February 6, 1998

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Jane Cottingham

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On the night of January 29, an unattended Mercedes-Benz sedan parked at a Wills Road residence rolled down an incline while unoccupied and plunged into a small ice-covered pond, according to United Fire Company of Botsford Chief Steve Belair. Water came up to the bottom of the car’s windows. Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue responded to the scene, as did Botsford firefighters and police. Chief Belair, who is also a NUSAR diver, put on a drysuit and went into the frigid waters to attach a wrecker hook to the car’s axle. A wrecker then winched the car out of the pond. Recovering the car from the pond took about an hour. There were no injuries. The car’s owner was not identified.

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The Legislative Council’s ordinance committee voted Wednesday to put a short-term moratorium on all ordinances until it can come up with a better process for writing these local laws. As ordinance committee chair Will Rodgers points out, “We only did two ordinances in the past year, and they’re both screwed up.”

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Cub Scout Den 6 from Hawley School met with local artist David Merrill at Edmond Town Hall recently, when they learned about historical buildings in Newtown. Mr Merrill discussed with the boys his many paintings of Newtown buildings which decorate the walls of 45 Main Street.

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The Newtown High School Winter Guard held an Invitational at the high school on January 31, in which 15 winter guards participated. While the Newtown guard did not compete during the event, the group did present a preview of its “Peter Pan” routine, which it will be working on all season for competition. Among the guards competing at last weekend’s event were the groups from Ramsay High School and Elmwood Park High School, both in New Jersey.

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Kathy Beals of Sandy Hook received the 1998 Young Careerist Award from the Newtown Business & Professional Women at the organization’s meeting Monday evening at the Fireside Inn. Ms Beals is an instructional designer of digital tools in the product development department of Excel Partnership Inc, in Sandy Hook. She also operates her own digital media consulting business. Competition judges this year included Newtown BPW Young Careerist Chairperson Justina Hansen, Booth Library Reference Librarian Beryl Harrison, Tax Collector Carol Mahoney, and Cathy Masi of Flagpole Realty.

February 2, 1973

The Newtown Chapter of the United States Jaycees culminated a series of activities last Saturday evening by honoring the outstanding young man and woman in the community at a dinner-dance at the KofC Hall. Named for this top award of the year were Christopher Spiro and Patricia Denlinger, who were presented plaques by First Selectman Frank DeLucia.

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The Newtown Forest Association at its annual meeting January 25 accepted the resignation of James Brunot as president, and elected William Watts to succeed him. Mr Brunot, who has served as president since October 1971, explained that he had been unable to devote as much time to the Association as he had hoped in the past years, and for personal reasons would be unable to continue as president. He continues as a member of the board of directors, however.

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The Board of Finance at a special meeting January 29 voted to recommend approval of special appropriations of $38,000 to balance the school system budget and $12,000 to repair the Middle School septic system. Three other appropriations requests, totaling $207,000 for repairs to the High School, were postponed until more reliable cost figures could be obtained. The board found that the first two appropriations were immediately necessary and unavoidable, since the budget deficit results from the contract settlement that was signed after the budget was approved, and the Middle School is in danger of being closed by the state unless defects in the septic system are promptly corrected. In both cases the cost estimates presented by the Board of Education were substantially lower than earlier forecasts.

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Timothy J. Loughlin has submitted his formal resignation from the Newtown Board of Police Commissioners. The resignation was sent to First Selectman Frank R. DeLucia in a letter dated January 29, with copies going to George McLachlan, chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners; and Clifford Bolmer, chairman of the Republican Town Committee. Mr Loughlin, who was recently appointed Chairman of the State Unemployment Compensation Commission by Governor Meskill, gave his reason for resigning as his heavy work load involved with his appointment. His unexpired term will be filled by a person named by the Board of Selectmen with recommendations coming from the Republican Town Committee.

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The annual meeting of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce was conducted on Wednesday evening, January 31, at the Hawley Manor Inn, at the direction of Edward Sullivan, outgoing president. Most important on the agenda for the meeting was the election of new officers. John M. Knight Jr, district manager for the General Water Works, was named to replace Mr Sullivan.

January 30, 1948

Chief Fred G. Mayer of the Newtown Fire Company calls attention of the residents of the town to the serious consequences which may be suffered at this time, when roads are all in such a hazardous condition, if there should be a fire. Most of the side roads are covered with ice and snow and in many instances it would be impossible to get the fire trucks through some of these roads. Chief Mayer advises all residents to be extra careful, especially those burning wood in stoves, furnaces and fireplaces.

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Mrs Robert de Veer created an attractive sea nymph in snow at the front of her home on Glover avenue, which drew considerable attention until the most recent snowfall rather destroyed it. Those who travel Glover avenue are hoping she will make another attempt when the snow is just right for handling.

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Because of lack of fuel oil and heat at the Congregational church on Sunday morning, it was decided to omit the service, and those who arrived at 11 o’clock went across the street to Trinity church and joined in the service there.

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As The Bee goes to press, it is learned with regret that the condition of Mrs Marcus Connors of South Main street shows no improvement. Mrs Connors has been seriously ill for the past week.

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The Newtown Chapter of the United World Federalists held a meeting in the court room of the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Charles G. Morris presided as chairman. The agenda of the meeting included an interesting report by Miss Dolan of the Hawley School faculty on her trip to the Student Federalists conference at Princeton, N.J. The other business transacted consisted of the confirmation of committee heads, the establishment of an executive council, with provision for enlarging this council, the setting of the last Tuesday in the month for regular meetings, and the decision to circulate a petition in the early Spring.

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Three cars of a freight train were derailed in Botsford Saturday morning as the train was proceeding from Danbury to New Haven. It was necessary to halt all freight movements between the two cities until the tracks were cleared by a tool train and crew from the New Haven yards, which required several hours to accomplish.

January 26, 1923

HATTERTOWN: The entire roof on the large barn owned by Isaac Goldstein collapsed under the heavy weight of snow. Mr Goldstein has been obliged to sell part of his cows, having no room to house them. | Stephen Hall, who has been in poor health for some time, was taken to the hospital in Bridgeport, Sunday, where an operation was performed on him. | Mr and Mrs Eugene Northrop are both suffering with severe grip colds.

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Some of the people who use Hanover avenue are wondering who the parties were who cleaned the road out so nicely on Saturday night. Well! Just ask a certain motorist who drives a Special Six Studebaker. He knows!

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The result of the boys’ game in Ridgefield was a score of 9-24 in favor of the Hawley School boys’ second team and 19-21 in favor of the Hawley School first team. It seems that our boys are picking up now and hereafter they’ll win every game. The line-up was as follows: Hawley School second team, Leahy, Kuhne, Brenner, Kennedy and Reynolds. Ridgefield second team, Sullivan, Anderson, Carboni, Dingle and O’Keefe. Hawley School, Ray, Botsford, Houlihan, Carmody and Schaffer. Ridgefield High School, Brundage, Venus, Cummings, Heller and Pasquarella.

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John O. Pitzschler, the genial Sandy Hook barber, was confined to his home for several days with an attack of the grip.

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Miss Irene Brew of Sandy Hook has been quite sick with the grip.

February 4, 1898

The fine weather and good sleighing of last Friday night contributed to the success of the annual concert and ball of the Newtown Hook & Ladder Co. About 50 couples were in attendance, and the young folks appeared to enjoy the occasion hugely. The music was excellent, and of course added largely to the enjoyment of the occasion. Intermission was declared at midnight when about 30 couples repaired to the Grand Central to partake of a fine spread prepared by Mine Host Houlihan.

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HATTERTOWN NOTES — A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE PARTY: One of those pleasant occasions which break the monotony of our quiet rural life, and gives neighbors an opportunity to renew the ties of common fellowship and good feeling occurred Thursday evening of last week, when nearly all the people of this immediate vicinity gathered together and gave Ralph Benedict a surprise party. Mr Benedict is the oldest native born citizen of this place, that day being his 80th birthday anniversary. The chief success of the event was the genuine surprise. Neither Mr Benedict or any member of his family had any hint or suspicion of the event, and when the crowd poured in upon him until the rooms of his pleasant home were well filled, he was for the moment a very much surprised man, but soon recovering his equilibrium he and his good wife showed to every one present their pleasure and appreciation in their neighbors and friends coming to see them at that time.

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At the Congregational church on Sunday night an interesting missionary service was held. An able address was given by Rev Otis W. Barker, and brief papers by Allison P. Smith and Miss Collier.

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Merchant E.F. Hawley has presented his patrons with a handsome calendar and memorandum pad, containing a list of all the articles needed in a household. It is very attractive and will be appreciated by the ladies.

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Thomas Keane of the Mitchell place is rejoicing over the arrival of a bouncing baby boy, born Thursday, January 26. Mother and child are doing well.

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.