it stood in the line of fence. Five gener-
ations it served for a bar post, holes be-
ing cut into one side to hold one end of
the bars that, opened into an adjoining
field which was known by the name Of
waller lOt," a piece of land that has
been handed down in the Taylor family
from the first settlement of DanburY.
Nathan Taylor, a son Of the original set
tier of that name, took up q portion of
territory running south from the present
Bethel railroad depot to the Redding
line. His daughter, Rhoda, inherited
this portion of land where the said chest
nut tree stood. She married Phineas
Waller, hepce the name "Waller lot.'
Phineas Waller and family moved to
Kent early in 1900, The old tree fell
into the hands OF Dea Phineas Judd.
When he died, in 1777, he wll!ed the lot
and tree to his wife, Deborah Taylor. At
her death the tree became the property
of Dea Daniel Judd, whose old home
stead stood where now stands the home
of our present selectman, Arthur Judd, a
great-grandson of Dea Daniel. In the
early part of this century the lot and tree
were transferred to Eli Judd, a son OF
Daniel Judd. At the death of Eli Judd,
then reputed to be the wealthiest man In
Bethel, his homestead that now stands
on the opposite side Of the old highway,
fell to his daughter, Angelina, who was
the wife of G. Fl. Benedict, and after
ward became the property of their
daughter, Mrs Julia Benedict, present
wife of Clement Beebe of Brooklyn. N.
Y. She sold the property to Mr. Light.
Then it was transferred to David Fry Of
Beaver street, then to Albert McGregoI
of NeWtOWn. This spring he transferred
the farm to q German by the name OF
Freider. He has cut the ancient old
chestnut tree that stood on the field SO
many years, known by the name of the
Waller lot. The trees usefulness as q
nut bearing tree has long since passed
only the large trunk and a few Stubby
branches were left of what was once a
grand old tree, a noted landmark of by
gone days. Your correspondent played
beneath the branches of this old chestnut
tree and gathered many pocketsful OF
nuts which used to cover the roadside az
ter the October storms Of rain and wind
The old tree was q familiar landmark
and will be remembered by hundreds OF
sight-seers travelling to and from Putnam
Park over the Chestnut Ridge road.
David Jennings OF Danbury has raised
up four feet the old house of Mr. Freidei
on Chestnut Ridge, that was formerly
known as the Eli Judd place. The house
was built in the early part Of this centu
nv.
Mr. and Mrs Frederick Mackenzie Of
Grand street are taking their summer va
cation, spending tbs present month OF
June on Grassy Ridge with their sons
family, Mr. and Mrs Howard Mackenzie
Farmers have had excellent weather
the past week, for cultivating and hOeing
and they have improved the time early
and late to catch up for lost time during
the wet spell.
Eugene Whitehead's baby, which hal
been sick with indigestion, is gaining
slowly.
George Gregory is here visiting Lyman
Whitehead. He is in poor health anG
hopes the change may prove beneficial
attend meeting of the health officers
this week.
Levi Drew, aged 80, who is an old res
ident of this place, is very i'll and not ex
pected to live.
Lyman Whitehead is troubled witt
rheums tism SO that he is unable to dt
any work.
Mrs Henrv Ferry expects to visit hel
sister, Mrs Kimball, in New Haven, mex
| week.
Miss Esther Ferry entertained quite
large lawn party, Monday evening, jun
6. They had very enjoyable time.
Mrs Henry Ferry visited Der sister
Mrs A. Ell. Mallett, of New Fairfield, las
week.
| Miss Emma Sherman of New Haven
| visiting Miss Florence Briscoe. Both o
them have new wheels and are getting Il
be expert riders.
Mrs Richard Shepard and daughter 0
Newtown are visiting Mrs Henry Smith
Howard Knowles has been In New
York state visiting relatives, a few day
past.
s. B. Knowles has been working for
| month at Lake Waramaug.
Mrs Ell E. Mackenzie Of Grassy Sid
farm would like to fill her house witt
summer boarGers. It ia fine localit,
for those desiring country air.
A large fishing party from Bethel wen
to Lake Waccabuc. They report q fin
catch Of white perch. The party con
sisted of Measrs S. and r. Smith, S. Bar
mum, Frederick Judd, George Crofut an,
| H. B. DibbIe.
| There are many kinds Of condition
powders. Perhaps they are all good