The Newtown bee., 1909-12-17
The NeWtoWn Bee. Newtown, Friday, Dec, IT, 1909.
TOWN TOPICS.
OLD NAMES SHOULD BE RESTORED
So Says c. F. sherman.

Editor of Newtown Bee, My dear Sir As l have read the several articles aps bearing from time to time in your pa- | per bearing upon changing or retaining the names of localities In Bedding, 1 would make plea that so far as possi- 1 ble the old names be retained. Praeti- eally everybody within five miles of | Bedding Rldoge has heard of "couehs Hill" and for 90 years 1t has been the only name for that particular road. And the name of Couch Is indelibly woven | into the history of early Bedding, and | though there may not now be any by that name. yet 1t seems well to retain such local names, Great Hill, Jump Hill, sherman Hill and Hoyt,,s Hill of century Sunset Hill may sound more euphonious. and 1t is one of the finest locations in the whole town, but who of the natives but would rather think of COuch's Hill than Sunset Hill. i And ia the springtime when frost Is coming out and the road over C0uchs Hlll seems to be as deep as the bottom- less pit would the travelling be any more agreeable If called Sunset Hill
 One of the charms of this road Is the view 1t gives of the winding Aspetuck Rising in Dodgingtown, 1t flows peace with the high bank on it's west all the way until 1t enters that beautiful val ley called very appropriately Pleasant Valley. There was a time when this valley was teeming with industry: hat shop, comb shop, three or four button shops, foundry and saw mill all made it very pleasant place. And as one or drives through the valley. he is im- pressed that Pleasant Valley is right fully named.
 And as for the other name that has been applied to that section, Poverty Hollow" I want to say that it is no more appropriate or fitting than the nicknames applied to some people. Some there were who were not abun- dantly blessed with this worlds goods, | but nearly every inhaDltant owned his or her home. And they lived and dressed just like the other folk on the Ridge And of the product of this lit tie valley; enough men have gone out from here who have stamped them- selves on their several communities to prove that the soil which makes men was not poverty stricken, and that en- vironment may take some credit for having filled their young mind with ambition.
 Bedding is indeed one of the fairest of all Connecticut's towns and pri- marily because it has retained it's vir- ginity. It possesses unrivalled scenery andw it's many old homesteads have proved their irresistible charm by at- | tracting a class of people who want to l get away from the city and live next l to nature. This class of people en- I sures the towns prosperity and without I doubt before another generation passes away Bedding will be far more famous than simply as the home of Mark 1 Twain or Miss Glider And it is hoped by at least one of the boys who spent his early days in that pleasant valley" that when he returns to the town there will be many additions to the list of fine homes,' but Ryan's or Ridge Hill and Dennison's Hill will remind him of those characters who attained such prominence that definite localities serve as their monument. Because a thing is old is no proof that it lacks value and may these old names. which are so picturesque, be retained. Re- spectfully.