April 16, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Lisa Franze.

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High winds Tuesday afternoon caused a large tree limb to snap and fall over a utility pole crossarm near 58 Glen Road in Sandy Hook, bringing down a primary electrical line into the street. It also brought down computers, fax machines, cash registers and every other electrical necessity of daily life throughout Sandy Hook Center. The fallen wire caused a small brush fire and an electrical outage that lasted almost five hours in some sections of Sandy Hook. Sandy Hook and Newtown Hook and Ladder firefighters responded to the downed wires and brush fire about 3:15 pm. The electrical cable fell in the vicinity of passing traffic on Glen Road near Shorewood Fine Art Reproductions, Inc.

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Is it ever proper to look a gift horse in the mouth? Perhaps when you smell gas on its breath. Contaminated soil and groundwater from gas tanks excavated four years ago from Fairfield Hills land that now belongs to the town has Newtown’s first selectman asking questions about the state’s “gift” to the town in 1997. Two years ago this week, Newtown accepted a 22.6-acre plot of land from the state at Fairfield Hills along Mile Hill Road. At the time, there were some who were reluctant to accept the property since there was apparently no guarantee that the land was free of pollutants. The land was given to the town by the state, free and clear, but the town has to agree to accept it “as is,” and the state would accept no liability for any pre-existing conditions. At the time, the Legislative Council felt pressure to make a decision to accept the offer quickly before Hartford changed its mind and rescinded the offer.

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Eighth grade students returned recently to Newtown Middle School after an overnight field trip to Gettysburg, Penn. The students took in the lay of the land at the site of the Civil War’s pivotal battle between the north and south. They explored exhibits and museums, and went on the Cemetery Walk at the battlefield. There was even some time left for fun at the Allstar Fun and Sports Complex.

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The Children’s Adventure Center has received a $5,000 educational grant from The Albert W. and Helen C. Meserve Memorial Fund. The center will use the money to set up two smaller learning centers within the two current large classrooms at the center on Riverside Road. The new program is being planned in connection with the 30th anniversary of the center, which was the first local child care center.

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Newtown native Jane Ryan is being featured in the original musical comedy revue Smorgasbord! The comedy opened last week and will continue through May 1 at The Duplex Cabaret Theatre in New York City. … Written and directed by Danbury’s Bradford Blake, Smorgasbord! celebrates the foods we eat and how we eat them through a variety of musical styles, ranging from Noel Coward to Stephen Sondheim. Originally presented last year at Ridgefield Playshop for the Performing Arts, the revue was hailed by local media as “rich in comedy calories.” … Jane Ryan (nee Ferraiuolo) grew up in Newtown and began honing her acting skills with the Country Players of Brookfield at the age of ten. At Newtown High School, she appeared as Nimue in Camelot and as Mrs Higgins in My Fair Lady. … Upon graduation from high school, she was cast in a national tour of Evita. She also toured Europe with West Side Story, and appeared in numerous productions at Candlewood and Paper Mill Playhouses.

April 12, 1974

Providing Newtown is willing to match the amount, the Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation is ready to give $74,368 toward buying Ram’s Pasture on the corner of Routes 25 and 202 for open space. The offer is good until January 1, 1975. By that time, the Town will have to have appropriated the entire purchase price of the property, in order to get the reimbursement from the federal government. … The 12 acre property, currently owned by the Newtown Cemetery Association, has been included in the Conservation Commission’s open space plan since last year. Two houses in bad repair stand on the property. The land is wet, low lying and imperfectly drained by the one pond upon it.

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Liberalized regulations which would open up 610 acres of land owned by the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company to hunters licensed by the state have drawn some opposition from citizens in the towns involved. Under Public Act 73-522, which authorized recreational activities on grounds of public water supply reservoirs, the Hydraulic Company leased to the state last fall a portion of its property in three towns for hunting. Newtown has the largest portion of the land, 345 acres, with 190 acres in Easton and 75 in Redding.

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Newtown schools are overcrowded, and the Board of Education is mulling over the idea of having double sessions somewhere within the system when school opens in the fall of 1974. One of the most talked about ideas is having the Middle School go on double sessions, thus separating grades 5 and 6 from grades 7 and 8, and solving space problems. Although a decision has not been reached on the proposal, it is one which both parents and teachers have mentioned to the Board as being a good idea. The main reason given is that it would alleviate some of the discipline problems which are cropping up in the school or have existed there for some time.

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The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on April 3 in Edmond Town Hall, approved the application of John L. Danise of Mr D’s Italia Pizza and Restaurant to permit the erection of an internally illuminated sign in the restaurant on South Main Street. The Board approved the sign with stipulations “as they felt this was in harmony with the general intent and purposes of the zoning regulations and that the proposed sign would not substantially impair property values in this neighborhood.”

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The Newtown Historical Society — and a great many guests — had the special treat at their meeting on Monday, April 8, of hearing Miss Alice Winchester speak on her, and their, favorite subject, the very wide world of antiques. What a pleasure it is to hear an authority of the top rank speak with the quiet assurance of experience and the charming rather intimate humor that comes from long knowledge and an appreciating eye. On the eve of the Bicentennial, Miss Winchester took her audience back to the startling fact that it was during the tremendously daring exhibitions of the Centennial, that a tentative interest in “antiques” was born, and thence spread like the traditional wild fire, until today it is an addiction.

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The first session of a two-week Senior Intern Program sponsored by Senator Lowell Weicker Jr came to a close on March 22, as 42 senior citizens returned to Connecticut after receiving a firsthand look at their government in action in the nation’s capital. Mrs Nelle B. Dunlop was among those to attend the program.

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The following students are competing this week in the Connecticut Science Fair at Norwalk State Technical College: Theresa Peterman, Diana Rosato, James Dirienzo and Chris Flanagan of St Rose School; Jeff Belanger, Stacy David, Thomas Herb, Chalk Hill School in Monroe; and John Harmon and Jeffrey Millo, Monroe Catholic.

April 8, 1949

First event on the program at Tuesday evening’s PTA meeting held in the Hawley school was a talk, “Safety on Bicycles,” by State Policeman Thomas V. Dunn of the Ridgefield Barracks. He was introduced by Mrs Alexander McQuillan who conducted the meeting in the absence of the president, L.E. Pelletier. Officer Dunn gave some fundamental rules for safe bicycle rides which included the following: Don’t ride on the road till you know how to ride well. Never ride double, more than one person on a bicycle is dangerous. Keep both hands on the handlebars and don’t carry bundles or other things in your hands. Don’t ride two or three abreast, always go single file. … Officer Dunn emphasized the importance of these rules of the road by saying that there were 194 bicycle accidents in the State of Connecticut in 1948 in which five children were killed.

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Mr and Mrs William Kimball stopped to see friends in Newtown on Wednesday on their way from Florida to their home in Vermont. Mr and Mrs Kimball and family lived for a number of years in the house on Main street now owned by Mr and Mrs Mills Waggoner.

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One hundred and thirty members and guests of the Newtown Fish and Game Club, Preston Beers, president, gathered at the Parker House last Thursday evening for their annual dinner and get-together. As in previous years, ladies were invited and the whole company enjoyed an excellent turkey and ham dinner. Highlight of the evening was the awarding of many substantial, worth-while door prizes. Local merchants had cooperated with the club in helping to provide suitable awards.

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The regular monthly meeting of the Visiting Nurse Association was held in the Edmond Town Hall, Tuesday afternoon, with the president, Mrs Ellis Gladwin, presiding. Various reports were given and Mrs Mortimer Smith was admitted as a member of the board. Miss Kline, visiting nurse, reported that the home nursing course, sponsored by the VNA, is being held at S. John’s Hall every Thursday afternoon from 1 to 3 o’clock. The course is being enjoyed by many.

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At the regular dinner meeting of the Newtown Rotary Club held at the Parker House on Monday evening, Franklin Macgregor of West street was the guest speaker. Mr Macgregor gave the group an eye-witness account of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As a bombardier, Mr Macgregor was a member of the 509th Composite Group, a B-59 group of 15 planes of the 20th Air Force, trained at Wendover Field, Utah, for these particular missions. He spoke of the far-reaching effects of the atom bomb, its tremendous power of destruction and horrifying results, and stressed the necessity of settling international disputes by peaceful means. A World Federalist, he pointed out the importance of obtaining an effective international control of war as our only means of survival.

April 4, 1924

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: We are sorry to see the unsightly billboards increasing along our state highways. We hope the coming Legislature will tackle the subject and eventually put them out of existence. The greatest advertising firm in the world, the Standard Oil Co, has waked up on this question. In an attempt to start a coast-wide movement for the removal of outdoor advertising signs along highways the Standard Oil this week began wrecking and burning 1600 of them in the Northwest, hoping its example would be followed by other corporations. Many of the signs are electrically lighted and very expensive, but they are all going to the fiery pyres wherever their presence destroys scenery. Last year the Forest Service removed all advertising matter from highways within national forests. Realizing the value of natural scenery along the highways traveled by thousands of tourists, the Northwest states are unanimous in the desire to keep them free from distracting and self glorifying sign boards. Many Northwest towns have passed ordinances compelling signs in the corporate limits to be place twenty feet from the street lines.

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The young blizzard which struck Newtown about 4 pm, Tuesday, increased with fury all the evening and by morning there were 10 to 12 inches of snow on the level, with many country roads drifted full. Louis Lovell responded to three calls from autoists stuck on Mt Pleasant, and the Liberty Garage was also called to the same section to help autoists stuck in snowbanks. W.C. Johnson, foreman of the local highway force, was right on desk and Frank Goodsell started out with the big truck and plow and kept at it through the night, and when the average citizen looked out in the morning he found the state roads clear for any traffic.

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In spite of the raging storm of Tuesday night, about 40 people came out at the meeting of the Church Forum at the Congregational church, when Superintendent of State Police Robert Hurley was the speaker. For about an hour Mr Hurley held the closest attention of his hearers, his address bubbling over with humor. Mr Hurley was accompanied by Attorney Single of the State police department. The hostesses of the evening, Mrs Beers and Mrs Sanford Mead, served hot cocoa and crackers.

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Herbert H. Cutler, the efficient and popular postmaster at Sandy Hook, tendered his resignation on Thursday last and will retire from the position as soon as an acting postmaster is named by the department. Mr Cutler has conducted the office to the satisfaction of the public and there is general regret throughout the Hook that he is to retire. He will take a position with S. Curtis & Son, the box manufacturers, of Berkshire. A petition for the appointment of Mrs Nellie E. Tucker as his successor has been circulated and very generally signed by the patrons and business people of Sandy Hook. Mrs Tucker has been connected with the office as assistant for 20 years and is well qualified for the important post.

April 14, 1899

I.P. Blackman in the Glen has a bicycle he would like to sell as he expects to get a chainless. The bicycle is in good condition and is very strong to stand the rough riding over our country roads. Anyone wishing such a wheel would do well to see Mr Blackman at once, as it can be bought very easily.

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The New York Belting & Packing Co shipped from their factory here another nice elevator order of belting amounting to a car load. These were going to Duluth, Minn. There were no unusual long rolls of belting, this time, but one of the belts was a bucket belt 52 inches wide, 7 ply, 305 feet long, which was one of the widest and heaviest bucket belts they have ever made. The other belts were 44 and 40 wide, 4 ply carrier belts, and 22 inch 5 ply bucket belts.

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The report is current that Mr and Mrs Lawrence Taylor are soon to leave Botsford, Mr Taylor having secured a desirable position in New York City. While wishing Mr and Mrs Taylor success in their future welfare, Botsford people feel that they cannot be spared from that community.

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Martin Winton took advantage of the law on fishing, April 1, and caught a 14-ounce trout.

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Edward Pillsbury, with his team, has been busy drawing ties for Charles Winton in Zoar. This week he moves his family to Shelton into his new house, which has been lately painted and put in readiness for his occupancy.

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Senator Whitlock of Derby, Postmaster Gaylord of Ansonia and Mr Long of Phoenix Bridge Co are among those who have been in town recently after the festive trout. They stopped at the Grand Central.

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.