Winsted native Fancher turns 100

WINSTED — When Pauline Fancher was a little girl growing up in Winsted, one of her greatest joys was riding along with her grandfather as he delivered groceries to the families who lived and vacationed along Highland Lake.

At that time, the local grocer — who owned and operated A.B. Fancher & Son at 99 Main St. — would plug along the more than 7 miles of the unpaved, dirt roads around the lake, stopping at each house as he made his regular rounds.

“I didn’t know that the lake was so big,� Fancher said with a laugh.

Although much has changed in Winsted since Fancher was born in her family’s home along Highland Lake almost 100 years ago, some things have remained the same: her positive spirit and infectious smile.

“A smile gets a smile,� the soon-to-be-centurian told The Journal, with a smile.

Fancher, who served for more than 25 years as the art teacher at Pearson Middle School, will officially turn 100 on Aug. 7.

To help celebrate the important milestone, her younger brother, Bob Fancher, has organized a special party to celebrate the following day, Aug. 8, at Winchester Center Congregational Church.

Fancher said while she is looking forward to next week’s gathering in her honor, she is not expecting to feel that much different after she hits the triple-digit mark.

“It’s just another birthday,� Fancher said.

After graduating from The Gilbert School in 1929, Fancher — who now resides at Laurel Hill Healthcare, the assisted living facility across the street from Highland Lake — spent much of her early adulthood pursuing a higher education.

She attended and graduated from The Pratt Institute School of Art and Design in New York City. After working for a while looking after a group of children in Brooklyn, she moved back to Connecticut to take her first education job, working as an art teacher in Plainville Public School system.

“And I worked there for two years,� she said.

From there, she moved north to Concord, N.H., taking another art teaching post, which allowed her to take courses at the University of New Hampshire during the summers there.

During her several years living and teaching art in New Hampshire, Fancher even spent one summer vacation taking courses at Pennsylvania State University.

“I knew where the courses were that I wanted or needed,� Fancher said. “And so I moved where they were.�

Eventually, the Winsted native returned home, becoming the art teacher at Pearson in 1954, a position which Fancher held until she retired in 1979. During her tenure with the Winchester Public School District, Fancher taught art to residents of all ages, not just elementary school students.

“I taught summers, I taught night classes, I taught the teachers,� she said with a laugh.

Fancher said she has many fond memories of living and teaching in Winsted. But perhaps her favorite were the quiet times she would spend with her father, William, as the two traveled along the rural mail route he held here for many years.

“Sometimes I would get to ride with him,� she said, remembering. “And that would be a real treat.�