March 17, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Joe Ratyna.

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Town agents, state police, and FBI agents are investigating the March 13 robbery of Fleet Bank on Queen Street, which was the first local theft from a bank since a 1905 bank burglary. About 10:15 am, a lone white male entered the bank and presented a note to a bank teller demanding money, said police spokesman Detective Robert Tvardzik, one of the investigators in the case. After receiving the note, the teller handed over some money and triggered a silent alarm, alerting police of the robbery. “The person was given a sum of money estimated to be several thousand dollars,” Det Tvardzik said. He declined to disclose how much money the bank robber received. … There were no injuries in the incident. The bank robber then left the building and went to a nearby parking area, from which he was seen fleeing in a vehicle.

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Is Fairfield Hills eventually going to become the new home to Newtown’s municipal offices? … The Fairfield Hills advisory committee has recommended that the town use Stamford Hall of the former state mental health hospital for municipal office space. The building — located on Washington Square — has 5,800 square feet of space — more than enough to satisfy the town’s long-standing office space woes.

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Starting last Sunday morning at 8 am, 20 parents took up their brushes and rollers in the middle school’s A Wing during Support Our Schools’ (SOS) drive to give the middle school a paint job. SOS, a 250-member ad hoc committee formed by parents this budget season, took up the job in the wake of cuts to the Board of Education’s budget that included, among other things, painting projects, bleacher and playground repairs, and other maintenance improvements throughout the district. The group has shown its solidarity throughout the budget season by attending school board and Legislative Council meetings, and has taken every opportunity to urge support for the district’s proposed spending plan. When the cuts came down, deciding to literally lend a helping hand was the obvious decision for many SOS members.

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Ever since he was a kid, St Patrick’s Day has been a special holiday for Newtown resident Tom Egan, full of corned beef and cabbage, shamrocks, and four-leaf clovers. But March 17, 2000 will be an especially proud day for this local Irishman. Earlier this month, Tom was named Hibernian of the Year by the Danbury chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was honored at the 41st annual ball March 4 at The Amber Room in Danbury.

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William J. Lavery, a Connecticut Appellate Court judge since 1989, has been named Chief Judge of the Appellate Court. Judge Lavery, 61, of Main Street, succeeds Judge Edward Y. O’Connell, who retired on March 12. … “We are pleased to have someone as talented and experienced as Judge Lavery as chief judge of the Appellate Court,” Chief Justice Francis M. McDonald, Jr said. “The caseload at the Appellate Court continues to grow and the issues before it are increasingly complex. Judge Lavery has handled cases from juvenile to criminal as well as complex civil cases as a trial judge and his opinions on the Appellate Court reflect his legal knowledge and clear writing.”

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Twenty-four vendors and nearly 1,000 people filled the Edmond Town Hall gym on Sunday when the Newtown Historical Society held its 15th annual winter antiques show. “It was very well attended and from what I heard the vendors were thrilled because people were buying,” said Nancy Taylor, a historical society member and show manager. “We are one of the most affordable shows with a diverse collection of antiques. Fred Kampmier managed the show for 12 years and established a tone that I’ve tried to maintain for the past three years,” she added. Proceeds benefit the historical society and help maintain the Matthew Curtiss House, which was open for tours, led by costumed docents, during the show hours.

March 14, 1975

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — RAM PASTURE PURCHASE UNNECESSARY: To set the record straight for all those who, both in print and in conversation have been referring to that parcel of land containing Hawley Pond as the Ram’s Pasture, it should properly be called The Ram Pasture. With that part of the immediate attention surrounding the pasture settled, we further take exception to the town’s wishes to purchase the property from the Newtown Cemetery Association. Our pages are filled with articles citing rising costs to the town, most of them essential to the operation of the community. The purchase of the Ram Pasture is a luxury expense, not a necessity, and one which should not even be considered today.

We believe strongly that this portion of land, so vital to the appearance of Newtown, should never fall under any type of development plans. It should and must remain open, just as it stands today … There is a responsibility for maintenance connected to this property, and we know the Cemetery Association will not ignore it. … It is going to be suggested by Paul S. Smith that a sign be erected on this property with a brief history of Ram Pasture, ie, who gave it, dates, and the present owner. This seems to us a very fine start toward what could turn out to be a worthwhile civic project, one which will need, and we hope will find, the help of many hands. It is a pleasure to see this open land in the center of our town now, and we are glad the Newtown Cemetery Association has seen fit to keep it that way.

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The bee is back! The copper bee weathervane, found mutilated by vandals just over a week ago, has been re-fashioned by its creator, John Hallock of Bethlehem, and once again will sit atop the Bee offices on Church Hill Road. Taking the utmost precaution to prevent another theft of the Newtown landmark, The Bee’s Editor, R. Scudder Smith, has placed the weathervane, pending its return to the roof, under the watchful eye of his ever-vigilant guard dog Tiquer.

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The Newtown Bicentennial Committee will have a general meeting on Tuesday, March 25, at 8 pm in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall, and all interested residents of Newtown are cordially invited to attend. The Committee has been meeting on a regular basis and making plans for the upcoming celebration in order to come up with a well-rounded program for the year 1976. Some of the events being considered include a community church service the first Sunday in January, lecture series throughout the entire year, an industrial open house in March, a Colonial Ball either in the spring or fall, a house tour and flower show, an old timers day, band concert and muster, a community Thanksgiving service and Colonial Christmas Church Services.

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A regular meeting of the Sixty Plus Club of Newtown took place in the Undercroft of Trinity Church on March 5 at 1 pm. Refreshments were served by the hospitality committee with Mrs Kenneth Miller as chairman. Mrs Marion Jordan, secretary, and Mrs Effie Berglund, treasurer, read their reports. Following committee reports, the Brookfield High AFS student from Thailand, Dnanoo Chaujetton (pronounced Tinoo-Chef Jet-on) presented slides of his homeland and answered questions. He was accompanied by Marybeth Morrison, daughter of the host’s family. Miss Morrison is the granddaughter of Mr and Mrs Kenneth Morrison of Paugusset Road, both active members of the Sixty Plus Club.

March 10, 1950

Final figures for Newtown in the annual appeal for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis reveal total receipts of $1,396.28, according to an announcement this week by John Paul V. Cavanaugh, Newtown chairman. This is the largest amount collected in any one year for the purpose, Judge Cavanaugh states. Of the total, $1,231.81 was received in voluntary individual gifts, $55.93 from the schools and $108.44 from coin boxes placed about town in public places … Half of the money raised remains with the National Foundation’s county chapter for local needs. The remainder goes to the National Foundation and is held in trust for epidemic needs and for the ceaseless research to combat infantile paralysis.

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Miss Bertha Piper of the Fairfield State Hospital staff has announced that the hospital is again in need of magazines and suitable reading material for patients. It is suggested that residents having a supply of such magazines on hand, tie them in bundles and drop them off at the administration building of the hospital where they will be gratefully received and distributed. Too, Miss Piper says that patients sometimes request harmonicas and the hospital has none. She would appreciate receiving one or two from readers who have given up the instrument in favor of the trombone or zither. They should be dropped off at the administration building along with the magazines.

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Mr and Mrs Andrew J. Piskura of Padanaram Road, Danbury, announce the birth of a son, Wayne Leonard, at the Danbury Hospital on February 11th. The child is the grandson of Miss Julia Kelly of Hawleyville.

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June Meyers, daughter of Mr and Mrs Earl Meyers of Sandy Hook, sustained a slight fracture of a shin bone last Saturday afternoon while sliding down hill near her home. She was removed to Danbury Hospital for X-ray examination Sunday morning and is now at home wearing a cast. She expects to be walking within a few days. June is eight years old and in the third grade at the Sandy Hook school.

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Commander George L. May presided at the meeting of the Raymond L. Pease Post American Legion held in Edmond Town Hall Tuesday night. It was decided at the meeting to hold a card and bingo party, with the help of the Auxiliary, in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium on Thursday night, April 13. The next meeting of the post will take place on the night of the fourth Tuesday of the month, March 28.

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Mr and Mrs John T. McCarthy and son, John, of Main Street returned home on Saturday from an enjoyable trip of five weeks, during which they visited various places in Florida.

March 6, 1925

Two games of basketball were played at the Hawley School gymnasium last Friday night, and at both, the girls’ and boys’ games, Hawley school [was] victorious over the New Milford High. The girls lived up to their expectations and are now champions in their particular field, having lost no games, but won them all. The Hawley girls’ team scored 17 points and New Milford five.

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VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION: Miss Eileen Finkle, public health nurse, has been granted a month’s leave of absence, on account of ill health. She has gone to St Luke’s hospital in New York for treatment. During her absence the work will be in charge of Miss Bessie Wilcock, a graduate of Bridgeport hospital. Miss Wilcox’s telephone number is 177.—[Edith M. Coger, Secretary.

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Sunday was a busy day for Dr Gesner, after the regular morning services at 9.15 in St John’s and 11 at Trinity. He went to Hawleyville chapel at 3. Shortly after he drove to Woodbury in the deluge and preaching there at St. Paul’s at 7.30, returned in the dense fog that hung for miles along the highway. It was with great difficulty he could keep his car in the road, so dense was the fog.

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JOLLY SEWERS’ CLOTHING CLUB: At the last meeting of the club, held at one of the members’ homes, we had three visitors. This meeting was held on February 28. A demonstration was given by a team composed of two of the members, on making a pinwheel. One of the team talked while the other sewed, giving special points to remember when making a pinwheel. It, being the first demonstration given by this club, did not work quite as successfully as we would like to see in the future. … It isn’t our intention to be perfect on this and similar work, but remember,—The H—H Club Motto is, “To make the best better.” This is our goal.

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The Newtown Library Association has received the following contribution for the drive that is being held and extends thanks: Mrs W.T. Cole, $25; H. Carleton Hubbell, $10; S. Nalevsky, $2; A friend, $2; W.F. Pulver, $1.

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Will the finder of a Waterman fountain pen, lost on Monday on the Street, please notify Frank Wright.

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George Sanford of Redding has purchased a Ford 1 1-2 ton dump truck of the local Ford agent, F.A. Blackman.

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Masury’s paints, Masury’s varnishes, Masury’s Nomar floor stains, Masury’s interior flat wall paint, Masury’s auto colors, Masury’s auto top dressing, white wash brushes, [illegible] brushes.—[H.G. Warner, Adv.

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Old Dutch, White House, Yuban and Maxwell House coffee and a good coffee in bulk at 45c a lb, Lipton’s, Tetley’s, Ridgeway and Salada teas in packages, Gold Medal pancake flour and Grandma’s pancake flour in packages, old fashion buckwheat in bulk, rye and pastry flour in bulk, Karo corn syrup in cans, maple syrup in bottles and gallon cans.—[Corbett & Crowe, Adv.

March 16, 1900

To A.G. Baker of Hawleyville, The Bee is indebted for copies of the Dawson Weekly News, published at Dawson, Yukon territory. These papers were forwarded to Mr Baker by a friend now in the Klondike. The News is a six-column eight-page paper, and is a creditable looking sheet. The editor shows a lot of enterprise in getting his paper circulated. They are brought by dog sleds up the Yukon 565 miles to Lake Bennett. There they strike the new railroad built over from Skagway. This road has been kept open a portion of the time this winter but has been blocked with snow slides about half of the time. These papers are delivered in Dawson to regular subscribers at 25c each or $50 per year.

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John Ray, the genial stage driver for the Newtown Inn, has been confined to his home for a week with an attack of the grip.

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Selectman W.H. Glover has been indisposed with the grip.

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Miss Kathryn Houlihan, teacher of Head of Meadow school, was quite seriously indisposed, last week, being threatened with pneumonia.

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Like the stately elms which for years were the pride and glory of Newtown’s beautiful Street, and now almost entirely gone, so the fine old citizens who for decades have given character to this grand old town, are one by one falling by the wayside, “going to that borne from which no traveler ever returns.” To this class belonged William Botsford, whose death occurred on Monday night, at 11 o’clock, after a few weeks’ illness. He was a gentleman of the old school, always courteous and kindly in his demeanor, and all who knew him are saddened at the thought that they will see him no more on earth. … Trace of the Botsford name is first found in the early records of Woodbury, to which town they came as early as 1640. The name appears in the records of Newtown as early as 1712, and the family has been prominent for several generations in the social, business and political movements of this locality.

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.