Notes on the Happy Birthday Hawleyville Party
Approximately 75 people gathered Saturday April 25, 2009, on the picturesque grounds of DiGrazia Vineyards, for the celebration of 165 years of postal service in Hawleyville. Dot Dwyer, Chair and member of the Committee to Save the Hawleyville Post Office, kicked of the day by speaking of the bonds of friendships that formed as a result of this grass roots movement.
Highlights of the day’s events included guest speaker Dr Paul DiGrazia, three “Hawlyvilians” and the local grass-roots musical group, Front Porch. Tom Dwyer, committee member and lead singer of Front Porch, created and sung a Pete Seeger style folk song entitled , Talking Post Office Blues; the tale of the people and the journey to save our beloved Hawleyville post office. Dr DiGrazia and wife Barbara hosted an optional wine tasting and an engaging talk related to longevity and wine. Thank you to Bridgewater Chocolates for their contribution of fabulous confections.
Hawleyvilian, Alec Clark, whose family has resided in Hawleyville since 1801 started the walk down memory lane. Charlie Speidel informed us of how there came to be need for three post offices in Newtown, (Newtown, Botsford, Hawleyville) as it related to the development of rail service. An excerpt from Cowshit and Strawberries, by Vera Cogwell, a delightful book of the tales of a child growing up in Hawleyville between 1933 and 1944, was read by her niece and life-long Hawleyville resident, Helene Williams. Ann Marie Mitchell of the Committee to Save the Hawley Post Office applauded the Hawleyville community’s quick response and formation of the one voice she refers to as “We the People“.
A recap of the events leading up to the closing of Hawleyville PO was then presented. First Selectman Joseph Borst peaked the afternoon’s events with the most recent correspondence with the USPS citing the four locations under consideration for new Hawleyville Post Office. A clear endorsement was made for the Post Office to take root at the 23 Barnabas location. (See article Newtown Bee posted at website). Our sincerest thanks to all of you who made the day one to remember!
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