April 10, 1998

With the economy as strong as an ox and interest rates staying down, now is a great time to buy a house, realtors say. In Newtown, they are selling like hot cakes. Newtown Board of Realtors President Pat Linnel said houses are being purchased almost as quickly as they are going on the market. “We have more buyers than sellers right now,” she said. “We normally like to have a balance. We’re finding that if a house is priced correctly, its market time is minimal.”

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With the fair spring weather has come the renewed danger of brush fires in the area. Newtown firefighters Tuesday responded to a brush fire covering about four acres in a wooded and grassy area off Alberts Hill Road, near Lake Lillinonah. The blaze charred three tall wooden masts that carry Northeast Utilities’ high-tension electrical lines. The lines transmit power from the hydroelectric station at Shepaug Dam, just downriver of Lake Lillinonah, said Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead, who theorizes youths set the fire.

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For the past ten weeks, Newtown resident Ken Wilkinson has spent every Tuesday afternoon in the library helping out those in need of tax assistance. He is not an accountant and he does not get paid a penny. He is just a retired volunteer trying to help people who are having a difficult time doing their taxes. He is indeed, the Tax Man.

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On April 6, a group of students from Newtown High School spent the day at the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in Ridgefield. After visiting two exhibitions and then listening to a program by the artist Carol Diehl, the challenge was to select a work of art and critique it. Andrea Marciano chose a work by Robert Gober, as did Kate Ryan and Ben Coopersmith. Kate was fascinated by the amount of work that went into the piece; Ben said he “understood the pain.” In a different gallery, Shannon Sauer, Kest Schwartzman and Michele Kuhn contemplated Sara Sosnowy’s massive charcoal and acrylic on paper, “Ascent.”

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Nan Parson Rossiter knew she wanted to be an artist from age three. What she didn’t know was what she would have to go through to get her work published. Now the author of one book, with another soon to be published, Mrs Rossiter told sixth and seventh grade students to “stick with it and believe in it” when they have a creative idea.

April 6, 1973

It took a while, but as of Saturday the flagpole in the center of town was looking much like its old self, and even a little better since it had a coat of paint and a newly-gilded ball on its top. George LaCroix of Newtown Welding and Equipment Service was responsible for more of the repair and welding work on the ball (under the direction of Sgt Michael Fekete and the Police Force). On Saturday men and a big crane from Bartlett Tree Service came to town, the seating at the top of the flagpole was taken down, rushed to Mr LaCroix’s shop for repairs, fixed, the ball attached to it, rushed back to the center of town, zoomed up to the top of the pole, and screwed into place. On Tuesday the sun finally came out, and now the flag can be flown and the old flagpole will be looking pretty darn good.

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Edward A. Napier, a Southbury construction engineer, was appointed Road Superintendent by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday evening to fill the post vacant since the death of Richard Monckton last October 27. First Selectman Frank DeLucia’s announcement of the appointment followed publication of a statement last week by his opponent in the May 7 election, Gerald Frawley, taking him to task for leaving the post unfilled for so long. At that time Mr DeLucia replied that he was interviewing 10 applicants, and the job was “too important to make a political issue of.”

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The Board of Police Commissioners had its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, April 3, and the first order of business was for Chief Louis Marchese to submit police activity and departmental reports. A report prepared by Sgt Michael Fekete on the status of the cars indicates that two of the vehicles now have over 100,000 miles on them and three other cars are showing very high mileage. Repairs are becoming a frequent necessity and expense, and recommendations to the Commissioners were that these high mileage cars be replaced as soon as possible. ... The Youth Bureau made 12 referrals to Juvenile Court in March for various reasons; ranging from arsons to burglaries and larcenies to loitering. In conjunction with youth, the police had 150 school children plus various Cub Scout and Girl Scout groups tour the headquarters.

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At the District Eight meeting for the Connecticut State Federation of Woman’s Clubs, Newtown had overwhelming success in the eliminations for arts and crafts and fashions. Mrs Allison Loewenstine will go to the state competition in Hartford with a first with her pants suit ensemble. Mrs Fred Meier won a second in the evening division with her black gown, and also a third for her white daytime pants suit outfit. … In the arts and crafts categories, Mrs Mabel Peck, a winner last year, took first this year with her afghan in the knitting category, and in seed mosaics Mrs Muriel Curtiss won first. Both will go to Hartford next month. … Honored club members also included Mrs Paul Vanderwende (stenciled tray, fabrics, and reversed on glass entry), Mrs Loris Willis (third [no category given]), Mrs Walter Motyka (third, original art), Mrs Donald Lawrenson (third, Christmas decoration), Mrs Clarence Goss (third, embroidery-needlework category; and second, knitted small articles); Mrs Paul Kraus (third, hairpin lace crocheting) and Mrs Robert Domke (second, crewel picture).

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Recently-opened Blue Colony Diner, on Church Hill Road, filed an application with the State Liquor Control Commission for a liquor permit on March 29.

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The Motor Vehicle Department says 59 per cent of vehicles checked March 30 and 31 in Newtown were found to have defective equipment. The department’s six-member Spot Inspection Team checked a total of 271 automobiles at sides on Route 25. Results showed 161 failed the inspection and were issued defective equipment warnings. The remaining 110 passed and were given inspection stickers, good for the rest of this year.

April 2, 1948

Mr and Mrs James B. Forbes of Wendover road had as their guests over the Easter week-end their niece, Martha Swett of Chicago, and their daughter, Mary Forbes of New Haven.

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Pfc Robert Hawley, son of Mr and Mrs Charles F. Hawley of Washington avenue, Sandy Hook, returned to his home on Easter Sunday, after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. “Bob” formerly attended Hawley High school and was employed at the Newtown A&P before enlisting in the service on October 3, 1946. At the time of his discharge, he was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he played the clarinet in the 323rd Army Band.

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At a meeting on Thursday of last week the members of Charles H. Peck St and Jr Post, No 308, V.F.W., elected officers for the coming year. Joseph C. Hanlon was named commander; Alfred H. Jurgens, senior vice-commander; William L. Slocum, junior vice-commander; George A. Jackson, chaplain; William Weiss, quartermaster; William K. Daniells, trustee for 3 years; Winifred J. Carmody and Alfred H. Jurgens, delegates to Fairfield County Council; William L. Slocum and Benjamin G. Ferris, alternates to Fairfield County Council. The officers-elect will be installed Thursday, April 15th, at 8 p.m., in the social room of St. John’s church, Sandy Hook. The installation will be a joint ceremony with the officers-elect of the Auxiliary being installed at the same time.

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Newtown’s Ksh I La La and Tanda Camp Fire groups held a food sale recently to raise money for the national Crusade for Children. Under the capable leadership of Mrs H. Gould Curtis, sponsor of Newtown’s Camp Fire program, the girls raised $51. Col. C. Sidney Haight (U.S. Army Retired), who has volunteered his services in Newtown, made a special visit to the Camp Fire meeting last Thursday to personally thank the girls for their efforts in the national drive to raise 60 million dollars to provide at least one year’s nourishment and relief for some 10 million of the worst cases in Europe.

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Eighteen members of the Appalachian Canoe Club were in Newtown over the Easter weekend, stopping at Hawley Manor. For their proposed trip down the Housatonic, they had chill, unfavorable weather, but they nevertheless made a trip downstream, starting below New Milford, and reported an excellent time. There was but one mishap, one drenching.

March 30, 1923

At a special meeting of the Congregational church of Deep River a unanimous call was extended to Rev Edward O. Grisbrook of Newtown. The Hartford Courant says he is expected to go to his new charge about May 15. Mr Grisbrook informs The Bee he has not as yet named the date he will go to his new field. Mr Grisbrook is president of the Library Association and is an active member of the Men’s club and of Hiram Chapter, R.A.M. He has been pastor of the Newtown Congregational church about six years.

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Miss Catharine Crowe is spending her Easter vacation in Bridgeport as the guest of her aunt, Mrs Stephen Horan.

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Mr and Mrs Clark Blackman have returned, after their winter sojourn in Florida, and have opened their garage and cafeteria.

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J.A. Blackman is seriously ill in Danbury.

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Archibald McArthur of Palestine was kicked by a horse on the knee, making a serious injury. Dr W.H. Kiernan attended him.

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Fred Lockwood had his wrist badly cut in a machine at the factory of the Premier Manufacturing Co. Dr W.H. Kiernan attended him.

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John Clarkson has taken a position in Waterville.

April 8, 1898

The auction at the Cox homestead, above Hawleyville, last week, was very largely attended. Messrs C.H. Peck and Aaron Sanford officiated as auctioneers, and the articles brought good prices as a rule. This farm, by the way, is for sale, and will make a snug home for some enterprising man.

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Mr and Mrs A.P. Smith and daughter, Miss Hazel, passed Sunday in Bethel, guests at the hospitable home of Mr and Mrs Henry Clay Judd.

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L.C. Gilbert has bought of Walter H. Glover an eight-foot Goodhue wind mill with a 40-foot galvanized steel tower. This Mr Glover will erect over Mr Gilbert’s artesian well, as soon as completed, to pump the water into a large tank to supply his barn and house with good pure water.

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Prof Harris of Hattertown gave entertainments in the hall at Long Hill on Friday and Saturday nights of last week. As Friday night was April 1, evidently the people thought the professor was going to fool them, but such was not the case, as his entertainments deserved better audiences than he was favored with.

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Mrs H.E. Canfield and Master Harold Downs of Long Hill visited in Botsford, last Saturday, at C.W. Canfield’s.

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Mr and Mrs A.J. Smith drove to Bridgeport on Monday, being guests of Mrs S.H. Smith.

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Dr Andrew Egan was home from his New York practice, last week, incidentally to capture the speckled beauties.

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.