The Newtown bee., 1901-03-29
TOWN TOPICS.
EARLY HISTORY IN LAND'Si END.

AN ARTICLE FROM THE NEWTOWN
 ACADEMIC1AN OF JULY 1853.
 While visiting Newtown's attract
 i've and handsome library building, the
 other evening, the obliging librarian,
 Miss Peck, showed the writer copy
 of The Academieian, published by the
 pupils of the Newtown Academy, and
 dated July 1, 1853, Volume I, No. '.
 It was four page paper, containing
 three pages of reading matter and one
 of local and Bridgeport advertise
 ments. This paper was donated to
 the Library Association by Mrs Sarah
 Curtis Judson, widow of the late Dr
 Monroe Judson. The editor of The
 Academician for 1853 was Miss Catha-
 rine B. Fairchild. THE BEE reprints
 an article on Hands End," from this
 number, which will be persued with deep interest. It shows how great the changes in half century in our town | ship. The article follows:
 The district of Lands End is situa- ted in the northern part of Newtown.
 1t is one and quarter miles in length and about the same in breadth. At what time it was settled is not exact- ly known, but it is supposed about 25O years ago, by one Benjamin Hawley, who came from Wales, in company with two of his brothers.
 They stopped at Stratford, and from thence he started on horseback and alone, on an expedition. After travel ing day or two, he came to place now called Botsford's Swamp. Here his horse became mired and he bewil- l dered. He wandered around awhile, l hoping he should find his way through, but the farther he went, the more be- | wildered he was, and the more marshy the ground was, and he thought he l could not be far from the ocean. But to his great joy, he saw, not far dis tant, place that appeared like an opening. To this he directed his course, and was on soon a beautiful plain, where he encamped for the night. The next morning he arose, and took a view Or the country, which pleased him so we'll, that he concluded to settle here.
 On going back to Stratford, the peo- pie crowded around him, where he had been, expecting to hear him relate some dreadful encounter with some of the savages or wild beasts, with:which the country then abounded. But he had only his adventure in the swamp to relate; he told them he had been to the end of the land. From this cir cumstance it is said the place derived it's name. He immediately removed his family to this place, and from him have descended the numerous Haw- leys which still inhabit the place.
 An anecdote is related, which goes to show the intelligence and enter prise of this race of people. The per- son of whom am about to speak, liv- ed in the time when thatched roofs for barns were fashionable. His barn roof being rather old, he thought he would put on a new one, and, to do this, he of course, must first take off the old one, so, thinking no harm, he set fire to it, when, to his utter aston ishment, his barn was soon in flames and was burned to the ground.
 The first schoolhouse lin Lands End was one moved from the district above this, called Whisconier. In 1791, these districts united, and the house of Wis confer was moved on the boundary line between Brookfeld and Newtown. This remained about 20 years, when it was torn down, and new one erected in it's place, which still remains. The first flouring mill that was erected in this district was superintended by a woman, whose name was Elsie Henry. The district of Lands End contains about 40 dwelling houses, one store, one satinet factory, one comb shop and three saw mills.-[ Esther A. Flaw lev,