Nancy Busk accepts the winning flag design award from Mayor Joe Doyle in 1965.
The City of Ansonia is planning an Oct. 19 ceremony to “reintroduce” a city flag originally designed during the 1960s.
The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. in front of City Hall.
According to a press release sent by the city Thursday (Oct. 12):
In attendance will be Dr. Nancy Busk Carlson, of Cambridge, MA, who as a junior at Ansonia High School in 1965, won a citywide flag design contest initiated by former Mayor Joe Doyle. Her design was selected from more than 300 submitted by the City’s school children.
For her design, Nancy received a $25 US Savings Bond.
Six flags were ordered, with one going to Nancy. The remaining five flew throughout the city until simply weathered out. It is believed the flag made its official debut in the May 31, 1965 Ansonia Memorial Day Parade.
At the urging of Nancy’s mother, it wasn’t until 1980 when former Mayor Jim Finnucan ordered six more flags. Of these, only three are known to exist. One which currently hangs in the City’s Aldermanic Chambers, one at the Doyle Senior Center, and one at Mayor Dave Cassetti’s campaign headquarters that was only recently found in the basement of downtown Ansonia Smoke & Convenience store, and donated for display.
On October 19, the flag will fly once again at City Hall with the delivery of a new reproduction based on its original design and intended deeper blue color scheme. It will mark the first time the Ansonia flag has flown at City Hall since 1988.
Carlson, who grew up on Howard Avenue, became a doctor and is now a professor emeritus at the New England College of Optometry.
According to the press release, the flag will fly at Nolan Field, schools, and city parks by next spring.
