February 18, 2000

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — OUR OWN HALL OF FAMER: There is a bright little birch tree growing in Ram Pasture, planted 10 years ago by the employees of The Bee Publishing Company as a tribute to the life of Paul S. Smith. Paul’s tenure as editor and publisher of The Newtown Bee spanned the momentous middle years of the 20th Century, from the end of the Great Depression, through World War II, and into the 60s and early 70s, a time of great social change. The birch tree was our attempt to fill the hole left in our lives by his death in 1990. To this day, it serves to remind us of a truth embodied in the life and work of Paul Smith: that with proper care, attention, and lot of light a community can grow straight and strong. In our newspaper work, we continue to endeavor to bring all three to Newtown. We have always thought of Paul Smith as a hometown hero, but we are happy to report that his talents as a community leader and newspaper man have now been formally recognized a little farther afield. Last weekend, the New England Press Association formally inducted Paul S. Smith into its newly created Hall of Fame. He was one of 30 men and women from throughout New England chosen as the first to be so honored.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Dave Rogers.

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State Department of Transportation (DOT) traffic planners this week described their ideas on making long-term improvements to Interstate 84 between the Housatonic River and the New York State line to enhance traffic flow and improve travel safety. DOT February 14 displayed conceptual plans for improving each of the 11 traffic interchanges, which extend along the 18.8-mile length of highway. The agency presented long-term construction alternatives for rebuilding the interchanges, as well as some short-term plans to improve conditions.

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Steve and Colette Remillard of Newtown took advantage of this week’s unseasonably warm weather to introduce their children Nicole and Tyler to the art of duck feeding near Hawley Pond.

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It has happened more than a few times in recent years. Newtown Police respond to a report of horses running loose along a local road in the middle of the night. These capable cops usually succeed in rounding them up. But then comes the hard part — trying to determine where these animals come from. Well, that’s a horse of a different color. These horses do not wear licenses like dogs, so with more than 1,000 of them living in Newtown, it becomes a guessing game. Police usually call members of Newtown Bridle Lands Association (NBLA) in the hopes that they might recognize the horse. NBLA President Cindy Blackman-Fogliano has been awakened in the hours after midnight on several occasions to identify a horse and/or return it to its proper home.

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The independent arbitrator who mediated the town’s job termination hearing against Police Chief James E. Lysaght, Jr was expected to file his report on the case with the American Arbitration Association on the afternoon of Thursday, February 17, after the deadline for this edition of The Newtown Bee. Arbitrator Albert Murphy, a Hartford lawyer, said Wednesday he was working on the report, which will contain findings of fact based on the testimony and evidence presented at Chief Lysaght’s December termination hearing. The report also will contain Mr Murphy’s recommendations on whether the Police Commission should fire Chief Lysaght.

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“This is my style, in moderation, by the fire,” Rich Treadwell said as he joined a room full of beer lovers at My Place Pizza recently and hoisted a glass of caramel-colored beer above his head, in an effort to see how the soft light refracted through it. “It’s according to one’s taste,” Mr Treadwell explained of brew preference. At this particular beer tasting, the focus rested on hoppy barley wines and old English ales.

February 14, 1975

Flames licked just about every part of a home on Underhill Road, Sandy Hook, early Wednesday morning, February 12. The home, which was unoccupied at the time, was totally involved, with flames shooting through the roof, by the time 35 men from the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene. The alarm for the blaze was reported by a State Trooper who spotted the flames while on patrol on I-84. George Lockwood, deputy fire marshal, is investigating the fire, which is believed to have started by a malfunctioning furnace. The volunteers were on the scene until 4:30 am. The aerial ladder truck operated by Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 also responded.

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Members of the highway department employees union were expected to turn out in force for the town meeting scheduled for Thursday and urge the voters to approve a $300,000 appropriation for construction of a new town garage, and $150,000 for purchase of land. … The highway department workers released a statement Wednesday, following an inspection of the present garage on Church Hill Road by an official from the State Department of Labor. Thirty-two violations of OSHA codes were uncovered, and First Selectman Frank DeLucia said the State conceivably might order the garage closed were funds not authorized for the new garage Thursday night.

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George C. Anderheggen, who lives in Newtown and has a private practice in psychotherapy here, has been made a member of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Chapter of the Mental Health Association of Connecticut.

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The Regional Plan Association called for the completion of the new Route 25 to I-84 when Richard T. Anderson, assistant to the president of the tri-state organization spoke at the Sunday meeting of Newtown’s Environmental Study and Protection Inc, on January 19. The full report of RPA was released on February 7. “Old Route 25 now carries between 22,000 and 17,000 ADT at various points in Bridgeport and Trumbull,” the RPA report states. “To encourage access to the center of Bridgeport new Route 25 should be completed as an expressway through Trumbull including the Merritt interchange, provided the State establishes ‘critical area’ controls. This eight mile section of I-84 is partially justified by existing and projecting traffic, but eventually it should be completed to provide continuity in the highway system of Connecticut and the New York Region.”

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Dr Thomas Draper, Town Health Officer, reports that a site for a town septic lagoon is currently under serious consideration. Though representatives from both the Conservation Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection have tentatively approved the site, formal approval from both groups is necessary before work can start on the project. Dr Draper said he could not guess how long approval would take. The septic lagoon will be used for the disposal of the septic waste pumped out of town sub-surface septic systems.

February 10, 1950

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — LITTLE SAFETY HERE: A recent resident of Newtown’s Main Street has urged The Bee to start a movement to reduce the speed limit through the Street. The limit now stands at 35 miles per hour, which is obviously too fast for the safety of pedestrians, if not the occupants of motor vehicles too. At this particular time, when our Main Street is about to dedicate a new flag pole, and when the entire state is aroused over its traffic fatalities, it seems most opportune to call this matter to public attention. To be sure, no one has yet been mown down here, but there are many people who daily cross the Street on foot and run a constant risk to their lives in doing so. … We look for prompt action. Meanwhile, though we do not think that our Main Street or Route 6 into Sandy Hook should be made into a speed trap, it does seem likely that if a member of the state’s new safety patrol confined himself to that area for a day, he would have a busy time of it.

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That William Jones and Frederic Rees succeeded in creating true Dixieland atmosphere when they wrote “Rotations of 1950” was more than apparent at its first performance. The old-fashioned minstrel which first delighted audiences in 1820 did not fail to delight its more modern audience which filled Emond Town Hall on Wednesday evening. Sponsored by the Newtown Rotary Club, the cast of the blackface minstrel had fun. So did those who listened to the old-time songs and the chatter of the interlocutor and end-men, so much a part of all minstrels.

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The flag which will be unfurled in the flag-raising ceremony this Sunday afternoon is one presented to the Town of Newtown by Mrs Antoinette Lawson, formerly of the Palestine road, Newtown, and now of New York City. She is the widow of Captain Peter R. Lawson, USMC, one of the early volunteers from Newtown at the beginning of World War II, and the war’s first casualty from the town. He was killed at sea on the way to Guadalcanal, and the flag was sent to Mrs Lawson by the US Government. … The flag will be raised by Newtown Eagle Scouts.

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At a meeting held on Thursday, February 2, the faculty of Hawley school voted to become an affiliate of the Connecticut Education Association.

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Miss Katherine Kirby, former owner of the Yarn and Tweed Shop on Main street, left on Sunday for Teachers College, Columbia University, where she has begun graduate work studies on Vocational Science.

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James McGrory is convalescing at his home in Walnut Tree Hill district, where he has been confined by illness for the past several weeks.

February 6, 1925

MISS HAWLEY’S MUNIFICENT GIFT TO THE TOWN Care and Perpetual Maintenance of the Hawley School Provided for in Gift. Citizens Without Exception Rejoice and Give Thanks for This Remarkable Presentation. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Newtown, Connecticut. Dear Sirs— It has been my intention to provide a fund for the care and maintenance of The Hawley School building and I, therefore, have taken much pleasure in delivering to The Travelers Bank and Trust company of Hartford, as trustee, bonds in the approximate value of $100,000 for that purpose. The net income from said fund will be paid to the town in at least quarterly installments every year in accordance with the agreement made with said Trust company, a copy of which is herewith enclosed to you. Hoping that this will meet with the approval of the taxpayers of the town and assist in the reduction of their taxes, I am, Sincerely yours, MARY E. HAWLEY, Newtown, Connecticut, January 29, 1925.

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The citizens of the town were given a most happy surprise, Saturday, when the news of the great and splendid gift of Miss Mary E. Hawley to the town was made public. As appears from her letter she has deposited, with The Travelers Bank & Trust Co, of Hartford, $100,000 in bonds, the income, therefrom, to be paid the town of Newtown quarterly for the maintenance of The Hawley school property. This will be used to meet the expenditures for repairs, coal bill, janitor’s salary, light, water, etc. Miss Hawley’s magnificent gift is outlined in a letter to First Selectman John J. Northrop. In the near future the selectmen will call a town meeting, where a vote of appreciation and thanks will be offered and passed. Miss Hawley’s previous benefactions to the town of more than $150,000 for the erection of The Hawley school, of funds for the erection and maintenance of The Hawley Memorial Vault and Gateways, at the village cemetery, for the purchase of additional land for the Newtown Village Cemetery Association, places the local public under a sense of deep appreciation and gratitude to Miss Hawley for her splendid generosity. The latter gift cannot but help result in lowering to some extent the tax rate of the town, which will be appreciated in these days of the rising cost of living expenses.

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Mr and Mrs J.H. Delaney of Middlebury were guests, Sunday, at Cedar Cliff House, Walnut Tree Hill.

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There is general indignation on behalf of Newtown citizens against the New York & New Haven road for putting the mail car off from the South-bound train in the morning and the 5 o’clock north-bound train at night. Now, only closed pouches are received. No registered mail can be sent south in the morning, or north at night. There is no question but what there will be an organized attempt to force the railroad to put back this mail car. We don’t object to the gasoline ‘busses, but the railroad should quickly work out a plan to restore the mail car. We hope Senator Platt and Representative Morris will wait on the New Haven authorities in an endeavor to have this mail service restored.

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Patrick Bradley, a highly esteemed resident of the Curtis Hill section, died on Monday, after a week’s illness. He was a son of the late Mr and Mrs James Bradley, and a man of very friendly and kindly qualities. For many years he was employed by the New York Belting & Packing Co, but of late he had been in the employ of the Warner Bros Corset Co at Bridgeport. He is survived by a brother, Thomas Bradley, and two sisters, Mrs Mary McCarthy of Danbury and Miss Anna Bradley. The funeral took place on Thursday morning from St Rose’s church, Rev M.J. Regan officiating. Funeral Director Troy had the funeral arrangements in [illegible].

February 16, 1900

The Hon Eli James Morris received the sacrament of baptism, at his home, by the hands of the Rev O.O. Wright, last Friday morning. Mr Morris was brought up a Baptist, and though for many years personally interested in, and a liberal supporter of St John’s (Episcopal) church, he has not until recently sought to take upon himself the sign of the covenant relation. He had spoken to his pastor about the matter several times within the last year or so, and expressed his determination to go to the church and publicly make the vows of his faith; but the state of his bodily health has long been such that he did not feel equal to the effort it would require, and so, being still feeble and suffering, he was persuaded by Mr Wright to make, without delay, the outward sign of his profession, which is “the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

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THE SALE AND SUPPER GIVEN BY THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH A NOTABLE EVENT—THE NET PROCEEDS ARE $31.30. The above figures, $31.30, show all that it was possible for the Valentine Sale and Supper, which was held in the lower room of the Congregational church, last Saturday afternoon and evening, February 10, to net to those who worked so earnestly for its success. Nothing more could have been made financially, for every valentine and loaf of cake and doughnut and bit of candy and all the provisions that were gathered for the supper, when the hour of 8 o’clock came, had wholly been consumed.

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But for the prompt appearance of Samuel Kearney, the colored man in the employ of W.H. O’Hara, The Bee would doubtless have been called to chronicle the facts of a serious if not fatal accident. Miss Ann Blackman decided to take a pleasure ride, Saturday afternoon, behind her pleasure horse “Fannie,” and invited her neighbor, Mrs Henry Smith, to accompany her. The horse, evidently for lack of proper exercise, acted very lively and several times during the ride thoroughly frightened the ladies. But the climax was reached when the horse started at a three minute clip on the home stretch. As the wagon rounded the corner to enter the yard, one wheel collapsed, and the horse going at a lively gait. It was at this junction “Sam” Kearney appeared and in a twinkling of an eye had the horse by the head. Another gentleman who witnessed the affair declared they had a very close call, for if they had gone through the gate, it is likely the result would have been serious, if not fatal to one or both ladies.

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The partnership which has existed for many years under the firm name of Little, Morehouse & Taylor of New Haven, printers, book binders, etc, has been dissolved by the retirement of Cornelius S. Morehouse. This is one of the most prosperous concerns in its line in New England, and Mr Morehouse has been at the head of the company for a long time. Mr Morehouse is a son of the late Charles Morehouse of Newtown.

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Mrs Frank Curtis of Ansonia is a guest of Mrs Neil Gilbert.

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John M. Otis of Bridgeport passed Lincoln day in town, the guest of Mr and Mrs M.S. Otis. He also favored other friends with a call.

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The second session of the Taunton branch of the Congregational Sunday school was held on Sunday with an increased attendance.

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.