March 31, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Fran Ashbolt.

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The lawyer representing former police chief James E. Lysaght, Jr said Wednesday an administrative appeal, through which Mr Lysaght will seek to regain the police chief’s post, would be filed Thursday or Friday in Danbury Superior Court, after the deadline for this edition of The Newtown Bee. “The paperwork is done,” attorney John Kelly said. “There was no just cause for his termination,” Mr Kelly said of the Police Commission’s March 3 firing of Mr Lysaght. The lawyer declined to disclose the details of the appeal.

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If you have dialed a Newtown telephone number lately, you may have noticed a long pause between the time you dial the number and the time you actually hear the ring. Several Newtown residents (and out-of-towners who call Newtown) say they often mistake the delay for their own improper dialing of the number. But the phone does eventually ring — after about five to eight seconds. “I thought the line was dead,” noted one Newtown resident. An SNET spokesperson said there was no record of any problems in the Newtown area, but said the company would take a closer look at the situation. Until then, be patient and keep waiting for that ring.

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Four members of the Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue (NUSAR) dive team attended the 24th annual Beneath the Sea exposition on Sunday, March 26. Beneath the Sea, the largest dive consumer show in North America, was held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, N.J., March 24 through 26. Steve Belair, Tim Conley, Ed Henry, and Adrian van der Kroef attended seminars and workshops, and visited many of the 300 exhibit booths. … One member attended a three-hour hands-on workshop on underwater equipment maintenance. Another attended the inaugural and first public reception to recognize a select group of women into the newly formed Woman Divers Hall of Fame.

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The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard recently celebrated the graduation of its first recruit class of 2000. Having survived 16 weeks of basic training and the company’s headquarters at Fairfield Hills, the six newest members of the troop received their spurs and certificates of graduation and have been assigned among the units three cavalry squads.

March 28, 1975

Suzanne J. Kopple has been named Valedictorian of the Newtown High School Class of ‘75. Deborah L. Brody has been named Salutatorian. Suzanne is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Alex Kopple of Sandy Hook. … Suzanne’s academic average over the four years is 97.778, which was achieved in the accelerated mathematics and science program … College applications have been submitted to Yale, Manhattan School of Music, Boston University, and M.I.T. Suzanne has already been accepted by M.I.T. Her chief interests focus on pursuing a career in music and/or mathematics. She is an accomplished pianist. Debbie is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Seth O.L. Brody. … Debbie’s four year average is 94.921, earned in the accelerated mathematics and science program. … Next year she will be attending college either at Yale, Mount Holyoke, Wellesley or M.I.T. Just recently Debbie was accepted at M.I.T. Her major interests are in the area of physics and/or mathematics.

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Buckingham Gardens on Toddy Hill Road was the setting of much festivity on Friday evening, March 21, as family, friends and dignitaries gathered for a very special birthday party at which Buckingham Gardens resident Mrs Florence Smith was guest of honor. The very special occasion was Mrs Smith’s birthday — her 100th. Looking very lovely in a pale blue dress adorned with a corsage of pink sweetheart roses, the birthday lady greeted all the well-wishers who came to celebrate the special event with her.

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The arbitration award resulting from proceedings between the Board of Education and the Newtown Federation of Teachers which took place on February 3 was filed in the office of Town Clerk Mae Schmidle on March 26. As The Bee went to press, neither Louis Mahmood, NFT president, nor Lester Burroughs, chairman of the Board of Education, had received a copy of the award and therefore had no comments to make. The arbitration session was one which was ordered to resolve an impasse in contract negotiations between the BofEd and NFT.

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A combined group of Trinity Church Nursery Schoolers was seen parading along Main Street on Friday, March 21, bedecked in Easter finery. The original creations were the work of their teachers, Carlene Strasburger and Joan Oppenheimer. The ladies wore wallpaper bonnets trimmed with bits of ribbon, lace and feathers, all had veils. The men of the group sported construction paper ties adorned with rickrack in a variety of nouveau designs.

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The Royal Guardsmen Color Guard of Newtown is well on its way to a repeat performance of last year’s championship guard. Starting a very active competition season, they were invited to perform in Bergenfield, N.J., on January 12, and did an excellent job, earning a beautiful trophy for their skills. Their first competition took place in Bridgeport on January 25, where they were classified “Class B.” … On March 22, the Guardsmen competed in Bloomfield and again came home with another trophy, placing second in competition, and Captain Robin Holland earned herself another first place gold medal.

March 24, 1950

Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh sent a letter on Wednesday to the Warden and Burgesses of the Borough of Newtown, submitting his resignation from the Zoning Board of the Borough, effective this Thursday, March 23.

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A new drive for funds is being conducted by a committee of the Newtown Veterans Memorial Building Association to finish the new building and its interior and provide plumbing and heating. Letters are being sent to a list of prospective donors, and William Weiss, committee treasurer, Old Bethel Road, Newtown, is receiving contributions. Edmond J. Pelletier is committee chairman. Other committee members are Herbert F. Carey, Fred Carmody, Joseph Hanlon and George A. Jackson.

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Captain and Mrs Charles R. Spaulding of South Main Street returned last week from a short vacation in Bermuda, where they received their first spring training in golf at Belmont Manor, Warwick. Captain Spaulding is chief check pilot for the Pam American Air Lines and flies from LaGuardia Field.

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Millard Goodsell, son of Mr and Mrs Charles Goodsell, is spending a week’s vacation at home from his studies at Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.

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Due to the prevalence of chimney fires at this time of the year, Chief Hiram Hanlon of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company is urging all home owners in the area who suspect that their chimneys may be filled with soot to notify him, saying he feels certain that members of the company will cooperate by removing any chimney fire hazard by cleaning the chimneys. A chimney fire at the Vecchiolla residence on the Botsford Hill Road brought the Sandy Hook Fire Company last Saturday afternoon at 5:15, where firemen, headed by Chief Hanlon, extinguished the blaze. Chief Engineer George Mayer of the Newtown Fire Company also responded with a piece of apparatus.

March 20, 1925

The residents of the Borough were delighted when the news became current on Friday last, that Miss Mary E. Hawley had purchased the Newtown Inn property in the heart of the Borough, comprising the large hotel buildings and some four acres of land. Miss Hawley has not disclosed what she will do with the property, but it is a satisfaction to all that the Inn has passed to her control. Miss Hawley’s benefactions to the town have been practical and helpful, the fine Hawley school property, the fund of $100,000 to maintain the same, the gift of the Village Cemetery Association of the Hawley Memorial Gateway and Receiving vault, the fund of $25,000 for maintaining the same, and also the added gift to the Cemetery Association of needed land to enlarge the cemetery ground. Every patriotic citizen feels a debt of gratitude to Miss Hawley, and her heart may well rejoice in the kindly feeling the citizens of Newtown entertain toward her.

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The Board of Trustees of the Newtown Savings Bank have declared the regular dividend at the 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 2¼ per cent for the past six months and is the 139th consecutive semi-annual dividend declared by this bank. The total deposits are now well over the $2,000,000 mark, a substantial gain for the last six months.

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On Monday evening, the Town hall was crowded to its fullest capacity, when the Children of Mary Society of St Rose’s church, assisted by the Knights of Columbus, presented their annual St Patrick’s Eve entertainment. The hall was very prettily decorated with American flags, white and green crepe paper, the whole interior making a very attractive appearance. The entertainment lasted for about two hours and the artists were well applauded for the numbers rendered. Especially pleasing was the drill presented by the children, in which Miss Eileen Corbett was the soloist.

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At the adjourned annual town meeting, held Saturday, March 14, Carlos D. Stillson was chairman. The recommendation of the Board of Finance was read and it was voted that it be accepted and that a tax of 19 mills be laid. There was about 20 present.

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Miss Ethel Peck, who has been passing several weeks with her parents, Mr and Mrs John R. Peck, returned on Saturday to Cincinnati, O.

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Mr and Mrs Albert Boyson and son and Mr and Mrs F.C. Sanford of Palestine were callers, Sunday, on [illegible] A.D. Fairchild of Taunton.

March 30, 1900

On Thursday, March 15, Abigail L. Simons passed away, aged 78. For the last 10 or 11 years she was a great sufferer. A fall resulted in the breaking of a limb which was not set and rheumatism set in. During the last few years, Abbie was afflicted at times with partial deafness, the condition of her eye also, for some time, has forbidden reading. Sorely afflicted death came to her a bearer of release. She had resided in this community since childhood. … She had many friends among the children. In her day she was a good singer. During her affliction she cheered herself many times by humming over favorite songs of former days. … The funeral was attended, Friday, March 16, by Rev F.H. Sawyer, pastor of the Sandy Hook Methodist church of which Abbie was a member since 1852. The services were held at the home of Mrs Wunderlich where she has been cared for the last five years. The interment was at the Sandy Hook cemetery.

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The New Haven train leaving Hawleyville at 9.45 on Friday, struck a horse belonging to E.C. Platt, of the E.C. Platt Lumber Co., instantly killing the horse and demolishing a lumber box wagon. The horse was driven by a colored man, Ben Smith, who was thrown 12 or 15 feet, but was uninjured. Another negro in the wagon with Smith escaped injury by jumping. The accident occurred at the first crossing north of the creamery at Hawleyville, on the road leading to Taunton district. The accident was apparently the result of gross carelessness on the part of the driver. The loss to Mr Platt will probably exceed $200, as the horse was one of a pair. He has much sympathy in his misfortune.

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William Thicket is running the grist and saw mill for Mrs Charles Warner in Zoar.

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Francis Barnett, a student at Yale university, son of Rev F.W. Barnett of South Glastonbury, passed Sunday in Newtown, the guest of his aunt, Miss Ann Blackman.

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C.B. Taylor, the genial agent at the Newtown station, has been confined to his house for several days with an attack of rheumatism.

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The funeral of Mrs William N. Northrop was held on Friday afternoon from the late home of the deceased in Sugar street. A large number of sympathizing friends and neighbors were in attendance. Rev O.W. Barker officiated. The pall bearers were D.C. Bacon, John B. Wheeler, C.E. Beers and I.B. Goodsell. The burial was in Newtown cemetery.

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.