Recent declines in mortgage interest rates have spurred many homeowners to refinance their mortgages, but speculation on Wall Street has made the rates fluctuate on almost a daily basis. Colonial Bank’s rate on March 11 was 10.25 percent and by March 13 it was down to 10 percent and has remained there this week.

***

On March 16, the Newtown Congregational Church approved a three-pronged motion to move forward with building plans for the new sanctuary. Approximately $442 thousand of the projected $550,000 basic goal had been raised by March 16. Work is slated to begin in late spring. The future of the old Sanctuary remains unsettled. First Selectman Jack Rosenthal is considering the possibility of the town’s using the landmark church as a meeting house.

***

Town officials Monday inspected a Fairfield Hills Hospital power plant for anonymously reported outdoor chemical spills, fearing pollution hazards, but as of Wednesday the site was clean and steps had been taken to curb future problems.

March 24, 1961

Jeffrey Hoffer, five years old, was saved from drowning on Wednesday. Jeffrey was walking in a field in back of Sealand Drive with his sister, Susan, four; and Michael Newman, also four, when he stepped onto some ice on a deep pond and fell in. The two children ran back to Mrs Hoffer, who rushed to the scene with Mrs Newman, who had phoned police, and the two women worked together. Mrs Hoffer went out onto the ice and after much effort found Jeffrey. Mrs Newman grasped a branch and aided Mrs Hoffer back onto the ice and onto shore. Arthur Titus came to their aid and began artificial respiration. Dr Egee soon joined in this effort. Aided by oxygen from the Newtown Ambulance, the boy was revived. Further treatment was given to him at the hospital, where he is now getting along nicely.

***

Some 93 Errors Disclosed In Census Table Which Lists Newtown With 1,261 Residents In 1960: Newest Newtown statistics to come under fire are contained in the US Census Bureau Table No 8, where the town is deprived of 10,112 residents in the population figures. This brings the error total full circle: the area is wrong, the age is wrong and now the population is wrong. The Connecticut Travel Council has discovered that the table “contains serious errors and omissions affecting more than 93 Connecticut towns.”

***

Members of the Newtown Park Commission have approved the plot plan of the Newtown Junior Chamber of Commerce for the development of a town park at the end of Hanover Road on Lake Lillinonah. The development of this site as a picnic and boating area is being undertaken by the Jaycees as a community project.

***

Newtown Water Company is making final preparations to change over to its new pumping system next Wednesday. A test of the new facilities on Tuesday resulted in some harmless discoloration of water, settled by early evening. The new pumping station is housed in an attractive building around the lake from the present station. It is expected to result in improved water pressures. 

March 20, 1936

Newtown fans who held onto their seats during the championship game in New Milford, last Thursday night, saw a basketball game that will go down in history along with the Blizzard of ’88. The Hawley girls won in a last period rally that swept the Salisbury team right off its feet, and before they could recover from the shock, the game was over. With Newtown trailing by four points, they outrushed the Salisbury team, scoring three baskets in less than a minute of play and clinching the championship title by a score of 35 to 32.

***

The grade crossing near the Hanover station, North Newtown, is now a thing of the past. The grade crossing just west of the railroad station has been closed for the subway route, about 50 feet or so west. It starts in near the residence of Mayor Edgar Northrop.

***

The home of John W. Ray, of the Borough, was the scene of an unfortunate fire about 8 o’clock Saturday evening. Due to the rains of last Wednesday, the cellar of the house had contained over a foot of water, in which a tank of fuel oil had been over-turned. When he went to fix the furnace on Saturday, he opened the door of the ash pit to find that the oil on top of the water in the pit was ablaze. Firemen and neighbors fought the flame for about two hours before it was brought under control.

***

The curiosity of humans is perhaps one of our strongest and most universal traits. We must see things to be really satisfied. So hundreds of people headed their cars on Sunday for New Milford and Stevenson Dam to observe the wreckage left in the wake of the flood waters and ice cakes. The resultant traffic jam was more concentrated than the ice jam.

 

March 24, 1911

One of grocer Morris’ customers enquired if he had any strictly fresh eggs. “Oh yes,” he replied, “We have some that have just come in that were laid yesterday.” The young man took a dozen and after arriving home, discovered the name of Miss Rebecca Jones, Lancaster, Pa. written on it. He immediately wrote and in due course received a letter stating she “was surprised to have heard from that egg, as over four years had elapsed since she had packed it.” Grocer Morris has now issued orders to his clerks to put out no more eggs that have identification marks.

***

Amos T. Camp and Charles F. Beardsley have taken 20 of the large hemlock trees out of the Hawleyville cemetery. Efforts will be made to grade the cemetery and make general improvements. Those interested will shortly appeal to all having friends buried there for funds to carry on the work.

***

Two Italian woodchoppers living near Stevenson had their shanty broken into, last Sunday, and some clothing and money were stolen. A short time ago, one of the bungalows here was broken into, but it is not known whether much of value was taken, as the owner lives in the city.

***

That worthy lady, Mrs R.N. Betts, is keeping it a secret, but some facts have leaked out concerning her very interesting trip to Woodbury on Friday. She started off in Hawley’s stage, and reached the Sandy Hook station. When Pomperaug Valley was reached, she stepped off the train and asked where the Woodbury stage was. “Oh, that was taken off two years ago,” said an obliging young man. Mrs Betts then started for the village store and on her way, lost a valuable fur scarf. She met a friend, who kindly offered to carry her to Woodbury. It was an exciting trip, but she will study the timetables after this before starting a journey.