Did You Know?
Did you know that in 1951, a runoff election was needed to determine Eastford’s third selectman?
In the election held on Oct. 1, 1951, Harold Carpenter (D) and Robert MacFarlane (D) each received 13 votes. The run-off was held on Oct. 8, and Carpenter won by a vote of 110-6.
This election marked the last time the voting box (pictured with this article) was used in Eastford elections. It still contains the paper ballots cast that day and is sealed with a white strip of paper signed by Registrars Henry A. Lawton and Alfred E. Warren, and Moderator John H. Smith. The box was donated to the Historical Society by Kris Karlsen. He purchased it at auction when the town moved its office from the Ivy Glenn basement to the then-new Town Office Building in 1971.
Donations in support of the efforts of the Eastford Historical Society are greatly appreciated. Please send donations to Eastford Historical Society, P.O. Box 350, Eastford, CT 06242.