Restoring glory to Newtown’s icon
NEWTOWN — It has been shattered by lightning, snapped off by wind and jarred so violently by the crash of a tractor-trailer that its copper top toppled off.
In the darkest moment of Newtown’s history, it stood at half-staff, carrying the grief of irreplaceable loss.
At 144 years old, Newtown’s iconic 100-foot flagpole stands as a symbol of resilience.
But even a towering steel icon needs tender love and care.
Ordinarily, flagpole maintenance is the duty of the town’s flagpole keeper — a volunteer who takes his white paint to the heart of Main Street on Sundays at dawn, and patches the pole scratches reverently.
But he paints only as high as the arm can reach.
“It has been about 20 years since the pole has been refinished,” said Chris Gardner, the town’s flagpole keeper. “And we’ve noticed that the rust spots are coming through.”
Gardner has teamed up with a former first selectman and two other Newtown residents to raise $6,000 toward the restoration of Newtown’s most recognizable landmark.
“The flagpole really is at the heart of what Newtown stands for,” said Gardner. “We want to be sure it remains looking good, and
that all the associated lights are functioning properly.”
The hope is to raise enough money to hire a steeplejack contractor, who will sand and repaint the pole with a couple of coats of glossy white, metaladhesive paint.
Checks should be made payable to the Town of Newtown, with “flagpole preservation fund” written in the memo field.
Donations may be dropped off or mailed to the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose St.