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... Colonial New England had a penchant for putting large structures, such as meeting houses in the middle of their main streets. Newtown was no exception.

From the time that it was first laid out in 1709 until 1792, the Congregational meeting house stood in the middle of the Church Hill Rd, West St., Main St. intersection, where the flagpole presently stands.

In this position it dominated the village, which was fitting for the town's most important building. By being in the middle of the intersection, it was also located on town common land and therefore did not deprive one of the town's proprietors of a section of his house lot. ....

The flagpole ...