February 27, 1998

Town officials are feeling a little less apprehensive this week after hearing the news of the large increase in the town’s grand list. The total amount of taxable items in Newtown was finally released by the tax assessor’s office Monday, showing an increase of more than 4.5 percent. That should keep the tax rate increase for next year somewhere around 1.6 mills — great news to taxpayers, especially since the $57.8 million proposed budget reflects a significant increase in spending. Last year’s tax rate went up 0.9 mills.

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William Nicholson, the town’s zoning enforcement officer for the past five years, has resigned his post in the town’s land use office. Mr Nicholson’s last scheduled day of work was Friday, February 27. His departure follows the resignations earlier this month of Kathy Reymers as the land use office clerk and Christopher Majewski as conservation official.

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Navy Lt Joseph P. Smith, son of Vera E. and Earl J. Smith Jr, Sandy Hook, recently departed from the Persian Gulf aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, the lead ship of the USS Nimitz Battle Group. Lt Smith is one of more than 5,000 sailors and marines aboard the carrier who participated in Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq. The 1988 graduate of Newtown High School joined the Navy in May 1993. Lt Smith is a 1993 graduate of the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

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The morning class of four-year-olds at Newtown Congregational Cooperative Nursery School visited My Place Restaurant recently with their teachers, Kathy Murdy and Donna Miklaszewski. John Tambascio taught the children how to make pizza.

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In a split vote, P&Z members have approved cutting a 22-acre parcel into two lots off Parmalee Hill Road. Attorney Bill Denlinger, representing owner Gary Tannenbaum, told P&Z members February 19 that the 220-acre parcel’s status has not changed in the past 42 years. When the town adopted zoning regulations 40 years ago, land parcels which already existed were protected by the “grandfather clause,” meaning they were not subject to all provisions of the new zoning regulations. Mr Tannenbaum had applied to the zoning enforcement officer to cut the parcel into two pieces, but due to technical questions, the matter was referred to P&Z members for action. Mr Tannenbaum said he wants to sell one lot and keep the other, plus allow the Newtown Bridle Lands Association to use some property for horseback riding. The property has R-2 Residential zoning.

February 23, 1973

A three-company-alarm fire destroyed Tuttle’s Glen Lodge in Sandy Hook on Sunday, February 18. As The Bee goes to press, the ruins are still smoldering and the men from Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company have returned to the site of the fire each day this week to wet down what is left. The call to the fire came in at 7:30 pm and was answered by Sandy Hook, with a request for an aerial dispatch from Newtown Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. The top section of the building was completely involved in flames when the men reached the scene, causing Chief Herbert Lewis of Sandy Hook to call in all available help from Hook and Ladder and the United Fire Company of Botsford. Nearly 100 firefighters fought the blaze for the better part of the day, including Hawleyville Fire Chief Fred Seman, who went to the scene with his company’s tanker.

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With $1,695.03 received, the 1972 expenses will be met for the Newtown Summer Festival and plans are now being made to organize the 1973 Festival. Organizations or individuals wishing to donate to the 1973 activities may send their contributions to the Newtown Summer Festival, care of Nelson Denny, Connecticut National Bank, 6 Queen Street, Newtown.

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The Varsity Wrestling team at Newtown High School has been in existence for only two years, and yet two boys from the team have earned the right to compete in the State Wrestling finals, one of the highest honors for high school wrestlers to receive in the state. The boys are senior Gary Frenette, who wrestles in heavyweight class, and Dave Oliger, a sophomore wrestling in the 108 pound class.

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Newtown Lions celebrated many of their own during the regular Wednesday night meeting of Newtown Lions Club last week at the Hawley Manor Inn. Past presidents were given special hats to wear and during the meeting highlights of each term were cited. Among those who have served the club as president and were on hand for the meeting include John Anderson, Gordon Holmes, William Honan Jr, Richard Hubbard, Charles Lewis, Lynn Mathewson, Fred Parr, Harry Rishor, Kenneth Shaw, and Robert Woodies.

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Mrs John Kirkpatrick of New Haven was guest speaker at the Episcopal Churchwomen’s meeting on February 13 at Trinity Episcopal Church. Her discussion was about C.S. Lewis, the popular author and professor of medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University.

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February 15 was “Scout Government Day” in Newtown, an annual observance. Eleven Scouts, picked by Scoutmasters from Troops 70, 170, 270, 370, 470 and 770, learned firsthand how the Town Hall runs by taking a position of a town official for the day. Town offices and the Scout who filled the position were: Jon Dieringer, CDAP Administrator; Alex DeLucia, First Selectman; Scott McCulloch, Town Clerk; Gilbert Teal, Judge of Probate; Stephen Wehmeyer, Tax Collector; Michael Storm, Tax Assessor; George Fahrenholz, Recreation Director; David Dickerson, Controller; Joe Niedermeyer, Chief of Police; Jeff Poulin, School Superintendent; and Roger Forcht, Highway Superintendent.

February 20, 1948

Dr J. Benton Egee and four young companions visited the Sportsmen’s Show in New York City on Wednesday. The quartet of youthful enthusiasts included David and Johnny Egee, Brook Gutman, and Teddy Smith.

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Harry Greenman and son Skippy were among those who attended the Sportsmen’s Show in New York City on Wednesday.

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At a pretty home wedding on Saturday, Valentine’s Day, Miss Phyllis Mulford, daughter of Mr and Mrs Stockton Mulford of Sandy Hook, became the bride of Rodney Preston Bucklin, son of Mr and Mrs Rodney Bucklin of Utica, N.Y. The ceremony was performed by Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh in the presence of a few friends, some of whom came from Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. The bride, given into marriage by her father, wore a ballerina dress of blue faille taffeta heavily embroidered with pearls and beads. She carried a bouquet of yellow roses. A small reception following the ceremony was held at the home of the bride. Miss Mulford was graduated from the Mount Sinai School of Nursing last year. Just prior to her marriage she was on the nursing staff of the Danbury hospital. She has been an active member of the Town Players here for some time. Mr Bucklin is associated with Remington Rand in Utica. After February 21st the bride and groom will be at home at Crosby Manor Road, Utica, N.Y.

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The Permanent School Building committee met last Friday night in the Selectman’s office at Edmond Town Hall and held a public opening of bids for the plumbing, heating and ventilating, and electrical work on the new addition to Hawley School. Walter L. Glover, chairman of the committee, was in charge of the proceedings. Winfield S. Holman Inc, of Danbury, with an acceptable low bid of $22,263, was awarded the heating and ventilating contract. James V. Ursini, New Haven, submitted a low bid of $18,448 for the plumbing work and was awarded that contract. Only two bids were submitted for the electrical work, some of those who had figured the job had been detailed by the bad traveling, and so the award of contract for that work was postponed to this Friday evening at the town hall, when bids will be received and a public opening held.

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The Veterans Memorial Fund of the Charles Howard Peck Post 308, Veterans of Foreign Wars, has reached a total of $4,288.50, according to a report received this week from William Hunter, treasurer. Bert Carey, chairman of the house-to-house canvas, reports that, because of difficult traveling since the first big snowstorm, returns are incomplete from Hawleyville, Huntingtown, Gray’s Plain, Church street, Fairfield State hospital, Botsford, and the south of end Boulevard road. He has been urging workers to finish their work as soon as possible and report either to him or direct to Mr Hunter.

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Pfc. Frank H. Leaver, son of William Leaver, Sandy Hook, arrived at his home Tuesday afternoon, discharged from the Army after 18 months of service. Pfc. Leaver left Panama, where he had been stationed for the last year, on February 4th, arriving in the States last week-end, and flew from New Orleans, La., to Newark, N.J., on Monday of this week. A member of the Medical Corps, Pfc. Leaver was stationed at the General hospital in Fort Clayton, Canal Zone.

February 16, 1923

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: The Legislature promptly knocked out the bill to change the name of Lake Zoar. Newtown and Southbury had already voted for Lake Zoar and it was quite impudent and presumptive for Mr Sanford and Judge Mathewson of New Haven to tell us what name we should have on our lake. Our thanks are due to Senator [illegible] and Representative Morris for their good work in killing this bill. If Judge Mathewson and Mr Sanford must have a Lake Humphreys let them name one of those beautiful little ponds on the outskirts of New Haven. Lake Zoar it is. Lake Zoar it shall remain. Do you hear that Mr Sanford?

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The golden anniversary of Mr and Mrs Arthur L. Peck, of Sugar street, was happily celebrated on Monday afternoon and evening, by a gathering of family and friends and neighbors, in honor of this worthy couple. About the golden number, 50 were present during the afternoon and evening. The guests on their arrival were met at the door by their granddaughter, Miss Evelyn Peck, dressed in white. Very dainty and delicious refreshments were provided, consisting of sandwiches, chicken patties, pickles, olives, ice cream, cake and coffee. A beautiful bride’s loaf, with 50 candles on it, was also provided. On departing, each guest was provided with a golden basket ornamented with golden blossoms, containing a piece of the bride’s loaf. The marriage of Mr and Mrs Peck took place at Green’s Farms, Rev Mr Reylea of the Green’s Farms Congregational church officiating. Mrs Peck’s maiden name was Cornelia Lamberton. Mr and Mrs Peck were remembered with some handsome gifts, including gold pieces and other gifts.

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Postmaster H.W. Wheeler, who was confined to his home and bed for 10 days, threatened with pneumonia, was out, Wednesday afternoon, for the first time. Dr E.L. Kingman attended him.

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Birdsey Sniffen, of George W. Fairchild & Sons’ Jewelry store in Bridgeport, has been confined to his home in Sandy Hook for a few days with a severe cold.

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C.F. Conger of Botsford has entered into the feed business and has on hand at his shop a complete stock of all kinds of grain and scratch feeds. Mr Conger has a host of friends who wish him success in his new business.

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Miss Hattie M. Northrop and Miss Amy Bantle passed Saturday in Bridgeport.

February 25, 1898

The beautiful hymn, “A Quiet Mind,” printed in last week’s Bee, was read at the funeral of the late Mrs F.S. Hazen at Springfield, Mass., by the officiating clergyman, Rev J.L.R. Trask, D.D., who spoke of it as typifying the life of the deceased.

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At the Congregational church on Sunday morning, owing to the fierce storm, but a few were present. In place of the sermon Rev Mr Barker gave an exposition of the Sunday school lesson of the day.

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Mr and Mrs Oscar Dikeman, who have been boarding for some time at C.F. Beardsley’s, have gone to New York to pass the balance of the winter. They will open their Newtown cottage early in the spring.

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W.S. Powell has moved his family and household goods to Sheffield, Mass.

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Mrs Samuel Danks of Hawleyville has been on the sick list. She was attended by Dr Griswold of Brookfield.

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The recent concert at Hawleyville netted the Union Chapel Association $27.28.

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R.H. Smith, editor of The Religious Herald, passed through Newtown, Monday, en route to New Milford.

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Arthur S. Hawley of New York passed Sunday in town.

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J.A. Scutt, a well known farmer resident on the hills above Southford, was at Hawleyville, last week.

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The Rubber factory was closed, Tuesday, Washington’s birthday.

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.