October 18, 1991

Well, George Mayer has his pumpkin back. The pumpkin - a 171-pounder, according to George - was missing since the early morning of October 4 when it was swiped from a stump in his front yard. He reported the theft top the police. Ten days passed without sign of the Greta Pumpkin (the biggest ever grown at Cherry Grove Farm). Then, at 12:15 am on October 14 the police received a tip. Motorists reported seeing pumpkins in the road at the flagpole. One of the pumpkins turned out to be George's big one.

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The public is invited to meet candidates for town offices at Pizza & Politics on Tuesday, October 22, at the Fireside Inn. The Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters are sponsoring the event. Candidates for office will be introduced and people will have an opportunity to meet members of the Legislative Council from their voting district.

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While sleeping in the master bedroom of his home late Sunday afternoon, October 13, a Hattertown resident reportedly woke to find two men attempting to remove stereo equipment from a nearby shelf. According to police, the resident jumped onto one of the men and fought with him. The man broke loose, ran from the room, and fell down the stairs to the first floor. The two men then ran from the house and down Hattertown Road. Anyone with information is asked to call Newtown Police, 426-5841.

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The art of weaving by tying knots probably started in the 1200s by Arabians but it wasn't called macramé until about the 1300s. That's an Arabic or Turkish word meaning fringe.

October 7, 1966

First steps in Newtown's school building program, after authorization of preliminary funds last Thursday evening, was a survey of Hawley School this Tuesday by John Fodor, architect, and school officials. A special town meeting on September 29 authorized $85,000 for purchases.

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October 9 to 15 has been designated Fire Prevention Week in Newtown. A very practical part of the week is Operation EDITH, initials of which stand for Exit Drill In The Home, an organized means of encouraging families to make and practice plans for escape from their homes in case of fire.

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This Sunday, October 9, marks the opening games in the Jaycee Junior Football League, with two contests slated to start at noon at Dickinson Park. There are still a few openings for boys ages nine through 13 who wish to play touch football. They may sign up this Sunday at noon at the park.

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Five beef calves, four Aberdeen Angus and one Hereford ranging from two to five months old were discovered missing this Thursday morning from the Paul Feli pasture on Butterfield Road, Hawleyville. After searching and checking with the neighbors, the Felis called The Bee to report the young stock missing. Paul Feli is well known throughout the area through his work in the Future Farmers and 4-H.

October 3, 1941

Sunday afternoon's unique ball game at Pine Grove Park, half hardball and half softball, found Jack Leavy's Sandy Hook boys easy winners at hardball, the Country Clubbers affording close competition in softball. Thus, youth asserted itself over old men who didn't mind their drubbing at hardball but were a little ruffled when they also succumbed at their own game.

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The special concert of the New York Orchestral Society, to be given at the Edmond Town Hall on October 16, is arousing great interest, not only in Newtown but in surrounding towns. As previously announced, this concert is being entirely financed by one of the orchestra's generous sponsors and all proceeds are to go to the Visiting Nurse Association and the Parent Teacher Association.

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First Kangaroo - "Annabelle, where is the baby?" Second Kangaroo - "My goodness, I've had my pocket picked."

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Gems of thought. The day is always his who works in it with sincerity and great aims. -Emerson.

It is common to overlook what is near by keeping an eye fixed on something remote. -Samuel Johnson.

October 6, 1916

Long Hill Citizen Loses Life. In one of the most spectacular accidents which ever occurred on the Berkshire division, Tuesday morning, a bunch of Newtown people had a narrow escape from serious injury and possible death. It was the first train south to Bridgeport. Conductor Gannon was in charge. The dead man was Edward Greene of Long Hill, driver of a dump cart. The engine of a passenger train struck the cart as it was crossing the tracks, killed Greene and his team and tossed the shattered cart onto an automatic switch, throwing the switch. The engine took to a spur track, mounted a viaduct, crashed into the freight car loaded with cement, and toppled to the street below.

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The editor is a human individual liable to make mistakes of judgment, a fact a good many people seem to forget sometimes when they start in to criticize unduly. The fact is emphasized again in the valedictory address of John Rodemeyer, well known in Newtown and Bethel, who is retiring from editorship of the Connecticut Western News Mr Rodemeyer says: "Editors have to stand a lot of abuse. Some of it they deserve, sometimes and often they don't It is a common phrase that the editor who can please everybody has yet to be born."

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William Hickson, the horseman of Bridgeport, has an attractive advertisement in this week's Bee, that is will do readers who want horse flesh, to look up. He expects to have a load of Illinois horses in this coming week. Drop in upon him. He is at Keenan's old stand in Bridgeport and will be pleased to greet you.

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A children's dancing class is being formed in Sandy Hook at Glover's hall Saturday afternoons. All interested please meet Mrs E.J. Thrall Jr Saturday afternoon. Mothers will be welcome. Fancy dancing and the latest in modern dance steps will be taught.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with readers of The Newtown Bee. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.