What’s in a Name? Ask the Geckle Family--They'll Answer Patiently

You've probably noticed the stunning antique white house and red barn about a football field away from the Newtown Middle School. But did you ever notice its name? It's called Patience Farm, and for good reason.

This Queen Street jewel, overlooking Fairfield Hills, wasn't always so gorgeous. After years of neglect, it was uninhabitable when Bob and Kathy Geckle bought it in 2001. "The place was a disaster," said Bob, "The roof leaked and the plaster walls were crumbling--there was even grass and dandelions growing in the living room carpet. Can you imagine? We had to take the house apart and put it back together again."

When the last work crew left, the Geckles decided to have a contest. Who could come up with the best name for the farm? With a friendly competition at hand, the suggestions rolled in, and it was Bob's brother, George, who won the contest.

Patience Farm was chosen not just because of the 2 years and countless headaches it took to get the job done. It also honors the thousands of patients who resided at Fairfield Hills Hospital from 1931 until 1995.

Pictured here with his grandkids, Madison, Sawyer, and Camryn and their pal, Olivia, Bob and his family are delighted with their home and its name. As the old saying goes, "Sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for."