PHOTOS: New Canaan Historical Society’s 27th Annual Ice Cream Social

Dozens of local families enjoyed music, live entertainment and sweet desserts under a canopy tent at the New Canaan Historical Society on Sunday afternoon during the nonprofit organization’s 27th Annual Ice Cream Social.

Sponsored by Bankwell as well as Walter Stewart’s Market and Baskin Robbins, the event featured music from the Town Band while members of the National Charity League and New Canaan Exchange Club took care of serving duties for attendees.

Historical Society Executive Director Janet Lindstrom said that although the on-and-off-again weather appeared to keep some younger families with children away, “We have some people who have been coming every year, for years and years.”

One highlight of the event was a 1904 Northern Runabout that belongs to New Canaan’s Fairty family—one of the very earliest automobiles in town, which was on display under a tent just outside the main tent on the historical society’s campus. For more information on the car, see the story below.

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At the turn of the 20th century, the Fairtys, a longtime New Canaan family for whom a street in town is named, faced a crisis of sorts.

The son of C.H. Fairty—owner of a feed and grain store—decided that he wanted to enter college instead of the family business, according to one descendant.

After much discussion, the son—C.E.T Fairty—convinced his father that he would join the store on the condition that the family acquired a “horseless carriage,” according to Dave Fairty, great-grandson of C.E.T.

That’s how a 1904 Northern Runabout came into the family—and it’s been a prized Fairty possession ever since.

On Sunday, it will debut at the New Canaan Historical Society’s Ice Cream Social following its first-ever full frame-off restoration.

At the time the Fairtys purchased the car, according to the family’s history, New Canaan had just two other automobiles, both owned by doctors, Dave Fairty said.

The 1904 Northern always has been “a beautiful two-seater, painted red,” recalled Fairty, a NCHS class of ’81 graduate.

Fairty said he and his brothers are the first family members in generations to undertake such an extensive restoration of the family keepsake.

For Fairty, the New Canaan Historical Society seemed like the perfect place to roll out the newly restored car.

“It is definitely a part of New Canaan’s history, being that it is the only surviving car from the turn of the century,” Fairty said.

The auto has a “long and storied career in our family, in various forms of being broken,” he said.

Fairty recalled that a flywheel on the car cracked back in the 1950s and the engine also broke down at some point.

Despite the bumps and bruises the car has weathered, the Fairty family retained many parts of the original car that made it easier to restore.

“In some way or another the family was able to retain about 99 percent of the original car, I had to make a few things but beyond that everything was in storage,” Fairty said.

Looking down the road, Fairty said that he hopes to donate the car to a New Canaan organization, to ensure that it is preserved and honored.

“I have talked to the Historical Society about a possible donation down the road,” he said. “I would also like to have a conversation with the Old Faithful Engine Company. My grandfather, my uncle and my great grandfather were all very much involved in the New Canaan Fire Company and I think Old Faithful would be a good spot for it. They will maintain it and keep it active.”

For Fairty, debuting the refurbished car at the Historical Society is a way of remembering his prominent local family’s history.

“It is a great story and from what I hear talking to car people, to have a car stay in the family for 112 years is virtually unheard of,” Fairty said.