* * *

Newtown’s Chamber of Commerce will seek a more dynamic role in the community’s economic life, under the leadership of its new president and board chairman, Edward Bogdan. The chamber’s Board of Directors Tuesday voted to adopt a new committee structure focusing on retailers and economic development.

* * *

Newtown, which some horse people estimate has more horses than any town in the state, is near the top of the list of possible sites considered suitable for a state horse show center. Local horse enthusiasts have asked state officials to consider Fairfield Hills Hospital land as a potential home for one of the biggest show centers in the northeast. “I think Fairfield Hills should be investigated as a possible site,” said Kurt Schneider, president of the Newtown Bridle Lanes Association. He has not contacted state mental health officials to see if the land is available.

* * *

The DPUC threw cold water on Newtown Water Company’s proposed rate increase this week with its decision to cut the utility’s request by a third. However, customers can still expect to have their rates more than doubled with the resulting 115.5-percent increase. The approved increase offers some relief from the 168-percent amount the company was originally asking for, but how this will affect each individual customer’s rates remains to be determined.

* * *

The officers of the Newtown Forest Association, Inc are pleased to announce the receipt of a gift of land from Mr and Mrs Joseph T. Chase of Newtown. The property includes 2½ acres with a frontage of over 300 feet on Old Stream Road, near the summer theater. The association said it is particularly glad to have the new addition because it is in a part of Newtown in which the NFA does not have nearby holdings.

* * *

A list of fire and building code violations at Newtown’s six public schools could cost about one million dollars to correct, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Robert Montesi said. The list contains all the items the board should be aware of, he said, in considering next year’s budget of almost $12 million, and categorizes all the violations by school. Some violations, he said, may only need an exception from the fire marshal.

* * *

Three months after a town meeting approved a $96,000 appropriation for its purchase, a brand new pumper has been received, to be operated by the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fired Company out of its main station on Riverside road. The new unit has a capacity of 1,250 gallons per minute, 250 GPM more than any of the town’s other pumpers.

 

February 15, 1957

In a special assembly for grades four through seven at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in the school auditorium, this Thursday morning, from 9:15 to 10 o’clock, an American flag was presented to the school, and individual flags to the classrooms by the auxiliary to Charles Howard Peck, Jr and Sr Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Principal Lou Garrepy opened the assembly with the Lord’s Prayer, which was followed by the Salute to the Flag, led by Michael Reardon, a seventh grade pupil.

* * *

The Meadowbrook Terrace Mobil Home Park, Newtown, has been awarded a Gold Star rating as one of the top mobile home trailer parks in the United States, according to the Mobile Homes Manufacturers Association. Parks are graded on appearance and facilities, using a point system. Gold Stars are awarded for 95 points or better.

* * *

A seven months old black and white cocker spaniel, owned by Mrs Jeanne S. Karcheski of South Center District, had the distinction of winning five reserve ribbons, and taking the winners and best of opposite sex ribbons while traveling the Florida dog show circuit from January 12 to January 29. The puppy, named Tinkerfield’s Ebb Tide, was handled by Frank L. Ashbey of Winsted, Connecticut member of the Professional Handlers’ Association. Ebb Tide also took several other blue ribbons as first in her class.

* * *

From several sources and for a considerable length of time, effort has been made to have the month of February designated as American History Month. A number of states have already issued proclamations, and a bill to that effect, supported by the DAR, has been introduced in the present Congress by Representative Jenkins of Ohio. With February so designated, there is cause to hope that a stimulus might be provided for improving knowledge of this country’s own past on the part of many individuals.

Among the many paintings and drawings of the late Willard L. Metcalf, famed American painter, now on view at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, Newtown, is an oil painting of the artist’s daughter. The exhibit, largest of its kind ever assembled locally, has been attracting much attention since it went on display at the beginning of January. Mr Metcalf, whose family has lived in Newtown for many years, was one of the better-known American painters from the late ‘90s until his death in the ‘20s.

* * *

The Newtown PTA has opened it Book Donation Campaign to secure books for the elementary school and senior high school libraries. At present the Board of Finance is appropriating for library books a sum which is rated as “good” according to the state library standards. But there is a great need for background books and additional reading materials for all the schools.

 

February 12, 1932

When America goes to church on the three days preceding George Washington’s birthday this year, it will be to open “unofficially” a celebration never paralleled in all history — a celebration in which those who participate will honor themselves in doing honor to a nation’s founder. Officially scheduled to open February 22, the nation wide Bi-centennial celebration of George Washington’s birth will nevertheless be inaugurated unofficially in religious services throughout the entire country during the three days preceding that date.

* * *

On the return trip from Pokono Grange in Brookfield, last Thursday evening, the car of Louis Slocum broke down at the foot of Lyon Hill, where Mr and Mrs Slocum remained in the snow storm until a wrecker from the Liberty Garage towed their car to the Street. Mrs H.B. Read, who was with Mr and Mrs Slocum, was kindly conveyed to her home in Palestine by Vlasto Visney, Master of Pootatuck Grange.

* * *

The Homestead Farms of Newtown, E.J. and G.C. Morgan, proprietors, who have a fine name for the production of high grade baby chicks. At the convention of the Connecticut Poultry Association, chick division, held at the Hotel Waterbury in Waterbury on February 4 and 5, Homestead Farms of Newtown were awarded two silver cups and a blue ribbon.

* * *

Dog Warden John A. Carlson says owners of dogs in Newtown must observe the quarantine on their dogs, or they will be prosecuted. The Warden had Mr Ganung, Deputy Commissioner, in town, Wednesday, to look over the situation here. It is believed that we have a rabid dog running around Zoar.

* * *

Charles Beardsley of Gray’s Plain, has a nice horse purchased of Chase & Thomas of New Milford. Louis Durgy of Hawleyville has a nice saddle horse, purchased of Chase & Thomas of New Milford.

* * *

Arthur E. Fitz of Torrington, the new chief engineer at the Fairfield State Hospital, has been on duty for several months. The two new Bigelow-Hornsby boilers, with 350 horse power each, are now in operation and heat is being forwarded into the buildings as desired.

 

February 15, 1907

E.L. Johnson, who will be remembered as the historian at Newtown’s Bi-Centennial celebration, has not lost his interest in Newtown history, but is, all along, giving much time to research, study and compilation and enlarging upon work now well underway. His spare time this winter is being given to making from compilation and personal knowledge as complete a history as possible of the Presbyterian, now Congregational, church and society, covering a period of 200 years.

* * *

Mrs George B. Beers’ horse furnished some excitement for the residents of the Street, Saturday afternoon. Mrs Beers came up street on a wood-shod sled, with a number of friends as passengers. When she came out from the store of R.H. Beers & Co and tried to start up, the sled had frozen down, and the horse broke a trace, walked out of the shafts and turned around. The obliging Patrick Gannon happened along and he soon, by means of a tie line, had the team ready to start o the journey to Palestine.

* * *

Despite the attractions of the theatre party, Friday night, about 60 people assembled at the Beach Memorial Library building, at the meeting called to consider the advisability of forming a local historical society. Principal Ross Jewell of the High school, and a goodly number of the High school pupils were among those present.

* * *

P.H. McCarthy, for eight years the popular and capable teacher of the North Center school, has announced his intention to retire from the position with the end of the winter term. Mr McCarthy proposes to devote his attention to his farm interests, having one of the attractive places of the town in his Edgewood farm. He is now vice president of the Men’s club and was secretary of the club for three years.

* * *

A promising industry is that of the Allison Co., curtain manufacturers, at Hawleyville, which now employs 45 girls and several men. The editor of The Bee called on T.H. Pope, the genial superintendent, Tuesday, and was shown through the establishment. The company has about doubled the space utilized since our visit six months ago.