January 24, 1997

While on a construction project on the frigid afternoon of Friday, January 17, a workman driving a large dump truck tangled with some overhead electrical wires, knocking out power to 236 electric customers near the intersection of Church Hill Road and Queen Street. The driver, a 27-year-old man from Darien, pulled onto Church Hill Road from the vacant lot adjacent to the corner of Church Hill Road and Queen Street, but the long dumper body on the 1987 Autocar dump truck he was driving had been left extended upward. The extended dumper body snagged some overhead lines, snapping a utility pole. The top section of the snapped wooden pole, complete with crossarms, then hung suspended in a mass of cables between the overhead lines and the truck. A small utility pole tent used for telephone cable work in winter weather was caught amid the tangle of cables. Police, fire, power, and telephone crews responded to secure the area and make repairs in the frigid winter weather. It took more than 9½ hours before all the affected homes and businesses had their power restored. The driver was issued an infractions summons on charges of driving an overweight vehicle, failure to carry a commercial driver’s license, and not displaying a truck tax stamp.

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The Planning & Zoning Commission has turned down proposed land use regulation changes that were recommended by Newtown Neighborhoods Coalition (NNC) as ways to decrease residential construction densities and preserve quality land as open space. P&Z members rejected the proposed changes at a January 16 session, following a December public hearing attended by about 200 people, at which the NNC suggestions drew mixed reviews.

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Planning & Zoning Commission members have unanimously approved amendments to the zoning regulations requested by Ashlar of Newtown intended to allow Ashlar to proceed with plans to expand its Toddy Hill Road facility. P&Z members, however, had some reservations about approving the two zoning amendments requested by the Masonic geriatric home, questioning the implications such amendments might have in the future. Ashlar now operates a nursing home on Toddy Hill Road. It wants to add an “assisted living” building at the site.

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Josephine H. Holcombe, 92, widow of William W. Holcombe, died January 19 at her home on Great Hill Road, following an illness of several months. Mrs Holcombe was born in Detroit, Mich., on August 18, 1904, daughter of Maude and Joseph Helfman. She married William W. Holcombe in Los Angeles on January 1, 1929. The Holcombes moved to Newtown in 1934, their first home being at the corner of Taunton Lane and Taunton Hill Road. In that year they acquired several tracts of land on Great Hill Road at the intersection of Birch Hill Road. During World War II they engaged in farming, during the course of which Mrs Holcombe operated a crawler tractor and fed livestock. For many years Mrs Holcombe volunteered as an aide and receptionist in the Emergency Room at the Danbury Hospital. She was devoted to exercise and maintained over a mile of pathways around her farm where, for more than sixty years, she walked her many dogs year ‘round. Convinced that the preservation of open space is essential to retain Newtown’s rural character, she was an enthusiastic and generous supporter of the Newtown Forest Association, to which she donated a tract of 14 acres on Birch Hill Road in Taunton, and a tract of 64 acres with barn and pond on Great Hill and Birch Hill Roads. She actively maintained the fields around her home with the help of Andy Sedor and others.

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Newtown Hook & Ladder Fire Company responded to 489 calls last year, according to Chief Steve Murphy. The calls required 4,142 hours of service by the 40 volunteer firefighters who are members of the company. The company also held 15 work details and 12 drills.

January 28, 1972

For the first time in the history of Newtown High School there will be a January graduation this year. Under the new program of course credits, 29 students have fulfilled graduation requirements and will graduate January 28. Since the small number of graduates prohibits any formal exercises, the students will return to the school in June to receive their diplomas at regular graduation exercises.

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Jaycee Week came to an end in Newtown over the past week-end, and the highlight of the week was the annual dinner-dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Route 6. During the January 22 party the names of the Outstanding Young Man and Woman were announced. They were Gordon Williams and Mrs Raymond (Judy) Craven. Gordon Williams is a resident of Newtown, a history teacher at Trumbull High, and is studying for his doctorate at Wesleyan University. He was director of the Jaycees in 1968-69, president in 1969-70, and membership chairman in 1970-71. He and his wife and three children live on Baldwin Drive. Judy Craven and husband, Dr Craven, are the parents of three children. They live on Grand Place. She is on the board of directors of the Children’s Adventure Center, publicity director for the Jaycee Wives, a teacher at the Congregational Church vacation Bible School, a member of the Fresh Air Fund Committee and on the Ways and Means Committee of the Jaycee Wives. She is a graduate of Wellesley College.

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Newtown’s net Grand List has increased to $147,490,061 as of October 1, 1971, Assessor Robert Ryan reports. This is an increase of $5,824,064, or 4.1 percent over the 1970 figures after they were adjusted by the Board of Tax Review. Of the net taxable total, real estate accounts for $124,050,761. Last year’s figure, before adjustment, was $119,454,639. The new amount for personal property is $11,952,400 compared to the 1970 figure of $12,343,086. Mr Ryan attributed the decrease to the annual reduction in the value of manufacturers’ inventories and the first-time reduction in merchants’ and tradesmen’s inventories. Both these former sources of income are being phased out. The motor vehicle value is $11,484,900 against the 1970 net amount of $10,017,016.

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Tuesday, January 25, brought heavy winds and plummeting temperatures to The Bee’s area causing inconvenience, loss of utilities, and property damage. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported. William Montessi of the Connecticut Light and Power reports that approximately 25,000 CL&P customers in the Newtown area lost their electrical power because of the high winds and falling limbs and trees. Mr Montessi reports that the winds in Newtown reached gusts of 60-70 miles per hour and caused damage that kept all the area CL&P crews working from 11:45 am to 7:30 pm on larger sections of power loss, with some crews working until 2 am Wednesday restoring individual power failures. Crews from outside the area, including some from New Haven, helped out. The Newtown High School, at which students were taking final exams, and the Edmond Town Hall were among the buildings suffering a temporary loss of electricity.

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The Newtown Little League elected its slate of officers for the 1972 season at the January Little League meeting. The 1972 program will be led by Tom Bickelhaupt, president, who was head coach of the Newtown Lions Pop Warner team this past season. Assisting Mr Bickelhaupt are three vice presidents: Jack McAuliffe, senior division; Ken Adams, major division; Red Kane, minor division; and Charles Rideg will handle the peewee group. Marge Chasse was re-elected secretary; Terry Johanasen, treasurer; Frank Kordish, player agent. Charles Chamberlain will be in charge of equipment again this year. The Board of Directors are Fred Taylor and Ed Dudeck. Pete Whelan of St Rose School is in charge of publicity for the Little League program.

January 27, 1922

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: All Christian bodies will sympathize deeply with the members of the Roman Catholic communion in the death of Pope Benedict. In a letter to the clergy of the arch episcopal diocese, Archbishop Hayes said: “Benedict XV will ever be known as the pope of the World War. It was my privilege to witness his creation as a cardinal in May, 1914, and his coronation as the head of the church the following September. Divine Providence elevated him to the chair of Peter at the first clash of arms, that he might move and act through the subsequent and tragic years, a white-robed figure of peace, mercy, and justice, a true representative of Christ, and the hope and comfort of millions of human beings, of the wounded and the captive, of the widow and the orphans, of the homeless and the famine-stricken.”

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DR W.H. KIERNAN HAS EXCITING TIME OVER ON THE ZOAR HILLS. The lives of our faithful and beloved local physicians are not always beds of roses. On Monday, Dr W.H. Kiernan received a call to the home of Thomas Keating, whose son was ill with indigestion. After treating the patient he was from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. trying to get up the hill. Mr Keating’s oxen were not shod, so they could not work on the ice road. Finally Thomas Bailey and two sons, with block and tackle, came to his assistance and thus pulled Dr Kiernan’s auto up the icy hill. The thermometer was about three degrees below zero, which added to the excitement of all concerned. It was an experience Dr Kiernan will not soon forget. But he was bound to get to his patient’s relief and he did.

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Miss Jane M. Ruffells of West Hartford is spending this week with her mother, Mrs Jane C. Ruffells, of Palestine.

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AFFAIRS ABOUT TOWN: 511 Hawthorn Lane, Winnetka, Ill., January 23, 1922. Dear Mr Smith: I want to congratulate the Building Committee and the Town of Newtown on the new Hawley School for its ample proportions and its admirable architecture. I have seen its picture in The Bee and it appears a most excellent and commendable piece of work worthy of the venerable town and creditable to architects and to the committee and it must be a source of continual satisfaction to the giver, for no gift could be more valuable to a community than a well built and well-equipped school. Yours sincerely. —Reverend Charles A. Tibbals

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HATTERTOWN: Sliding down hill with other children on his way home from school, last Friday, Johnnie, the little son of Joseph Hitko, broke his leg. Dr Kingsman had him taken to the hospital. | Mrs Edgar Northrop, who has been sick for some weeks, is improving in health. | Mrs Andrew Summers of Bethel has been spending a few days with her daughter, Mrs Bertha Hartley. | Mrs Waterhouse, Mrs Parmelee and Mrs Wakeman visited their sister, Mrs Irving Goodsell in Westport, last Friday.

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For three successive mornings, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the thermometer registered at zero in the Borough. Our Florida friends are now strolling about the streets without any wraps on and basking in the perpetual sunshine.

January 29, 1897

LOCAL AFFAIRS: The lively party at H.W. Bradley’s last Thursday night, gotten up by his son, H.E. Bradley, of East Bridgeport, was one of those joyous occasions that makes life so sweet for old and young. If the phonograph had been invented a century ago and “the weels [sic] now turned round” we should have heard “and seen” the repetition of the songs and dances in this old fashioned mansion, built when the front was two story, and the back of the house one. C.E. Bradley, George Osborn ,and H.E.B.’s piccolo filled the house with irresistible notes. What is this impelling force of the young and old that tempted this two-horse load to start from East Bridgeport at 7.30 p.m. for Shiloh and start for home at 3 a.m.? A visit home to be in affinity with relations, and the “old, old home,” that was one inducement; but another was the everlasting pastime handed down from the beginning, and never to end, no matter what the preachers may say! There is more joy in the rhythmic motions of the girls and the delighted boys than ever comes from all the salted oceans of mermaids with their salted toys.

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The Sunday freights on the New England road have been discontinued for several weeks. It is said to be the result of the policy of President Clark of the Consolidated system who is opposed to unnecessary Sunday traffic.

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At the Congregational church on Sunday, Rev O.W. Barker took occasion to warmly endorse the arbitration treaty now before Congress. He urged his parishioners to write to the Connecticut senators, urging them to use their influence in favor of its adoption.

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The Whist club of Newtown Street held one of the most enjoyable sessions, last week Thursday night, at Charles G. Peck’s on Mt Pleasant. The first prizes were won by Mrs Herbert Clark and Levi C. Morris and the consolation by Herbert Clark and H.G. Curtis.

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.