May 1, 1998

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Alice Knapp.

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The Municipal Space Needs Committee went back to the drawing board Monday night in its continuing efforts to find a solution to Newtown’s need for government office space. The committee is no longer putting a space needs study out to bid. Instead, it will simply hire an architectural firm to finally get the ball rolling.

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A $59.3 million municipal budget passed easily Tuesday by what is believed to be the smallest turnout percentage in Newtown history. Just 1,077 voters (8.8 percent of the 12,226 registered) made it to the polls. Of those who showed up, 655 (or 61 percent) voted in favor of the proposal, while 419 (or 39 percent) voted against it.

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Town officials say the replacement of the railroad bridge on Church Hill Road can’t wait any longer. Trailer trucks by the dozen slam into the 12-foot, 7-inch high bridge each year, and they fear one day an accident there could end up being more tragic than a simple traffic backup. Almost weekly, the trucks, trying to reach I-84 by way of Church Hill Road (Route 6) to Exit 10, sheer off the tops of their trailers on the low-hanging structure. On Monday, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and State Rep Julia Wasserman met with state Department of Transportation officials in an effort to put plans to replace the bridge back on the front burner.

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The Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport continues its efforts to transform the former Gretsch property into a retreat for its clergy. The church purchased the 136-acre property on Castle Hill Road from the Gretsch family in 1995 for $2.5 million. The site’s large red mansion sits on one of the highest points in Newtown and can be seen from several points throughout Newtown.

April 27, 1973

Revised budget figures for 1973-74 recommended by the Board of Finance were released this week, showing a combined total for the school system and town government of $8,011,925.61, a reduction of $149,851.49 from the requests submitted to the BoF in March. The revised figures represent an increase of $650,425.89 over the current budget, offset in part by $116,000 of federal revenue-sharing funds, and increases in other sources of revenue.

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The proposed Newtown wetlands ordinance was received with warm approval at a public hearing Wednesday evening in the Edmond Town Hall, and after 90 minutes of discussion the Board of Selectmen were invited by two speakers to enact the ordinance promptly without submitting it to a town meeting. Thomas L. Cheney of Castle Hill Road was the first to make the suggestion, pointing out that the ordinance was for the protection of the town and only harm could result from delaying it.

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Raymond Wade had good luck on the opening day of the fishing season as he landed a gold trout, the only one in the pond. Each year, in stocking the streams, the Hattertown Rod and Gun Club throws in one gold trout, which is not only a good catch, but also worth some prize money. Raymond, the son of Mr and Mrs Edward Conger, was pleased to collect on both.

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Herbert H. Cutler of Newtown was named an honorary director of S. Curtis and Son Inc at the annual stockholders’ meeting in the corporation’s offices in Sandy Hook on April 19. Mr Cutler started work for the company in 1923 and was its president from 1937 to 1950, when he retired. He has served on its board of directors since the company’s incorporation in 1924. In a special tribute for his 50 years’ association with Curtis, Nelson G. Curtis, president of the firm, presented Mr Cutler with a handsome wall clock.

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The Lake Zoar Authority reports that Marine Patrol officers have been selected for this summer. They are John Butler of Newtown, Robert Veronesi, Clifford Bulmer and Nick Danuszar of Sandy Hook; Terry Gillette of Monroe, Joseph Cenicola of Monroe, Joseph Cenicola of Oxford, and Alan Mizak and Alfred Pardee Sr of Southbury. There will be two patrol boats on duty on holidays and weekends, Memorial Day through Labor Day, equipped with radios in touch with four base stations. Boats will be marked with signs and flags, and officers will be in uniform. Officers are required to have Coast Guard boat protection decals.

April 23, 1948

A brisk wind was whipping across the Edmond Town Hall lawn last Saturday afternoon when the local chapter of the United World Federalists made formal presentation of its petition to Congressman Lodge, a petition which declared a majority of Newtown’s residents to be in favor of “world federal government with limited powers adequate to maintain peace.” Flanked by the reception committee, members of the Federalist organization, and interested townspeople, Charles G. Morris presented Congressman Lodge with the original petition sheets, the culmination of a day-long drive on March 20th, at which time the town was canvassed by local members of the organization plus a delegation of Student Federalists from Yale.

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An extension ladder slipping out from under him caused painful and serious injury to Harry F. Greenman, manager of Lovell’s Garage, on Tuesday morning. Mr Greenman had ascended the ladder to a point about level with the top of the garage doors when the mishap occurred. He landed on his heels on the concrete below, and it was not immediately known to what extent he had been injured. Dr George B. Kyle was called immediately and Mr Greenman was removed to Danbury Hospital in the Newtown ambulance. X-rays indicated that the seventh vertebra of the spinal column had been fractured; as a result Mr Greenman will be bedridden for a number of weeks.

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Edward Lovell of Queen street is recuperating at the Bridgeport Hospital where he underwent an appendectomy last Friday.

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More and more, Guatemala is becoming the favorite haunt for writers and artists and just plain vacationists who want to escape the rigors of a northern winter. Sandwiched in between two bodies of water, the Caribbean and the Pacific, its climate is ideal, its vegetation abundant and tropical, its people courteous, soft-voices and appealing. Some hint of its quality is currently on exhibit at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, for although the display confines itself to textiles for the most part, it reflects in design a well-ordered, high-type civilization. The garments shown are authentic, having been made by natives and worn by natives. Mrs Berry Hiss of Sandy Hook, who procured them, bought them off the backs of their owners, so, obviously, they are not imitations mass-produced for the export trade.

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The Women’s Federation of the Congregational Church met last Thursday afternoon for their regular April meeting in the social room of the church, with about fifty present. It was an unusually enjoyable gathering, starting at one o’clock with a basket lunch provided by the members, with rolls, coffee and tea being served by the hostesses of the day who were Mrs Elsie Downs, Mrs George Burr, Mrs Carroll Eaton and Mrs George Rommel.

April 20, 1923

The town loses one of its older citizens in the death in Danbury on Monday of Joseph Albert Blackman, who passed away at the home of his daughter, Miss Mary Blackman. He was 76 years, the son of Joseph A Blackman and Mary E. Warner Blackman. At the time Mr Blackman was a resident of the Borough, he served as warden of the Borough. He was an active farmer up to a few years ago, when he passed the responsibilities over to his son, Stanley J. Blackman. … The funeral took place on Thursday at 1.30 p.m., in Danbury, Rev J.L. Lasher officiating. The burial was in the Newtown cemetery.

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The senior class gave its play, “Bobbie takes a look,” last Friday evening in the Town hall before a large audience. The play consisted of two acts and an epilogue. There was not only action and interest in each act, but a good deal of merriment was occasioned. One good feature of the play was that each character knew and understood his part thoroughly and there were no awkward pauses as so often occurs in amateur performances. The members of the cast took their parts excellently and when all did so well it is hard to make special mention of any one or two.

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At the annual meeting of the Men’s Club, Tuesday night, at the Parker House, the following officers were elected: President, Rev J.L. Lasher. Vice-president, Charles T. Cole. Secretary and treasurer, H.N. Tiemann. Entertainment committee, Dr E.L. Kingman, Dr W.H. Kiernan, John C. Beers. Membership committee, W.R. Curtis, H.G. Warner, and J.J. Northrop. After an excellent supper served by Mine Host Parker, the club enjoyed a very helpful and practical address from Rev W.H. Allen, pastor of the Church of the Disciples, Danbury, on the theme, “Quit You Like Men, Be Strong.”

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Arthur D. Fairchild, of Taunton, a member of the Board of Deacons of the Congregational church, was stricken with an apoplectic shock, Friday evening, as he was driving in his auto with Mrs Fairchild to attend the High school play at the Town hall. He lapsed into unconsciousness on Mt Pleasant hill, and the car ran into the ditch and was stopped by a guide wire attached to a telephone pole. Mrs Fairchild, realizing his condition, shut off the power. John Carlson came to Mrs Fairchild’s aid, and with Frank Ruffles, took Dea Fairchild to his home. Dr Wright of Bethel was summoned at once. Dea Fairchild is now paralyzed on his left side, and there has been little change in his condition as yet. A trained nurse is assisting in his care.

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Mrs W.O. Sanford of Weston celebrated her 99th birthday anniversary by having all her children and grandchildren at a dinner party. A feature of the dinner was a large birthday cake, made by a granddaughter, on which were 99 candles. Among those present were Mr and Mrs F.C. Sanford and Mr and Mrs A.M. Boyson and son of this town.

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The telephone truck got stuck Monday afternoon, in a mud hole in front of the Taunton school house. They literally had to dig themselves out and played havoc with the road.

April 29, 1898

E.H. Pitcher of Hawleyville, accompanied by his father, Hiram Pitcher of Bridgewater, were called to Meriden, last week, by the serious illness of a brother of the first named.

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Mrs W.H. Jillson of Hawleyville has been quite seriously ill. Mrs Samuel Danks, who lives with Mrs Jillson, has also been very sick. Dr Griswold of Brookfield attends them.

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E.C. Platt has taken the contract for the barn of J.A. James at Hawleyville, F.C. Sanford overseeing the carpenter work. Contractors are now figuring on the plans for the new house of Mr James.

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Miss Hattie Ferris of Sugar street is passing several days in New Haven as a guest of her aunt, Mrs Curtis.

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Mrs O.W. Barker and son return today from a two-weeks’ sojourn in Brooklyn.

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J.E. Capewell, the well known Woodbury horse man, is handling likely colts for John Leavey and W.J. Costello of Sandy Hook.

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Daniel Honan, for several years the efficient driver and man of all work for Dr Smith, has taken a position with L.S. Mason of Mt Pleasant.

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.