Iconic Ellington Landmark Is No More

ELLINGTON, CT — For the first time in likely at least two decades - and possibly longer - motorists and joggers accustomed to seeing a brightly colored insect hovering over a mailbox on Jobs Hill Road have had to adjust their eyes to something different.

The bug is gone.

For years, the bug has drawn sightseers, photographers and ordinary gawkers to the front of the 1855 Colonial at 242 Jobs Hill Road, just over the Somers town line. It has become a town landmark, and was even featured on Patch in a 2024 column called Picture Connecticut.

Whereas most real insects have a life expectancy of between 15 days and two years, this little bugger survived likely since the George W. Bush administration, or maybe even that of his predecessor, Bill Clinton. Town land records indicate the house was purchased in late 1994 by Anton Mayer, creator of the iron icon, but even he is not really certain of exact dates.

In an exclusive interview with Patch, Mayer provided pictures of the original bug, and told the story of its demise about 15 years ago at the hands of an errant driver.

"This guy comes over the crest of the hill and slams into the thing, sends it flying all the way past my driveway," he recalled. He also showed photos of emergency personnel working at the scene - not for the bug, but for the driver, whose car overturned upon impact with the concrete abutments the bug's legs were set in.

"Fortunately, he walked away shook up, but not seriously injured," Mayer said.

Mayer rebuilt the bug and put it back into place, where it has remained ever since. However, a combination of salt and weather-related wear and tear has caused the legs to rust and deteriorate, and he decided to take it down last week before it collapsed into the street.

In its place, Mayer has built an iron cactus, which is impressive in its own right, but will take some getting used to after so many years of seeing the colorful bug.

It is unclear at this time if services will be conducted for the bug. If so, it is probable it will be driven in a black Pontiac Bonneville hearse, which currently sits at the edge of the front yard, with some skinny friends of Mayer's occupying the driver's seat and the hood.

But that's another story ...