February 11, 2000

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — QUEEN STREET: THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The Legislative Council has already taken some heat for its decision last week to reconsider the town’s oft-state plans to resell some of the homes and properties along Queen Street that it purchased from the state last year for $1.2 million. Critics are pointing out that at the time voters appropriated the funds for the purchase, they were told the town would turn around and sell the properties, probably at a profit, with deed restrictions that would preclude high density development made possible by water and sewer lines on Queen Street. Now the council’s number crunchers have concluded that it would be cheaper in the long run for the town to tear down the houses and hang on to the land. The calculations that led to this change of heart showed that the children who might be expected to live in such houses would cost more to educate than the tax revenue their homes would produce for the town. The savings over time was calculated to be $809,000. The fiscal analysis, performed by accountant and council member Donald Studley, is sound and convincing; the council, which seemed to be on track to approve the property re-sale plan, balked. … The five houses on Queen Street that would have been sold under the town’s original plan would be expected to sell in the $150,000 to $250,000 range … The houses, if they ever make it to the market, will be moderately priced relative to the other homes currently being built and sold in Newtown. In helping to make the case for demolishing the houses and keeping the land, the chairman of the council’s finance committee pointed out that these are not $750,000 homes and therefore are not desirable from a cost/benefit perspective. … If the council actually bases its decision on this kind of analysis, it will become the de facto policy of Newtown that moderately priced housing is not only to be discouraged, but torn down, when the town has the opportunity to do that. This does not square with the town’s official Plan of Development, which encourages a range of housing stock for the town’s citizens … The rationale currently driving the council’s consideration of this issue implicitly encourages more mega-mansions for Newtown and, incredibly, the destruction of the ordinary, modern house. We don’t think it is a good idea for the town to recast even a single established neighborhood based on bottom-line number crunching. We hope at some point the council takes a moment to reflect that the issues before them are not just about numbers. The work they do is ultimately about people.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Stan Karpacz.

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Firefighters responded to a call just after 2 pm February 5 for a blaze at the Pootatuck Fish and Game Club’s compact clubhouse on Mile Hill Road. Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead said an electrical short circuit caused the accidental fire. Sandy Hook, Newtown Hook and Ladder, and Hawleyville firefighters responded to the blaze. About 30 firefighters went to the blaze. … There were no injuries. Chief Halstead estimated damage to the old building at approximately $28,000. The blaze started in an exterior wall of the two-story structure, he said.

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This is expected to be a very busy spring for the ordinance committee of the Legislative Council, which will hold its next meeting February 22. The agenda includes 12 to 14 requests for new or revised ordinances. According to Committee Chairman Will Rodgers, the pending ordinance work can be split into three categories: existing ordinances that need some technical revisions, past-proposed ordinances that need to be acted upon, and newly proposed ordinances.

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Rich Barillari conceived of the idea and Mike Kelley believed in it. And together — with the help, of course, of more than 300 businesses, organizations, families and individuals — these two men brought new stadium lights, a new state-of-the-art concession stand, and a new era of sports to Newtown High School. It is for their almost tireless effort … that Mr Barillari and Mr Kelley have been named The Newtown Bee 1999 Sportsmen of the Year.

February 7, 1975

The Highway Department union signed its first contract with the Town at Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting after more than half a year of negotiations. Steward Jack Robins and union president Jack Butler put their signatures on the 11-page contract, while First Selectman Frank DeLucia signed for the Selectmen.

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Frank DeLucia said this week he expects questions to be asked about why the Town of Newtown needs a $150,000 special appropriation to purchase a piece of land for the proposed Town garage, when it has parcels that could conceivably be utilized for that purpose. This week he reviewed two specific parcels: the Town-owned Stefanko property, which the Planning & Zoning Commission turned down last year for the garage use, and the community’s 37-acre landfill, which Mr DeLucia maintained is valuable to the Town for just that purpose: the disposal of solid waste.

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Newtown now has a Board of Ethics as a result of action taken by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night. But the series of charges and counter-charges between the chairman of the Democratic Town Committee and the Republican members of the Board of Selectmen regarding the Selectmen’s method of choosing the five persons continued.

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Connecticut National Bank opened a second banking office in Newtown on Saturday, February 1. According to Alexander Hawley, chairman and president of Connecticut National, Botsford will be the 55th Connecticut National office in the CNB branch system, which serves 27 towns and cities in Litchfield, New Haven and Fairfield counties. David R. Porado is manager of the office, which is located at Route 25 and Meadowbrook Road. Formal opening of the Botsford office took place at 10:30 am with Town officials joining Mr Hawley for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

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Bob and Cynthia Cassidy were the only Newtown members of the Hartford Track Club to participate in the January 25 and 26 “Jog-a-Thon” for cerebral palsy at West Farms Mall, West Hartford. They ran between 8 and 10 am Sunday, before the cold wind started to blow. Bob completed 22 miles and Cindy 11.

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The Congregational Church had its annual meeting on Friday, January 31, and approved a $101,000 budget, honored Mrs Miriam Schulze of West Street for her work in the church, chose “Meals for Millions” as the theme for the church’s challenge year, and voted on a new slate of officers for 1975. The meeting did not get into the discussion of the activities or findings of the committee appointed to study the possible sale of the church house adjacent to the Town Hall to the Town.

February 3, 1950

A meeting of some of those interested in continuing the reading of the Great Books which was started in Newtown last spring, was held at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Tuesday evening. ... It was decided to meet at the library on alternate Wednesday evenings at 8 o’clock, starting February 15th at which time Aristotle’s “Ethics” will be discussed under the leadership of Mrs Bald. On March 1st “Plutarch’s Lives” will be the subject and the Misses McCann will be the leaders.

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At their meeting, January 10th, the corporate members of Town Players elected the following officers for the 1950 season: president, Ruth Baridon; treasurer, C. Mallory Loewe; business manager, Jeanne Karcheski; corresponding secretary, Estelle Penning; recording secretary, Frances Goodsell; publicity chairman, Betty Taylor. Plans and recommendations for the coming year were discussed. The group was highly enthusiastic at the public interest shown in its new method of play selection as reported in last week’s Bee.

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On Tuesday of this week The Rev and Mrs Gordon D. Pierce, D.D., moved into their new residence on Main Street, the Trinity church rectory which has been completely redecorated by Earl Summers during the past several weeks. Rector of St John’s Episcopal church, Brooklyn, N.Y., since 1931, Dr Pierce will conduct his first services as rector of Trinity Episcopal this Sunday morning at 11 o’clock. Dr Pierce succeeds the Rev John W. Mutton who resigned as rector of the church last November to accept a call from Trinity Episcopal church, Norwich.

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Miss Lorraine Hunihan of Sandy Hook was taken to Danbury hospital on Tuesday where she underwent an appendectomy.

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John T. McCarthy, Jr., son of Mr and Mrs John T. McCarthy of Main street, was graduated from Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, Connecticut, on Tuesday of this week. On Wednesday, Mr and Mrs McCarthy and John left for a vacation in Florida.

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Mr and Mrs J.T. Deraps of Newtown returned home last Saturday after spending six weeks in Dallas, Texas, visiting their son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs Leon Deraps, and their grandson, Dale Allen.

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Bill Lovell of Newtown and Freddie Candee of Easton left on Saturday for Florida where they will enjoy a vacation of a few weeks.

January 30, 1925

The golden wedding anniversary of that worthy and highly esteemed couple, Mr and Mrs Michael Honan of Taunton district, was quietly celebrated on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday evening the people of Taunton district gave Mr and Mrs Honan a surprise visit. After a pleasant social evening, they were presented with a handsome fruit dish, gold lined, James Nelson making the presentation speech. Mrs Edward Olmstead read a poem appropriate to the occasion. Refreshments were served and the time passed only too quickly. On Sunday noon there was a family dinner party, there being present Mr and Mrs John Honan of Waterbury, Mr and Mrs M.J. Honan of Naugatuck, Mr and Mrs John McCarthy, Mrs Thomas Maloney and Miss Jennie Honan of Newtown. Mr and Mrs Honan were married in St Rose’s church, Newtown, by Rev James McCartan in the old church in Newtown Street.

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Miss Mary Hawley has presented to the Newtown Cemetery Association $25,000 in bonds to be called The Hawley Memorial Fund, to provide funds to care for the upkeep of the new receiving vault and gateways that are about completed at the entrance to the Newtown Village cemetery. The terms of the gift are such that any surplus receipts after providing for the care of the vault and gateways may be used for the general purposes of the association. Miss Hawley has also recently presented the association with a tract of land to the west and adjoining the present holdings of the Village cemetery, and she has also contributed $600 toward the current expenses. At a special meeting of the Newtown Village Cemetery Association on Monday afternoon these gifts were accepted and votes of appreciation passed. These gifts are magnificent and will be heartily appreciated by those who have the care of this lovely cemetery at heart. They greatly help to provide for the future care and maintenance of the splendid Hawley Memorial and the future growth of the cemetery.

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The thermometer registered at from 15 to 20 degrees below zero in Sandy Hook Village, Wednesday morning. In Berkshire it was 22 degrees below and at Mr Griscom’s residence near the brook, 28 degrees below zero. In the Borough 10 degrees below was about the average. Wilbur F. Pulver of The Bee’s staff reported the thermometer 10 degrees below in Brookfield, Wednesday morning. It was the coldest morning of the winter. A big truck which came from New York to transport machinery from the Premier Plant, was frozen up, and lay helpless all day, Wednesday.

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Curnell Beard has returned to work in the box factory of S. Curtis & Son in Berkshire after an illness of several months.

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Miss Margaret Carmody of Bridgeport passed Sunday with Mr and Mrs John Carmody.

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A large gathering of the women workers of Trinity and St John’s church met at Mrs Ada Blakeman’s, Wednesday afternoon to greet and hear Deaconess Roberts of Hartford. Educational Secretary of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Diocese Dr Gesner introduced Miss Roberts, who gave a very lucid account of up-to-date conditions in China, especially as relating to education and religion. The conversion of the old involved Chinese language into a more popular vernacular has brought education to millions, who before could not read. … After Miss Roberts’ address, plans for mission study for the coming Lent were discussed. Afternoon tea was served by Mrs Blakeman, assisted by Mrs Stewart, Mrs Baxter and Miss Geaner. The meeting was highly successful and the interest manifested promises well for the future. Later on Deaconess Roberts will visit the Girls’ Friendly Society in St John’s, Sandy Hook and talk to the girls.

February 9, 1900

BERKSHIRE: Miss I. Cody of Weedsport, N.Y., and Miss Jennie Chambers of Waterbury were guests, last week, of Miss E.J. Burritt at Snake Rock farm. | John Keane of Zoar harvested his crop of ice, last week. | Mrs Elliott Beardsley, who has been ill for a few days, is better. She is attended by Dr E.M. Smith. | Charles Beardsley, son of Cicero Beardsley, has been seriously ill with chicken pox. He is now better.

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HATTERTOWN: Mrs Eugene Northrop has been visiting with her sister, Mrs Charles Schaffer, in Danbury. | Charles Thorpe, who has been confined to the house for several weeks, is improving and able to ride out pleasant days. | J.C. Lewis is getting to be a skillful hunter. He has shot six foxes already this winter, besides several skunks, minks, and other fur bearing animals. | Ormel Morgan has erected a forge in his mill and advertised to do “Horseshoeing and jobbing.” | Wednesday evening, February 14, Rev O.O. Wright will deliver his lecture on “Nature Studies.” All are cordially invited. | The winter term of school is being taught by Miss Mary Hourigan of Newtown, Mrs Pratt being compelled to retire on account of ill health. | Reuben S.H. Lane has been visiting at G.R. Parmelee’s. | Miss Nellie Johnson, who has been sick, is improving.

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Miss Hazel Smith has been on the sick list for 10 days with a severe cold and bronchial trouble, but is now convalescent under the care of Dr Smith.

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Mr and Mrs T.J. Corbett passed Saturday and Sunday with New Haven friends.

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S.C. Bull & Co. have a nice stock of valentines, comics, lace and novelties. The fair maidens and masters will doubtless besiege the store from this time on.

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George and Bruce Griffin have given $25 each to the fund for the Library site.

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The Young daughter of Mr and Mrs Homer Clark is recovering from an attack of chicken pox.

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The Hawleyville chapel was well filled, Wednesday night, to listen to Rev O.O. Wright’s very instructive and interesting lecture on “Nature Studies.” The course in Hawleyville has been well patronized throughout, the people turning out splendidly.

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.