Simsbury Logo Change Not As Controversial As Cracker Barrel

SIMSBURY, CT — Unlike an iconic national restaurant chain that was about to change its logo, the Town of Simsbury's recent action to change Simsbury's seal comes without any controversy.

At its last meeting on Aug. 11, the Simsbury Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to seek the change regarding Simsbury's official logo.

This action coincides nationally with news that Cracker Barrel was planning to change the logo of many of its country comfort food restaurants/gift shops, a move that rankled some conservatives on the political aisle nationally.

The Cracker Barrel controversy grew so strong, the company Tuesday evening abandoned the new logo.

No such hubbub, however, existed with Simsbury's logo change.

According to Simsbury First Selectwoman Wendy Mackstutis, the official pins worn by local officials depict a seal that is "very old and discolored," prompting a push for an upgrade.

As a result, selectmen unanimously voted to authorize an overhaul of the town seal, approving the specific enhancement to it.

Specifically, selectmen authorized Simsbury Town Manager Marc Nelson to have the Simsbury Town Clerk's office to notify the Connecticut Secretary of the State's office of the change.

Nelson said the town's new seal should be of "digital quality" and feature improved definition and color.

"It's less about the pins than the seal itself," Nelson said. "We have tried to upgrade things, and we noticed the seal was created before high definition, and it's very intricate. There was really no color."

That should come as a comfort to locals who are resistant to change, as the town doesn't plan to change the specific makeup of the seal.

Currently, Simsbury's logo includes historical landmarks in town, especially the famous "Pinchot Sycamore," which is the state's oldest living tree.

The updated town seal will, then, be applied to town pins and any town stationery/documents, basically anything in town that has the seal on it, including the town flag.

"So it will photocopy better and make the pins good," Nelson said. "I think the main point is we're not making any substantive changes to the historical component that represents the town. We're just making it clear."

For the minutes of the Aug. 11 Simsbury Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.