Page 13 - North Haven Magazine Issue 8 Spring 2019

Who Was by Susan A. Iverson

Joel Beach?

hen our Editor asked if I would write an article about Joel Beach, I thought,
W“no problem - I know he was a First Selectman, and I know we have photos
of him.” So I began the search to learn more about this man, and found surprising-
ly little! Sometimes history is elusive, particularly recent history. So if you know
something of this man, please share with the folks at the North Haven Historical
Society!

Joel Pierpont Beach was born October 2, 1889, son of Joseph and Elsie Beach.
He was raised on his father’s farm located on State Street north of Sackett Point
Road. His wife’s name was Frances. It appears that they had no children. Joel in-
herited the family farm on State Street, and he also bought large tracts of farm land
in North Haven. In fact, he bought his first piece of land when he was just fifteen
years old! When he was twenty-two Joel started a business selling lime and fertiliz-
ers to area farmers, a business he continued in until 1951. During his lifetime Mr.
Beach bought between 500 and 600 acres of land in North Haven. Inte restingly, he
owned about 182 acres surrounding Peter’s Rock. He had acquired this land from
the estates of several prominent Montowesians - Frederick Brocksieper, Arthur
Button, and Robert and Theophilus Eaton, to name a few. After his death in 1956
his widow Frances sold these 182 acres to the newly formed Peter Rock Associates
(not to be confused with today’s Peter’s Rock Association).
Joel was a Republican (as were most North Haveners) and was elected First Selec
man in 1948. Before he was elected to this most prestigious position, Joel Beach
wrote a testament to a previous First Selectman in the form of a poem; here are
some of his lines in praise of Charles Davis -

Too many of us are wont to say:
Let’s live life the easiest way.
But Charles E. Davis is one of the exceptional kind.
He’s sound in body and sound in mind.

Hard work doesn’t frighten him away;
The job with him must be done today.

The best years of his life to our town did give,
And we can but honor him as long as we live.
During Mr. Beach’s time in office he was touted as a man who got things done
- street light and paving improvements, more efficient snow plowing and trash
pickup, even selling old construction equipment no longer useful to the town.
Shortly before his untimely death he had signed papers to begin construction of
Montowese Elementary School. Many of the qualities he expressed admiration of
in Mr. Davis he seemed to possess himself. Thank you, Mr. Joel Beach.

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