Welcome to The Blinking Light, a series of online articles, information and inside scoop by groups, shops, clubs, and organizations from downtown Wilton to its far-flung recesses. Facts from those sources will also be sprinkled liberally with humor (outlandish and otherwise) to add a fillip of fun to the Wilton Community Center website, which you can find at: www.wiltoncommunitycenter.org. The value and amount of cross-pollination is critical to the vitality and success of the Town – especially when you realize what a plethora of offerings Wilton has for her residents. Please contribute news from your group. This is your Town; keep it beautiful and worthwhile. Wilton needs your thumbprint on her future. –Ed.
Before delving into the history of the iconic light itself, I will allow that just about everyone in town remembers a different version, a different date and has a different opinion on the light, and like Town Meetings, that’s to be expected in small New England villages.
As you may know, the new blinking light gives folks directions to Greenfield, Lyndeborough and Peterborough. However, the online journal is from the keyboard of the Wilton Community Center’s Secretary and Editor who will continue in that honorable tradition with the motto “The Blinking Light – Telling People Where To Go”. (You can take it from there….)
Our silent policeman was first installed and photographed in 1920 and initially read “Slow Down – Keep Right”. The mists of time have obscured the name of its original maker. Alas, ours is thought to be the last remaining of such a guardian left in the States; a reminder of the steadfast character of Wilton. So many quaint sentries were removed to accommodate the need for wider roads.
One hundred six years ago it was positioned in the western part of Main Street because at that time, the street was actually part of NH Route 101! But it wasn’t until 90 years later in 2007 it needed first major facelift (and deterrent). An island was created and surrounded by flowers as a clever way to reduce the number of damaging encounters it had (but unfortunately not all of them). The Main Street Association. now tends the island’s seasonal flowers. Furthermore, it was rumored that years ago some young funsters lit up a scarecrow next to the sentry and damaged it rather badly – to add insult to injury there apparently was a red coffee can placed on top where the light had been.
It had a second makeover in 2014 (or 2015) which included the recreation of the 50# light by Kimball Physics. However, the blinking was so frantic that folks protested it was too distracting and needed to be sedated. It was also at that time that a consultant was brought in to do the hand lettering which pointed directions & distances to our three neighboring towns.
You are probably asking yourself “Where has our stalwart sentinel of All Things Main Street been these last many weeks?” Well, after a few encounters by this immovable object with a few unstoppable forces over the years, and vandals who broke the lights, it was time to give it yet another makeover. Off to Bailey’s Towing & Autobody in Amherst for the third facelift that included sand blasting to remove the tremendous rust that created a disturbing Swiss cheese effect!
Even so, last fall the concrete platform that remained was run over by an “over served” individual which resulted in its base being completely upended and needing an entire rebuild. So, in the autumn of 2025 The Main Street Association came up with the funds to restore it to what we will welcome today. If you’re keeping count, this is its latest facelift and, like Zsa Zsa Gabor, more beautiful than ever!
This week, we’re looking forward to cheering the re-installation of this much beloved 106-year-old symbol of the town and Main Street of Wilton.
Stasia Millett, Editor
& Synthesizer of 5 Inconsistent Informational Sources