January 10, 1997

In the face of strong neighborhood opposition to its proposal to build a 180-foot-tall tower for digital cellular telecommunications off Rock Ridge Road in Dodgingtown, Sprint Spectrum on Tuesday withdrew its proposal from Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) consideration. The limited partnership had been scheduled to present its request for two zoning variances for a tower to the ZBA at a public hearing Tuesday night, but the hearing was canceled after Sprint withdrew the application.

*****

It appears the seat of government in Newtown will remain on Main Street. That would put a smile on the face of Newtown’s benefactress, Mary Hawley. The Municipal Space Needs Advisory Committee was back at work Tuesday night, assessing how best to meet the town’s need for office space in the future. Instead of brainstorming for ideas, which the panel has done at previous meetings, the committee decided to assert some preliminary guiding principles that should guide its work from here on out.

*****

“We’re not going to do anything to jeopardize the investment the town has made” in seeding, growing, and establishing the grass needed to cover the newly renovated football field, especially the turf which is going to last for years to come. With that comment, Superintendent of Schools Dr John Reed on Tuesday gave notice to those who were not already aware of what it will mean when the high school’s largest playing field — Jenner Field — becomes temporarily unavailable, perhaps for up to a year. To begin with, June graduation ceremonies will be held inside, in the school auditorium.

*****

First Selectman Bob Cascella received official notification Monday that the Hattertown Historic District has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The letter from John Shannahan, state historic preservation officer, informed Mr Cascella that the National register designation for the district, located approximately at the junction of Aunt Park Lane, Castle Meadow, Hattertown, and Hi Barlow Roads, became effective December 6, 1996.

*****

The estate of the trucker who was killed when a gasoline tanker flipped over and exploded in Dodgingtown in October has notified the town of its intention to file a lawsuit seeking monetary damages. In the notice dated January 2, 1997, Attorney Richard P. Gilardi, of Stratford, states the estate plans to file a lawsuit because “a defective highway condition location on Route 302” resulted in the death of driver David P. Wagenblas, 28, of Stratford.

*****

Sleepers, a feature film by Barry Levinson that was partly filmed in Newtown during late summer and early autumn in 1995, will be at Edmond Town Hall’s theatre January 10-16. The film stars Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman, Robert DeNiro, Brad Renfro, and Jason Patric. The grounds of the former Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown were used to shoot some of the exterior scenes of the reformatory school segment of the film. Fairfield Hills, for a few months in 1995, was transformed into the Wilkinson Home For Boys, circa 1960.

*****

Newtown Health and Fitness recently provided an $850 boost to the Friends of the Library’s “10 Weeks to $10,000” campaign for the Children’s Department of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. The club on Commerce Road sponsored a day-long mini-mil for holiday shoppers last month to raise the money.

January 14, 1972

The Newtown Ambulance Driver Corps made a record 512 trips in 1971, Bob Helsel, chief driver, stated in his annual report. The increase was almost entirely highway and other accidental injuries which were ten per cent higher than in 1970. Trips were made taking 404 residents and 113 non-residents to Danbury and other hospitals and convalescent homes. First aid was given to 91 accident victims, and life-supporting oxygen was administered 41 times. The ambulance travelled 11,271 miles; one third of all trips were night calls. Officers elected in December 1972 were Bob Helsel, chief driver; Bill Kimball, assistant chief driver; and Nick Smith, secretary-treasurer.

*****

Mrs Oliver Barbour, Main Street, was one of several Newtowners to stop by Edmond Town Hall Saturday morning, January 8, for a chat with Newtown’s Representative in Hartford, Sarah Frances Curtis. Rep Curtis reports that the most commonly discussed issues were taxes, highways, and health care. She will meet with her constituents again this Saturday, January 15, from 9:30 am to noon in the Mary Hawley Room of the town hall.

*****

The newly-formed Women’s Club of St. Rose Church got a real treat Wednesday night, January 12, as Marni Wood demonstrated to them how she makes her decorative and delicious canapes. The meeting of the club was in St. Rose Hall.

*****

On February 1, three new men will report for duty to Chief Louis Marchese of the Newtown Police Department. The three men, Kevin Flynn, Owen Carney and William Tvardzik, were the top three men chosen out of a group of applicants. Two of them mark an increase in the force of two men and one replaces officer William Kayfus, who has resigned from the force and will be moving to Vermont.

*****

At the monthly meeting of the Dodgingtown Homemakers, January 6, Mrs William Watts presented a program on milk and milk products. It consisted of a film, sampling of the various types of milk products available and was highlighted by a mini-luncheon of quiche Lorraine and chocolate cheesecake. Mrs Gene Arlowski of Sugar Street was hostess for the day. Mrs Richard Medue was welcomed as a new member. Also a brief demonstration of flower arranging with dried materials was given by Mrs Clifford Banthaim.

*****

Dry Wall Associates of Newtown has received a $75,375 loan from the Small Business Administration through the Housatonic Industrial Development Corporation, a group of area business leaders. The Office of US Rep John Monagan called Friday from Washington DC with the news and The Bee confirmed the details Monday with Dry Wall’s vice president and secretary, Bennett Gordon. A matching amount will be financed by the City National Bank of Connecticut. The money will be used for purchase and renovation of the former Lithcote building and is expected to create a number of new jobs. Mr Gordon said Newtown was the company’s choice because of a belief that this will be the real center of Connecticut in view of the new highways now in use or under construction.

January 10, 1947

Built more than half a century ago by Peter Lorillard Ronalds to honor and perpetuate the name of a long line of noble Scottish ancestors with documented records running back for 1,000 years, Ronald Castle is destined to be erased from Newtown’s skyline to make room for modern residences. “The Castle” will soon disappear from the scene, according to plans announced this week as the result of transfer of ownership of the Castle Hill property to Mr and Mrs Walter Kalvun of Newtown. The property, located on Castle Hill in the borough, consists of the 61-room “castle” itself, a large barn, various outbuildings and surrounding 50 acres of land. The sale is reported by Edmund F. Foster, realtor, of Sandy Hook. Mr and Mrs Klavun plan to dismantle and remove the main structure from the premises and in its place to build their own home on one of the several building sites there. The remainder of the property, they state, will be laid out and offered for sale to prospective home builders. The surname of the purchasers is spelled two ways in the 1947 Bee (Kalvun and Klavun). We are unsure which is correct, so we are reprinting as it originally appeared in the paper.

*****

The Sandy Hook Farm Bureau Women’s group held their annual planning meeting at the home of Mrs Stanley Northrop on Wednesday afternoon, with Miss Helen M. Clark, Home Demonstration Agent, presiding. Mrs Ambrose Tilson was chosen leader for the ensuing year, and Mrs Reginald Watkins as secretary. The next meeting will be held on February 12 at the home of Mrs John Flanagan, when the subject of “New Fabrics” will be discussed.

*****

Scudder Smith, son of Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith, had the misfortune to fall while skiing Sunday afternoon and fracture the bones near the ankle of his left leg. He is now wearing a cast, which will be part of his attire for about three weeks.

*****

Mrs Paul Cullens and Mrs Sarah Mitchell left on Monday for a two week trip to Florida, where they will visit Mrs Cullens’ mother, Mrs Samuel R. Robinson, in St Petersburg.

*****

Probate Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh was administered the oath of office for the fifth consecutive term as judge of the local probate court. The oath was administered on Wednesday morning, by Miss Amy E. Mayer, probate clerk.

*****

CARD OF THANKS: I wish to thank the Newtown Volunteer firemen, who, though the fire was extinguished before their arrival, responded so quickly to my call on Monday. —Nancy Wilcox

January 13, 1922

The annual meeting of the First Ecclesiastical society was held on Monday night. C.B. Taylor was chosen moderator. The officers elected were: Society’s committee, C.B. Taylor, A.T. Nettleton, W.M. Reynolds; Treasurer, Levi C. Morris; Clerk, John J. Northrop; Auditor, Arthur J. Smith. The report of the treasurer showed the finances to be in fine condition, with all bills paid.

*****

Miss May Houlihan passed Sunday with Bridgeport friends.

*****

Pootatuck Grange was well represented at the State Grange meeting in Waterbury on Tuesday, January 10. The following patrons attended: Mr and Mrs Wallace N. Mitchell, Mrs F.H. Mitchell, Mrs Seaman Mead, Robert W. Tiemann, W. John Murphy, Frank H. Platt, Mrs O. Howard Hall and Raymond L. Hall.

*****

Allison P. Smith was in Middletown, Wednesday, in attendance upon the quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State Hospital.

*****

Selectman Thomas F. Brew, who has been laid up for some weeks by illness, was able to be out, this week, a fact his many friends will be glad to learn.

*****

Clarence P. Wilson of New Haven has bought the attractive residence of Joseph Webber on Mile Hill and has already taken possession.

*****

Alfred H. Clark & Son, of Bridgeport, the well known farm brokers, sold Mrs T.E. Costigan’s farm in Newtown, to Mrs F.E. Girard of Fairfield.

*****

Joseph F. Webber wishes to express Mrs Webber’s deep appreciation, and his thanks, to their inquiring friends and acquaintances during her recent illness; and to all members of the staff of the Danbury hospital for their care and attention to her while confined at the hospital.

January 15, 1897

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS in Newtown for the year 1896: 56 births, 23 marriages, and 50 deaths.

*****

DODGINGTOWN AND VICINITY: The school began, Monday, after two weeks’ vacation. | A dance was held at Mrs Mary Fidner’s, last Thursday evening. | Mr and Mrs Andrew Nash entertained a party of relatives on New Year’s day. | Mr and Mrs L. Andrews have been visiting relatives in Paterson, N.Y. | Mrs J.R. Ferry has been visiting relatives in Paterson, N.Y. Mrs Ferry has also been visiting relatives in Bethel. | Mrs Mayhew has been entertaining her sister from Danbury | Miss Jessie Wilson has been spending a few days with Miss Minnie Hinman of Newtown. | Mrs Frances Platt and son have been the guests of her parents, Mr and Mrs George Crane. | Mr and Mrs J.W. Behn and children have been the guests of Mrs Behn’s parents in Bethel. | Miss Jessie Whitehead is quite sick at this writing.

*****

A subscriber of The Bee writes in to inquire why our school board doesn’t have teachers’ meetings, as do many of the towns hereabouts. We don’t know, but we can say this much: They have tried the experiment here, several times, but we have understood there wasn’t the co-operation on the part of the teachers that they had a right to expect. However, we pass this suggestion along to the Board.

Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.