Town Notables...

Reprinted from The Spectrum, August 20, 2004
By Patricia D'Ascoli
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Picture this: The year is 2057, and New Milford is preparing to celebrate its 350th anniversary. Town historians and those appointed to commemorate the occasion consult the archives, digging out publications produced for the town's prior anniversary celebrations. They come upon the famed 2007 Tricentennial Book, which was, by the way, also available on CD, a medium which will no doubt be obsolete in 2057. What - and more importantly, whom - will the citizens of the future read about regarding New Milford's 300-year anniversary?

As we approach the three-century mark, New Milford is a very different town than it was at its 250th anniversary in 1957. The 250th celebration was commemorated with a booklet that included many interesting facts about the history of New Milford up to 1957. It did not, however, contain an abundance of information about the well-known citizens of the day.

In the introduction to the 250th commemorative booklet, Gerald G. Marsh described the heritage of New Milford well. He alluded to New Milford's contributions to society, noting that they included "creditable examples in the fields of arts and letters; from native sons and daughters as well as from those citizens by adoption who find in our community inspiration in their respective fields."

But who were the accomplished citizens of New Milford in 1957? The cover for the 250th anniversary commemorative booklet was, in fact, designed by a prominent artist of the time - Woldemar Neufeld.

Mr. Neufeld, who lived until after the turn of the 21st century, is known for his many New Milford scenes and his depiction of the Housatonic River bridges. His works have been exhibited in many private collections and museums.

In the 1957 commemorative booklet, New Milford businesses and residents offered greetings and congratulations. One of those citizens was Eliot Pratt, the owner of 169 acres in the Northville section of New Milford (now known as The Pratt Center). Mr. Pratt not only grew grapes and made wine and maintained a large farm, but he was also proficient as a potter. Two of his oxblood glazed pots are in the Smithsonian collection. He founded and edited the quarterly review Current, and he was the president of the Board of Directors of Goddard College in Vermont.

The New Milford Times from 1957 offered some interesting tidbits about the prominent citizens of the town at that time. For instance, the well-known Hollywood movie star and two-time Academy Award winner, Fredric March, called New Milford home at the time of its 250th celebration. He lived on Merryall Road. On June 13th of that year, the newspaper contained an article about how Mr. and Mrs. March were both awarded honorary Doctor of Letters degrees by Elmira College at the College's 98th commencement exercises.

In the same issue, there was a story about New Milford author and illustrator Phoebe Erickson (also known as Mrs. Arthur Blair). Ms. Erickson was awarded the William Allen White Children's Book Award for 1957. Apparently her book, Daniel Coon, was chosen for the award over 17 other books on the list, which represented "some of the best-known authors in the field."

Although she was probably not known outside of New Milford, Mrs. John Cornwell certainly achieved historical significance within this town when she retired in June of 1957 after having taught for 50 years at the Gaylordsville school. Interestingly, her teaching career began in 1907, which was the year New Milford celebrated its 200th anniversary.

At the time of New Milford's 250th anniversary, such well-known artists as Edith Newton and Philip Kappel called this northwestern Connecticut town home. Today, as we approach the 300th birthday, New Milford is cultivating a different crop of artists, whose work is being enjoyed and appreciated by a brand new audience. One such talented artist who lived in New Milford for many years is Bill Farnsworth. He moved to New Milford at the age of 11 and lived here for 27 years before moving to Venice, Fla., in 1996, where he now lives with his wife and their two daughters. Mr. Farnsworth has illustrated more than 25 children's books and 70 young adult book jackets, and he illustrated The "Kaya" series for American Girl. Children's book awards given to him have included Teachers Choice Award, Blue Bonnet Award, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, Young Hoosiers Award, Stepping Stone Award, and ALA Pick of the list. He is a member of The Society of Illustrators, SCBWI, and The Oil Painters of America. He has been included in The Arts for the Parks Top 100 paintings and has received awards from Salmagundi Club, Kent Art Association, Housatonic Art League, Ridgefield Artist Guild and VeniceArtCenter. Mr. Farnsworth graduated from New Milford High School in 1977. After high school he had his first one-man art show of water-color paintings at what was then known as the New Milford Racquet Club. From this show he was hired by Oscar de la Renta to do three paintings of his Kent house. He also had a show of New Milford scenes with Woldemar Neufeld at the New Milford railroad station which was very well-received, he recently recalled. Mr. Farnsworth graduated from Ringling School of Art in 1980, and after school he went back to New Milford, where he helped his father in field surveying while his art career was starting out.Mr. Farnsworth spent his free time cruising around New Milford's back roads, photographing the area in all kinds of light and seasons. He loves where he lives now in Florida, but he said he misses the trees and hills of New Milford.

"The New Milford area is ingrained in me - the smell, the look and the feel of the different seasons," he fondly reminisced. Mr. Farnsworth said one of the benefits to an artist living in New Milford is the close proximity to New York City. "I also loved the rural laid-back lifestyle," he related, adding, "The New Milford area is a painter's paradise, with hills, forests, fields, streams and old buildings." One of his paintings of the New Milford area is currently on exhibit at the Gregory James Gallery on Main Street in town. From his old photos and memory, Mr. Farnsworth is doing a series of paintings of New Milford for a future show at the Gregory James Gallery. He is also currently illustrating a book about explorers Lewis and Clark. For information about Bill Farnsworth and his work, log onto his website at www.billfarnsworth.com.

As New Milford prepares for its 300th anniversary, the publication committee will be reflecting on many New Milford "notables" of today. Other illustrators will be profiled in upcoming issues. The committee welcomes suggestions from readers about any New Milford resident whose success in his or her profession extends beyond the boundaries of the town, whether it is in the field of art, music, drama, literature, law, medicine, teaching or any other business endeavor.

Patricia F. D'Ascoli