May 7, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Wally Wood.

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Last month’s tragedy in Littleton, Colo., and the fear that it could happen again brought parents to the high school Wednesday night for a meeting on school violence. The meeting room at Newtown High School was packed for the event, which featured a panel of speakers made up of school administrators and community counselors. Parents were there to find out what the school is doing to ensure that Newtown’s young people can go to school in a safe environment. Many were there to find out how they, too, can help make growing up a little bit easier for kids.

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The Peace Corps’ regional office has announced that Thomas Maxwell III of Newtown has accepted a position with the Peace Corps to serve as an agribusiness development volunteer in Moldova. Thomas graduated from Miami University in 1988 with a BS in marketing. As an agribusiness development volunteer, Thomas’s work will include teaching business principles to entrepreneurs in the former Soviet Union. Previously, Thomas spent a summer in Nepal earning college credits while conducting research on Tibetan art.

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The streets of Newtown are a little bit cleaner this week following this past Sunday’s Lose-the-Litter Day. The ninth annual townwide spring cleaning proved to be a success. Though crews were still collecting the trash at press time, Public Works Director Fred Hurley estimated that between 8 and 12 tons would ultimately be collected. Town workers spent the early part of the week picking up huge piles of garbage bags, tires and other junk at several drop-off spots around town. An estimated 109 families and groups took part in the event, which was sponsored by the Lions Club for the fourth year in a row.

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Gregg Simon, longtime social studies teacher at the Newtown Middle School and coach of the Newtown High School girls’ basketball team for almost 20 years, is going to be recommended to the Board of Education as the new NHS athletic director. Mr Simon would take over for Jim Casagrande and Joanne Johnson, who took on the job on an interim basis after former athletic director Bob Zito resigned the position. The appointment, which would become effective at the start of the 1999-2000 school year in September, would have Mr Simon teaching two classes at the high school and performing the duties of the athletic director for the remainder of the day.

May 3, 1974

Skydiver Ray Bertalowitz of Danbury landed on the ICC baseball diamond after plummeting from 5,500 feet, all part of the opening of the Newtown Little League 1974 season last Saturday. He delivered a baseball to First Selectman Frank DeLucia, which was tossed to open play. Prior to the skydive a flying banker, J.C. Myers, president of the Citizen’s National Bank, maneuvered his plane in flyovers, to the delight of the crowd.

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On Tuesday evening, April 30, after weeks of discussion and receiving opinions of parents, school administrators and faculty members, the Board of Education made a decision regarding school space needs for the coming year. There will be no double sessions within the system, and the overcrowding at the Middle School will be relieved by the return of grade 5 to the elementary schools, which will see the addition of portable classrooms to handle the extra students. Kindergartens will also remain in the elementary schools, and the Middle School will house three grades instead of four; 6, 7 and 8.

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In light of the fact that the Board of Finance cut the funds for a new aerial ladder truck out of the 1974-75 budget, The Bee last week ran a public opinion survey in order to try and get some insight as to how the townspeople feel about the need for the new piece of equipment. The response to the survey was what could be called more than light and cannot in any way said to be the opinion of a good cross section of the town. In all there were only 38 responses, and seven of those were negative for the truck. Responses came from all of the five fire districts in town. Many of those in favor of the truck signed their returns, while those opposed did not.

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Mrs Jane Biesel, school transportation coordinator, has brought to the attention of The Bee that school bus drivers have reported an alarming number of cars passing their busses which are stopped to load and unload students. Some cars are even going so far as to pull out of a line of stopped vehicles to pass the busses when their red lights are flashing. Stopping for a school bus with flashing lights is a state law and must be obeyed, especially when doing so affects the safety of school children. Several of the bus drivers have been taking down the license numbers of the cars which are disobeying this law, and the incidents have also been reported several times to the police department.

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On Tuesday evening, April 30, at a special meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners, four men on the police force were promoted in rank: one to sergeant and the others to detective. The newly promoted included Detective Harry Noroian, a member of the force for six and a half years; two-year member Detective Owen Carney; four and a half year member Detective John Qubick, who will also be the new youth officer; and four-year member and former youth officer Sergeant John Taylor. The men were selected for their new positions through tests which were given within the department.

April 25, 1924

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: There will be general satisfaction locally over the final decision of the United States Geographic Board at Washington, D.C., in naming the large lake on the eastern border of Newtown, “Lake Zoar.” Without consulting the local people some two years ago, some well meaning members of the Sons of the American Revolution took the matter up with the United States Geographic Board and persuaded them to name it “Lake Humphreys” after Gen Humphreys of Revolutionary fame who lived over in Naugatuck. The lake had already been christened “Lake Zoar” by the people of Stevenson and Newtown, and there was some quiet feeling [illegible]. John R. Bownes and others of Stevenson got in touch with the editor of The Bee, who wrote a letter of protest to President Harding.

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LAKE ZOAR IT IS. LAKE ZOAR IT IS GOING TO STAY. United States Geographic Board, Washington. April 17, 1924. Mr Allison P. Smith. Editor, Newtown Bee, Newtown Conn. Dear Sir:— Respecting the name of the lake on the Housatonic River, which you call Zoar: The U.S. Geographic Board has reconsidered its action of April, 1923, and has now adopted Zoar, instead of Humphreys, as the name of this lake to be used on all Government maps and publications. It is the policy of the Board to prefer the name which is in use locally, when the local usage can be ascertained. But in April, 1923, the Board had not been informed that any name other than Humphreys had been used or had been proposed for this newly created lake; nor was it informed of any controversy on the subject. Very truly yours, James McCormick, Secretary.

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A WORD FROM CONGRESSMAN O’SULLIVAN April 18 1924: Hon Allison P. Smith, Editor of Newtown Bee, Newtown, Conn. My dear Mr Smith:— I write to you this morning that I had finally been successful in having the name Zoar Lake adopted in place of Humphreys. It has been a slow and persistent job, but I am highly pleased over the result and know you and all of the residents near this body of water will also be pleased. I take pleasure in enclosing the original letter from the U.S. Geographic Board telling the whole story. With kind personal regards, Sincerely, P.B. O’Sullivan,

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On Easter day there was a large congregation present at Trinity Episcopal Church. The service throughout voiced the glad Easter thought of a risen Christ. The music was in keeping with the day and was well rendered and thoroughly enjoyed. The Easter flowers were very fine. Rev Mr Leffingwell of Milford conducted the service.

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CARD OF THANKS: To our many friends and neighbors who were so kind and thoughtful during the sickness and death of our mother and sister, we return our sincere thanks.—[The Mahoney children.

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C.B. Taylor returned, Tuesday evening, after a winter’s sojourn at St Petersburg, Fla.

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Raymond Hall is passing the week end with Paul S. Smith at Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.

May 5, 1899

DEATH OF REV MR BAYLEY — A FORMER PASTOR OF THE SANDY HOOK METHODIST CHURCH: Mrs Emily Bennett of Sandy Hook has received a letter from Fannie M. Bayley at Bridgeton, Barbadoes [sic], announcing the death of her father on March 31. His sufferings were intense, and one could hardly bear to witness them. Miss Bayley writes that he knew he was going home and said good-bye. “All the people miss him very much. He has worked among them so faithfully. He left the mission in charge of one of the colored preachers called Elder C.C. Jones. Over 3000 people followed my dear father’s body to its last resting place. The Salvation Army came first, then a crowd of our members on foot, then came the hearse and another company of members from the Christian mission. I did not follow him to his grave as it is the custom here for the ladies of the family to remain at home and not be seen much at a funeral.”

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Edwin E. Dickinson of South Amherst, Mass., has been a guest of his daughter, Mrs H.M. Smith, this week.

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Arthur J. Smith, business manager of The Bee, accompanied by Mrs Smith and Miss Susie Scudder, left on Tuesday for Bon Air, Va., where they will be the guests of Prof W.D. Smith, Mrs Smith’s brother, and Rev Dr James K. Hazen, secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Education for the South. Mr Smith has gained steadily in health since his prostration of two months ago and it is hoped the trip and change will still further promote his recovery.

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Edward S. Lovell, one of Newtown’s most successful farmers, has bought the land west of Newtown Street of the heirs of the Booth Terrill estate. There are 33 acres in the tract, and it is most desirable land for farming purposes. The sale was negotiated by Arthur T. Nettleton.

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Frank W. Munson, who for the past 15 years has been engineer on the Shepaug road, is about to take an extended vacation for the benefit of his health. Mr Munson runs on what is known as the mixed train, and is a popular man on the road. Mr Munson, accompanied by his wife, will shortly start on a trip through Connecticut, spending a good share of the summer away from home.—Danbury News.

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John Whalen, car inspector at Hawleyville, has moved from one of S.A. Blackman’s cottages to the house of Carlisle Hill, made vacant by Mrs Squires. The latter has moved into a part of S.A. Barnum’s house.

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.