March 9, 1990

Turner Construction workers have started building the foundation of the state’s $52 million, 400-cell jail off Nunnawauk Road, and a tunnel that will connect a maintenance building to the main facility. First Selectman Zita McMahon said Wednesday a meeting with the state’s negotiating team has been scheduled tentatively for March 19. Town and state officials have said a settlement could be reached by the end of the month. The jail is scheduled to open by late spring of 1991.

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The Legislative Council has scheduled a public hearing on Wednesday, April 11, on a proposed ordinance that would provide for weekly, residential curbside collection of commonly disposed recyclable items such as paper and glass. Among other things, the ordinance would provide for the town to make arrangements for at east two contractors to make such collections in town. It also would authorize town officials to start charging fees for all solid waste taken to the landfill.

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A gypsy moth outbreak may defoliate vegetation here if land owners are not prepared, Conservation Director David Thompson said last Wednesday. Despite last year’s fungus outbreak, which devastated gypsy moth caterpillars in many areas, a general statewide survey of gypsy moth egg masses conducted in February reveal on estimated 400 egg masses per acre in the Newtown area, Mr Thompson said.

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Carolyn Denton of Sandy Hook will try to defend her overall individual championship when the National Intercollegiate Equestrian Games are held again in Southbury. Ms Denton, who specializes in combined training, won the 1989 title with a first place finish in dressage and a second place finish in show jumping. The 22-year-old equestrienne rode for the University of Connecticut team last year, but this year will compete on a team consisting of riders from different colleges.

March 12, 1965

Girl Scout Week is now almost over and the activities of the town troops will slow down again to a more regular pace. Last Sunday, girls in uniform took part in the services in the churches and on Monday, the Homemaking phase of the program was emphasized. To mark this day, members of the new Senior Girl Scout Panorama Troop 229 conducted a buffet supper at the home of Mr and Mrs William Leitch.

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The quarterly meeting of Christ the King Lutheran Voters’ Assembly took place at the parsonage on Monday evening. After having heard several demonstrations on several pipe organs and electronic instruments, and upon the advice of organ consultants, the organ committee recommended that the congregation purchase a pipe organ. The Rev Louis Nuechterlein, M. Mus., pastor of Cheshire Lutheran Church, was present. Following his presentation, the voters resolved to install a pipe organ in the new church.

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The school administration is anticipating a need for 29 additional teachers, including 13 at the elementary level and 16 in the high school. Replacements for the 11 present staff members leaving the school system will bring the total of new teachers to more than 40. The existing staff comprises 111 teachers.

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Brownie Troop 240 visited The Bee on Wednesday afternoon to see how the newspaper is printed, They watched the lines of type being set in hot metal and were much impressed by the big press as it printed the pages of this week’s issue.

March 8, 1940

The greatest ice storm in history which struck Connecticut and other Atlantic Seaboard States, Sunday night and all day Monday, will probably be remembered in years to come as vividly as is the great hurricane of 1938. Although property damage will be negligible compared with the catastrophe of two years ago, the damage to trees and utility power lines has far exceeded it. Newtown, along with other Fairfield County towns, was especially hard hit. The heavy ice-laden tree limbs falling across power lines disrupted electric service all over town early Monday morning. Century old elms and maples, which had withstood the fury of the hurricane, crumpled under the weight of tons of ice. The repair crews of the Danbury & Bethel Gas & Electric Light Co worked feverishly throughout the day and night. A serious fire hazard existed all day Wednesday as the storage reservoir atop Mount Pleasant ran dry. Homes in the center of the town were without water until late Wednesday night. Up to press time many sections of town are still without electricity.

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Franklin Miller was the winner of the Story Telling Contest held at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock. The title of his story was “General Putnam.” The prize will be awarded at the Children’s Play which has been postponed to Friday evening, March 15. The children did so well that it was difficult for the judges to decide the winner.

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James Condon of Woodbury, an experienced florist, will soon open a flower shop in the building to the rear of the Atchison Block. The place will be known as the “Cottage of Flowers,” and Mr Condon will carry cut flowers and potted plants. He will also specialize in wedding bouquets, corsages and funeral designs.

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William Randall of Stepney, owner of the A & D Dairy, who delivers milk in town each morning, had a narrow escape from serious injury, early Monday morning during the heavy ice storm, when a telephone pole fell in the path of his car as he was on his way to Newtown. The pole and wires, laden with ice, first struck the windshield and then slid onto the roof of the car, where the pole rested for several hours. For over an hour traffic was delayed until the live wires were removed. The windshield of Mr Randall’s car was made of nonshatterable glass and, while it was broken into hundreds of pieces, Mr Randall was uninjured.

March 12, 1915

Newtown High School Notes: A little excitement was caused on Friday, when a spark from a bonfire set fire to the dry grass on the east side of the school in dangerous proximity to the chicken coop. As it occurred during recess, a fire brigade armed with brooms was quickly formed and the fire was soon extinguished. Some of the Freshmen seem to have felt grieved that the excitement did not occur during school hours.

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What came near being a fatality took place in Taunton, last week Wednesday. William Sturges went out in the woods of A.D. Fairchild to work, his son Meredith Sturges, a boy of eight years, accompanying him. A high wind prevailed and the boy was believed to be out of danger. In felling a tree the wind took it an unexpected direction and some of the limbs struck young Meredith and pinioned him to the ground. No bones were broken, but the back of the lad was badly bruised. It was a frightful experience for the father.

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The most disastrous freight wreck on the Berkshire division in a long time took place on Tuesday morning at a point known as Sturges crossing, about three miles north of Shelton. The accident was caused by a loose wheel, which derailed six cars. One car was loaded with oats. Both tracks were torn up. Usually due in Newtown at 10.45 am, it passed here, Tuesday, about 12.15.

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Rev William DeLoss Love, PhD, president of the Connecticut Humane Society, will give a lecture at the Congregational church the evening of March 30, under the auspices of the Men’s Federation. The lecture will be illustrated with more than 100 stereopticon slides.