March 26, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Vikki Carlson.

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A judge has upheld the Planning and Zoning Commission’s (P&Z’s) rejection of the controversial Newtown Village, a high-density condominium complex proposed for Route 34 in Sandy Hook, ruling that the protection of water quality in the Pootatuck Aquifer overrides the need for affordable housing on the site proposed for development.

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Quick action by Botsford firefighters and Holcomb Fuel workers Wednesday morning limited the environmental damage when about 200 gallons of #2 home heating fuel spilled onto the ground in the fuel company yard at 151 South Main Street, according to a state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) inspector. Michael Capuano, a DEP oil spill inspector, said domestic water wells in the vicinity of the site won’t be affected by the spill because it was cleaned up quickly. The quick response to the spill limited the fuel’s travel across and into the ground, he said. All the heating fuel was contained on the company property, he said. The spill caused “minimal environmental impact,” Mr Capuano said.

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First Selectman Herb Rosenthal put it all out on the table for residents Monday night: the town will have to pay the state $12 million for Fairfield Hills. And that’s only the half of it, he told them. The massive buildings on the site are a huge liability, and the cost to demolish them is estimated to be $8 million. That’s $20 million right off the top, the first selectman noted. But money did not appear to be an issue with many of the 40 or so residents who turned out for this week’s special meeting at the Cyrenius Booth Library. They just want the town to buy the 186-acre core campus of Fairfield Hills. This is a golden opportunity to acquire what some consider to be the heart of the town, they said. To let it slip on by would be the kind of mistake this growing town would regret down the road.

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Dispatcher Jim Crouch had to use all his skills Saturday morning as five different 911 calls came in at the same time. “Three calls came in at once and then two more came in a second or two after,” he explained. “It was the first time I actually had to put a 911 caller on hold,” Mr Crouch said. Dispatcher training teaches dispatchers how to calmly get through each stressful situation. By the fall, Newtown is expected to consolidate both its police and fire/ambulance dispatch centers at Town Hall South. This will ensure that there are two people to receive calls at all times, Mr Crouch said.

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An organizational meeting to save the historic Gray’s Plain one-room schoolhouse is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, at 7 pm, at the Meeting House. The endangered structure is located at the corner of Gray’s Plain Road and Route 34 in Sandy Hook. “This meeting is being held to constitute a group of residents to work together to save the site,” explained Elin Hayes, president of the Newtown Historical Society. “The historical society is not in a position to save the building; however, we recognize the urgency and importance of this project and will advise and support the group’s efforts in any way we can.” Town Historian Dan Cruson said the building is one of the oldest one-room schoolhouses in town. It is also one of the three most endangered historic sites in town, he added.

March 22, 1974

A pickup truck loaded with junk furniture and plastic garbage bags pulled over on the Pond Brook Road bridge, March 16, and dumped its unsightly cargo into the brook. Less than an hour later a female Brookfield resident was arrested by Officer Robert Wrabel of the Newtown Police Department in connection with the dumping. Police said that the female and two unidentified males threw a sofa, a living room table, a wire basket and eight bags of garbage into Pond Brook. The police investigation is continuing under the direction of Sgt Kenneth Shaw. The female was released on a written promise to appear in the third circuit court in Danbury on April 26.

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Members of the Newtown Bar Association met recently to elect new officers. Henry J. Isaac, outgoing president, offered his congratulations to Sutherland W.G. Denlinger, president; Raymond J. Doyle Jr, vice president; and George N. Wakelee, secretary-treasurer. The Association has been in existence since 1964 and has 20 members made up of attorneys either living in or practicing in Newtown. The membership also includes lawyers from Southbury and Bethel.

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A proposal for a shopping center in Sandy Hook is in the offing as contractor Frank Lyon has applied for a change of zone from R½ residential to B2 business for 10.015 acres of land off Washington Avenue. A public hearing will be scheduled by the Planning and Zoning Commission on the change of zone and, were it granted, Mr Lyon would then apply for a special exception to allow construction of a two-floor mall-type shopping facility covering 102,000 square feet of land. Mr Lyon’s property, which is bordered on either side of Washington Avenue by land owned by Peter J. and Lucy K. Manos, and Edwin and Ruth Storrs, fronts Washington for approximately 700 feet. Mr Lyon indicated to the Planning and Zoning Commission, at its meeting on Friday night, March 15, that parking space would be provided for some 520 cars.

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Stanley Main, president of Newtown Housing for the Elderly Inc, which will apply for a loan from the Farmers Home Administration for an elderly housing project in Newtown, said this week that the group is in the process of revising its bylaws to meet FHA guidelines, and is seeking an option on a site for the project. Last week, The Bee ran a coupon for NHE for persons who might be interested in moving into the rental housing units, and the coupon appears once more in this week’s issue.

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At its meeting on Tuesday night, March 19, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the demolition of five structures—three in Pootatuck Park and two in Riverside — on the basis of their being “threats to the health and safety” of townspeople. The approval came as the result of Building Inspector Earle Megin’s seeking out abandoned buildings in several sections of town since January. Other buildings were found, but it was indicated the owners had taken care of getting rid of them. Sheriff’s papers will be served to the five owners in question, and then days after the servings, if the buildings have not been removed, the town can take steps to demolish the structures.

March 18, 1949

The Hawley High girl’s basketball team was entertained at a tea given in their honor by the faculty on Tuesday afternoon. Many mothers attended the affair, which was held in the home economics room of the high school.

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Scudder Smith, son of Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith, arrived home on Tuesday to spend the spring vacation from his studies at Berkshire School, Sheffield, Mass.

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Mr and Mrs Stephen Barna of Botsford announce the birth of a daughter, Gloria Jean, on February 20th at the Danbury hospital.

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The birthday party arranged in honor of Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh at the Pine Inn on Route 25 last Thursday evening, brought out 115 friends to join in the celebration. Toastmaster was Alvin B. Coger who, on behalf of the assembled guests, presented Judge Cavanaugh with a car radio. Among the principal speakers was the Rev John F. Culliton. Mr Coger read a message of congratulation from the Rt Rev Monsignor William J. Collins of St Joseph’s Cathedral, Hartford, expressing regret in his inability to be present. Mr Collins was for many years pastor of the St Rose church here.

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Newtown friends will regret to learn of the death of Theodore M. Pursel, father of Mrs Henry Taylor of Mt Pleasant. Mr Pursel died on March 4 in Troy, N.Y. Services were held at Troy on March 6, with burial in Phillipsburg, N.J., on March 9.

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Danny Desmond arrived at the home of his parents Dr and Mrs W.F. Desmond on Wednesday to spend his spring vacation from the Loomis School at Windsor.

March 14, 1924

The Board of Trustees of the Newtown Savings Bank has declared the regular dividend at a rate of 4 per cent per annum and an extra dividend of one quarter of one per cent payable April 1. This makes the rate 2 1-4 per cent for the past six months, or at the rate of 4 1-2 per cent per annum. This will be the one hundred and thirty seventh consecutive semi-annual dividend paid by this bank. The gain in deposits since October 1 is over $40,000. Deposits made on or before April 5 will draw interest from April 1. This splendid statement is highly gratifying to all the friends of this well managed bank.

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The adjourned annual town meeting was held at the Town hall on Saturday, March 8. The meeting was called to order by Town Clerk, Oscar Pitzschler, and in the absence of Carlos D. Stillson, who was chairman of the October meeting, A.T. Nettleton was appointed chairman. After hearing the recommendation of the Board of Finance that a 19-mill tax be laid, a resolution was offered to that effect, which was quickly carried after a brief discussion. A second resolution was also offered and unanimously carried. The resolution was intended to convey the thanks of the town to Miss Hawley for the considerable outlay of money in the grading and beautifying of the grounds about the Hawley school.

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HATTERTOWN PERSONAL NOTES: J.C. Lewis is confined to his bed and almost unable to move, suffering from a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism. By advice of his physician, Dr McLaughlin of Bridgeport was called and extracted his teeth. Mr Lewis has suffered a great deal during the past few days, but we are glad to report he is a little better at this writing. | Mr and Mrs Herbert Botsford of Nichols spent Sunday with Edwin Morgan and family. | Miss Maud Lewis of Bridgeport was a week end guest of her parents, Mr and Mrs Jesse Lewis.

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William H. Egan, Col W.P. Fahey, Charles Donnelly, and William A. Driscoll of New York, Rev Charles A. Marks of Norwalk and Allison P. Smith of Newtown were registered at the Parker house, Sunday.

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Michael Carroll has been redecorating some of the rooms in the residence of George F. Taylor at Sandy Hook.

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Miss Dolly Keane of Watertown passed Saturday and Sunday with her parents, Mr and Mrs Thomas C. Keane of Dayton street.

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The New Haven railroad has announced that the summer schedule will go into effect on the last Sunday in April. There will be about the same trains as last year and will advance the time of all trains one hour, the same as in previous years.

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Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bananas, wine sap, apples, Baldwin apples, new cabbage, celery, lettuce, spinach, new beets and onions.—[Corbett & Crowe, Adv.

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Mr and Mrs Paul Clarkson of Waterbury were week end guests of Mr and Mrs Geo. A Northrop.

March 24, 1899

Arthur T. Nettleton, treasurer of the Newtown savings bank, was in the Park City, Monday.

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John Ray, the genial stage driver of the Newtown Inn, was indisposed with a severe cold, the first of the week, and Thomas Carlson “held the ribbons” in his stead.

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Mrs John T. Sheehan and daughter were in the Park City, Monday.

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Mrs H.E. Plumb and daughter of Bridgeport were in town on Tuesday.

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Martin Roach has a horse very sick from an injury received in his stable. Dr V.V. Morrell of Southbury is attending the horse.

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Dr Richardson of Sandy Hook has made several successful operations for rupture on parties in New Milford and vicinity, lately.

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E.J. Cram of 174 State street, Bridgeport, who will be remembered pleasantly by the people of Newtown Street as having passed several summers at E.F. Hawley’s, takes a card in The Bee. Mr Cram deals in all kinds of house furnishing goods and invites any readers of The Bee to give him a call.

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.