January 17, 1997

Although their baby was due December 28, a five-day delay made Jody and Jeff Price of Sandy Hook the winners of The Newtown Bee’s First Baby of The Year Contest. Stephen Price was born at 12:33 am January 2. He joins an older brother, Stephen, 5. The family just moved into a new home and while both parents had seen the contest advertised in the newspaper, it was Jeff’s mother who called to enter their names. “Things were a little hectic,” Jeff said with a laugh.

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A trainee driving an 18-wheel tractor trailer truck found out the hard way about judging the size of his truck and available space last Saturday night when he tried to maneuver around the gas pumps at the Amoco gas station on Church Hill Road. Around 6:30 pm January 11 the male driver behind the wheel of a truck owned by USA Truck Inc, of Peoria, Ill., and his partner/trainer, stopped in Newtown while en route to Massachusetts. When the driver attempted to drive the large truck around the station’s pumps, the rear wheels rolled onto the island of Pump No 3, inches away from the pump itself, and onto the pipe barrier on the end of the island. The back of the truck was suddenly elevated and wedged into the station’s overhang. The driver said he never felt the truck going up onto the island. Newtown Hook & Ladder responded to the call from the station attendant, who had turned off power to the pumps at the direction of Newtown Police officers. A wrecker from Hilario’s also responded, and after a few pounds of air were released from the truck’s tires, the wrecker was able to pull the truck from the barrier. No one was injured, and no enforcement action was taken.

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A New Haven Superior Court judge on Tuesday dismissed Richard Crafts’s 1994 appeal to his 1989 conviction in the wood chipper murder case. Crafts, 58, formerly of Newtown, was seeking a new trial in an effort to overturn his conviction for killing his wife, Helle, in 1986. Crafts is serving a 50-year prison sentence. In his appeal, Crafts claimed his public defender in a 1993 appeal did not properly represent him. The State Supreme Court had denied the 1993 appeal. A jury ruled in 1989 that Crafts murdered his wife, then put her body parts through a wood chipper to destroy the evidence of her death.

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Newtown High School swimmers beat Barlow, 98-77, Wednesday night to remain undefeated at 5-0 on the season. The team’s next big challenge will come on January 21 when it hosts SWC power, Pomperaug.

January 21, 1972

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: The past week-end was one of the best in Newtown for a long time. Townspeople were busy, and in an affirmative, cooperative sort of way. Age presented no barriers, with neither time nor inclination for anyone to do otherwise than become a part of the proceedings. And what proceedings they turned out to be! The Arts Festival concert by the Osipov Balalaika Orchestra provided a musical treat for the 1,200 people who filled every seat in the high school auditorium on Friday evening. On Saturday nearly the same number of townspeople participated in the Health Day program presented by the Newtown Jaycees. Excellence and general appeal in presentation seem to be two important ingredients for civic projects in the future, especially when public participation is desired. By all comparisons, standards were set high in Newtown last week-end, and everyone responded enthusiastically.

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Over 1,000 people of all ages took advantage of a chance for free tests, immunizations and health information by attending the Newtown Jaycee-sponsored Health Day at the Middle School on Saturday, January 15. The statistics are not all compiled yet, but some of the ones received were that there were 184 pints of blood donated at the Red Cross Bloodmobile, far in excess of the 150-pint quota; 90 glaucoma tests were given, and one case of glaucoma was detected as well as seven vision problems; 204 immunizations were given to children — 65 for measles, 63 for Rubella, and 78 for polio. Ron Leddy and Robert Jablonsky co-chaired the event.

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The Newtown Sno Stars, snowmobilers here, have organized a group to help meet the town’s needs in winter storm emergencies. The club has 40 members with 20 snowmobiles housed in all sections of the community. Residents who remember the severe snow and gales of the previous years — many of them arriving in February — will welcome this news. In the last big snow, volunteer snowmobilers gave great assistance. First Selectman Timothy Treadwell has announced The Sno Stars will be under the direction of Police Chief Louis Marchese and Civil Defense Director Erwin S. Pitcher.

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Newtown Police Officer Daniel Elliott, one of the newer members of the department, is being introduced to residents this week. Officer Elliott is single and lives in Sandy Hook. He is a native of Stratford and was brought up knowing about police work since his father is a member of the Stratford Police Department, as was his grandfather. A graduate of Stratford High School, he is attending Wesconn at nights, where he is taking police science courses. Officer Elliot spent four years in the Marine Corps, including time at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, training for jungle warfare in Panama with the Special Forces, and served with the Military Police in Philadelphia as a guard in the Naval Guard. Officer Elliott is a member of the three-man canine corps established in Newtown.

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Edwin B. Storrs of Sandy Hook has been honored by The Connecticut Light and Power Company on the completion of his 25 years of service with the company. He was presented with a jeweled service pin and a clock by Richard F. Gretsch, the Company’s Western division manager. A US Navy veteran, Mr Storrs joined the Danbury and Bethel Gas and Electric Company, a predecessor of CL&P, in 1947. He held various posts until 1961 when he became a gas heating salesman; he became a house heating representative in 1962 and was made a residential representative in 1971. He and his wife, the former Ruth Parker, live on Washington Avenue.

January 17, 1947

A four-year high in the number of marriages in Newtown is revealed in the vital statistics of the town for 1946 obtained this week from the office of Town Clerk May E. Sullivan. The information lists the births, marriages and deaths in the town for the past year. There were 21 sons and 22 daughters, a total of 43 births in 1946, compared with the record 64 in 1945. “Cupid, all armed, loosed his love shaft smartly,” accounted for 53 wedding ceremonies. This record entirely outclassed the figure of 35 one year earlier. Deaths among the town residents numbered 48, comparing with 49 the previous year.

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The Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company, having completed arrangements to buy Glover Hall on Glen Road from the Glover Warner estate, is looking to the reconversion and improvement of the building. Its purposes are to provide housing for the apparatus and firemen’s meetings, and to make it more available as a future civic center, including a meeting and instruction place for the Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps, with its 77 students and four instructors; and for the Social and Athletic Club, where the boys now have a library, club rooms for indoor games and meetings, and where some 20 of them are receiving weekly boxing instructions from Harry Hillhouse. Jerome P. Jackson of Zoar district has volunteered his services as architect in the long-range planning of improvements.

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(ADVERTISEMENT) Boyson’s Dairy NEWTOWN PHONE 107 LOST: Many Milk Bottles. Please Search Your House and Return Every One You Have … We NEED Them.

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The annual meeting of the Woman’s Auxiliary of Trinity Church held on January 9 presented, in the yearly report of the recording secretary, an interesting summary of the work of 1946. Over $2,000 was raised in various ways for the many works of this organization. Within the Parish, these projects included repair and redecoration of the two guild rooms and the kitchen, a generous contribution for the cost of the new heating plant, and many smaller items. Beyond the parish, the Auxiliary offered aid in various ways to missions in the Philippines, Connecticut Children’s Aid Society, Church Mission of Help, Leonard Wood Memorial for Work among the Lepers, Seamen’s Church Institute, Fairfield State Hospital, clothing collection for war devastated lands, and general missionary work of the Episcopal Church through the United Thank Offering.

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Friends will be pleased to hear that Fred Lake of Taunton district celebrated his 92nd birthday last Wednesday, January 8. His niece and nephew, Mr and Mrs William Fisher, of Belrose, Long Island, visited him and a fine time was had by all, with cake, candles and all the trimmings. Mr Lake is hale and hearty and his friends hope he will remain so for many more birthdays.

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Townspeople will be interested to know that Mr and Mrs W.F. Hadley of Bridgewater have generously donated three books to the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, which as the Hadleys have expressed it in a letter to the editor of The Bee, are “books by which every American could profit by reading.” These books are “I Choose Freedom” by Victor Kravchenko, “The Great Globe Itself” by William C. Bullitt, and “Ideas Have Legs” by Peter Howard.

January 20, 1922

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: It is high time Newtown and other Fairfield and Litchfield County towns began taking some real interest in perpetuating their forests. Our popular and worthy citizen, Dr C.H. Peck of Mt Pleasant and New York, suggests a town memorial forest and why not? While cities and towns in almost every part of Europe own their own forests, Petersham, Mass., was the first to do so in America, and this was by accident — the town was so thrifty that its poor farm of 200 acres long since went out of business, but the farm still remained town property, and was left to itself. It is now covered with a splendid stand of white pine, some of it merchantable, upon which at least 75,000 board feet can be cut each year and leave more than there was before. In 1929 the town voted to have it conducted as a town forest by modern methods. Most of the growth on about 13 acres had matured, and that timber sold at auction for $400 an acre.

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A Student Council was organized this week in the High school for the purpose of having the pupils participate in the government of the school. The government will be composed of the class presidents and the presidents of the athletic and the non-athletic organizations. At present the membership is as follows: President of Senior class, Frank Hopkins; president of Junior class, Helen Joy; president of Sophomore class, Clark Ruffells; president of Freshman class, Thomas Kennedy; president of Athletic Association, Richard Botsford; president of Mathematical society, Joseph McCarthy; captain of Girls’ Basketball team, Esther Coger; captain of Boys’ Basketball team, Sanford Mead.

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O.F. Terrill of Hawleyville has secured about 100 signers to a petition for a jitney line between Hawleyville and the corner of Main and White streets, Danbury, and if permission to do so is obtained, will establish such service in the near future. Mr Terrill proposes to make the fare 25 cents each way and will put into service a heated car of 1922 reserve. Dissatisfaction with the railroad service on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad seems likely the result in increased jitney service to other cities and towns within relatively easy driving distance to Danbury, a line to Waterbury and one to South Norwalk being among those projected.

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Mr and Mrs Ernest Hawley of Hawleyville attended the auto show in New York, last weekend.

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Mrs Clara Bassett has a new 490 Chevrolet touring car, bought of George Scott of Danbury, Mr Lewis’ hustling salesman.

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Mrs Henry S. Gibson is reflooring the veranda of the Gibson Homestead.

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Mrs John Hyder enjoyed a pleasure trip to the dentist in Danbury, Wednesday.

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At the regular meeting of the Sandy Hook Y.M.C.A., last Monday night, Rev James L. Lasher gave a very helpful and interesting address on the subject “What Does Church Stand for in Community Life?” The boys hope Mr Lasher will address them again.

January 22, 1897

LOCAL AFFAIRS: The annual winter basket picnic of the Poquasset club of Washington was held, last Thursday evening, at the furniture emporium of Alpheus G. Baker at Hawleyville. The afternoon express south on the Shepaug brought a party of about 40 Washington people, with numerous delegates from Roxbury. Supper was served about 6 p.m., a grand spread at midnight and breakfast in the morning. The program included dancing, progressive whist and singing, the Washington contingent including many fine singers. Several Hawleyville people were among the guests.

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There was a very pretty wedding, Wednesday evening, January 13, at the home of the bride’s mother, Mrs A.J. Stowe, in Trumbull, the contracting parties being Miss Mattie J. Stowe and Raphel S. Gray, of Newtown. Promptly at 6 o’clock the bride and groom marched into the parlor, where the immediate friends of the young couple were assembled and took their places under an arch of evergreen, surmounted by the monogram of the bride and groom in frost work, and Rev A.R. Lutz, of the Monroe Congregational church, proceeded with the solemn marriage service. The bride was charming in a gown of blue cloth, with trimmings of blue velvet, white silk and lace, and wore Bride roses. Immediately after the ceremony a bountiful wedding supper was served. Among those present were Mrs Julia Gray of New York, Miss Jessie McBrien of Bridgeport, Mr and Mrs Frank P. Stone of Brookside Farm, Southbury, and C. Gray of Newtown. The wedding presents, consisting of silver, china, glassware, etc, were very handsome as well as useful. Mr and Mrs Gray will reside in Southbury, where they have rooms furnished all ready to go to housekeeping. Mr Gray is a fireman in the employ of the N.Y., N.H. & H.R.R. Co., having been in their service for the past eight years.

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D.S. Hammond of Brooklyn paid his daughter, Mrs Charles H. Northrop, a short visit, last week.

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Harry Andrews is a victim of the measles.

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In spite of the hard times, A.G. Baker has been selling lots of furniture, hustling out the goods in all directions.

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Agent J.A. James, at Hawleyville, has exchanged his colt, “Mabel Peck,” for a fine carriage horse, with a New Milford party. Samuel Barnum has a new horse, bought of P.S. Hall of Brookfield.

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.