March 16, 1984

More than 2,600 Newtown residences lost power on the morning of March 14 as a result of the snow and ice storm. Kathy Terbeck, a meteorologist for the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University, said the storm began as snow at about 5 am on March 13, and that 1.75 inches fell before it changed to sleet later that day. Icy conditions were created when the temperature dropped.

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The National Semiconductor Corporation’s plans to build a $50 to $70 million wafer-fabrication plant in Hawleyville were stifled Wednesday, March 14, when residents at a town meeting rejected a motion to grant NSC an easement needed to build a pipeline from NSC’s Barnabas Road site to the Housatonic River. The refusal to grant the easement will result in termination of NSC’s Newtown plans.

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A fire on the former Wilbur Platt property on South Main Street has been termed “definitely arson” and is under investigation by Newtown Fire Marshals. Newtown Hook and Ladder firemen had conducted a training drill on the property the evening of March 14 and were called back to the scene a few hours later for find the building totally engulfed.

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More than 39 book illustrators will be represented in the art exhibit which opens at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Sunday, March 25. The show represents the first in a series  being planned by the newly reactivated art committee. Some of the foremost illustrators in the country are represented.

 

March 20, 1959

The Latin students of Newtown High School celebrated the Ides of March last Saturday evening with a Roman dinner served from 5 to 7 o’clock in the high school cafeteria. The 45 students and patrons reclined upon couches as they were served by slaves. The menu included hors d’oeuvres, deviled eggs, shrimp, chicken livers, celery sticks and carrots; as the main course Rock Cornish game hens, green beans, homemade bread and rice, lettuce with dressing. Dessert was nuts, apples, dates, oranges, prunes, and apricots.

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The Newtown Taxpayers Association has asked this week that one or a series of public hearings be arranged for presenting information on revaluation methods prior to the issuance of a call for a special town meeting at which time a decision would have to be made.

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Dining room has turned drafting department in the new quarters of QED, Inc, Route 202, Dodgingtown. The building formerly housed the Flying Goose Restaurant. QED moved March 1 to its new location from the Tri-Corner Building in Danbury. The firm conducts research development, special machine and equipment design, product development analysis and assistance on production problems.

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Artistic flower arrangements that will last weeks, if not months, may now be purchased in Newtown at Irene’s Flower Shop, a new shop which recently opened on Route 25, South Main Street. The flowers, so natural looking that one expects to smell their perfume, are made of wood fiber of a crushproof and lifelike texture, by Mrs Irene Jackson, owner of the shop.

March 16, 1934

The Homestead Farm, E.J. and G. C. Morgan, owners and managers, have issued a handsome 12-page catalogue, illustrated with beautiful half tone cuts. The original Homestead Farm consists of 15 acres on the edge of Newtown. Altogether they have 45 acres devoted exclusively to breeding their Reds. The have 2,600 breeding birds with no outside flocks or matings.

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The first monthly meeting of the newly formed Parent-Teacher Association was held at the Hawley High school on Tuesday evening with about 75 members attending. A trio of musicians from Waterbury entertained with several selections during the evening, which were greatly enjoyed. The speaker of the evening was Mrs F. Merle Shaw, president of the State Congress Parent-Teacher Association.

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Saturday, the weather was intensely cold and penetrating and those who had to be out found it as uncomfortable as any day of the winter. About 11 am it commenced snowing and continued until after midnight. The snowfall was about six inches, but fortunately, it did not drift badly.

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Edward Camp, Charles Johnson, and James B. Nichols enjoyed a day of clamming at the beach on Monday. They brought home some extra fine oysters and round and long clams. Mr Nichols said it was the lowest tide he has ever witnessed.

 

March 19, 1909

R.H. Beers and Allison P. Smith have been canvassing the residents of the Borough to see how many would maintain street lights at night and burn them all night. They have met with a gratifying degree of success and already 15 or more residents of the street have agreed to put up lamp posts and maintain lights all night.

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Edward Taylor, H.G. Warner, and John Keating went out after foxes, Monday. The dogs started up one fox and chased him from the upper end of Great Quarter to Zoar Bridge, but had to be satisfied with just a glimpse of his foxship. It was quite plain that this fox was not affected with distemper.

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Frank Ruffels of Hawleyville has taken the farm of his father, William Ruffels, on shares for the coming year and will move from Hawleyville to Mount Pleasant about April 1. Mr Ruffels will continue to have charge of the mail route at Hawleyville.

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Levi C. Morris, the genial proprietor of the Broadway store, lost his favorite family horse, “Beauty,” Tuesday morning. The horse attached to a delivery wagon stood near the store. The noise of moving gasoline barrels caused the horse to start on a mad run. It ran to the bank below Mrs Marble’s place, where it fell. In falling and rolling over, one leg was caught in a wheel, breaking the leg. Patrick H. Gannon was summoned and the horse was shot. The horse was raised by Mr Morris and was much thought of.