May 14, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Wesley Gillingham.

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It has been nearly a month since the nation was shocked by the killings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Carela Catigano, however, is still not ready to let it go. There are too many lessons still to be learned, she said. The NHS junior has been a driving force behind a week-long program in June that will include a June 1 candle light vigil in Bruce Jenner Stadium, a memorial tree and flower planting, and a community-wide covenant for peace and understanding. “We want to create a sense of comfort and understanding within the community rather than fear among different groups, or the ostracizing of different groups,” Carela said. “There were so many things that could have prevented this tragedy. This is something that we think can help.” Last week, several members of the community, including clergy, students and school administrators, gathered to formulate plans for this commemoration.

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The weather isn’t quite warm enough for al fresco dining, but with all the spring chores to do outside, a break for a cool lemonade at the roadside did prove to be too much to resist for several people passing by the lemonade stand of Cole Baldino, 5, and his business partner, Sophie Habetz, 5. The children also sold cookies at the stand on May 7. They flagged down passing customers through enthusiastic shouts of “lemonade and cookies” and holding aloft colorful signs that touted chocolate chip cookies and lemonade for 25 cents.

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The Board of Education Tuesday approved the hiring of Judith A. Gallo to take over as principal of Middle Gate School. She was selected from a list of more than 40 candidates. Mrs Gallo, who will take over her new post on or around July 1, comes to Newtown from Trumbull where she has served as curriculum coordinator for language arts and social studies for grades K-8 in Trumbull. She worked comprehensively with seven different schools within the district. “We believe we’ve hired a master educator who will be a true teacher of teachers and be able to fulfill the leadership function of the school principal,” noted Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed.

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Officer William Hull responded to the Holcombe Hill property on Great Hill Road the morning of May 6 to investigate a report of vandalism to the property, which is owned by Newtown Forest Association. According to NFA members Doug Rogers and Dave Thompson, someone used a four-wheel drive vehicle to tear up a section of the property’s many trails. The incident remains under investigation.

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Borough Clerk/Burgess Darlene Spencer administered the oath of office this week to some of the officers re-elected in the recent Borough of Newtown election. Joining Mrs Spencer were Joan Crick, warden; Dawn Ford, tax assessor/collector; David Francis, Zoning Commission alternate; Gretchen Hyde, burgess; Marie Walker, burgess; and Janet Woycik, Board of Assessment Appeals. Also re-elected were Robert Connor, Zoning Commission chairman; Bea Gellert, Zoning Board of Appeals; John Madzula, Board of Assessment Appeals; and Joseph M. Maher III, burgess.

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Debbie Meyer presented seven quilts she made to Principal William Bircher and PTA President Cheryl Barbour on May 6 at the HOM PTA general meeting. The theme of the quilt project is “My Town Is Newtown.” This is the culmination of a project she created and completed as a one-woman fundraising event for Head O’Meadow School. A total of 240 squares were beautifully and artistically decorated by the children, parents and staff of HOM. Each participant contributed $10 per square. The net proceeds, which totaled approximately $2,160, will go toward covering the cost of building the new playground at HOM.

May 10, 1974

April 28 was quite a day for the Newtown High track team as it chalked up its fifth straight victory of the season and also saw a school record broken by high jumper Warren Allen, who easily cleared the bar with the Fosbury Flop. The record-making jump Warren made measured six feet, two and three-quarters inches, which was three-quarters of an inch better than the school record set by Olympian Bruce Jenner in 1969. This year’s track team is one of the best the school has ever had and is continuing on its winning ways.

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We heard a story recently from the Fabric Fire Hose Company in Sandy Hook that seemed funny. Over the weekend, a guard is employed to patrol the buildings and protect the plant from intruders. During the slack times between rounds, one guard likes to fish in the nearby Pootatuck River. One day, which he was out on his rounds seeing that no one stole any of the valuable items in the factory, someone came and stole his fishing pole. We guess you can’t catch much with a fire hose.

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Gordon Fraser Gallery Ltd, a greeting card firm now located in Glen Cove, Long Island, is interested in moving its American distribution center to Newtown and principals appeared at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting last Friday. Gordon Fraser is an international firm based in England, with accounts in 89 countries, according to its vice president and managing director, Claire Bannister. She said the distribution plant in Glen Cove has over 7,000 accounts throughout the United States, with its products imported from England. … Fraser is seeking to put a warehouse of approximately 30,000 square feet on the land, according to preliminary maps shown by its attorney, Bobby Payne of Danbury. The building would have two routes of access, one from Peck’s Lane for deliveries and employees, and another one from Route 25, for customers.

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J. Frances Hiney, who for the last two years has been chairman of Community Action Newtown (CAN), reported on the Organization’s accomplishments during the past year. At the annual meeting on April 30, Mr Hiney said, “I am proud to be able to tell you what we have accomplished this last year. We have had considerable input to Community affairs this year because of the devoted work by our board members and the dozens of volunteers who helped us during the year. CAN’s major activities during the past year covered a varied group of activities. The organization’s purpose is to investigate and research any activity or problem that can make Newtown a better community — that’s exactly what we have been doing.”

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A delegation from Newtown’s Environmental Studies and Protection Inc (ESP Inc) traveled to Wethersfield on that rainy Friday, May 3, to try to persuade Commissioner of Transportation Joseph Burns to halt construction of the Route 25 expressway in Trumbull. Armed with statements from the state Council on Environmental Quality and the Department of Environmental Protection calling for a work stoppage on the road pending a complete environmental study of the route, ESP Inc and representatives of Monroe and Trumbull groups proclaimed a discrepancy in the executive branch. They asked Mr Burns to reconsider his recent statement that “it is not in the best interests of the state to halt construction.” Instead, Mr Burns reiterated his decision to allow construction to go ahead.

May 6, 1949

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — NO ONE QUITE LIKE MOTHER: The second Sunday in May brings Mother’s Day, when we pay tribute to our mothers. No other occasion affords quite the same feeling that comes to those who are able on that day to tell their mothers how dear they are to them. For others it is a day of loving remembrance of the one person who, in childhood hours, has meant the most to them. In an abstract way, volumes could be written on a mother’s love and the important role played by mothers. Actually, it is very difficult to put into words a simple statement of the debt we owe our mother. … Thus Mother’s Day provides at least a twenty-four hour period each year when we can, in one way or another, indicate to our mothers that we do appreciate all that they have done for us and the big place they fill in our hearts. There is no one quite like mother.

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Over a period of years, a group of ladies belonging to the Newtown Committee For Child Refugees has been meeting every Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the social rooms of the Newtown Congregational church, making garments for the destitute abroad. Recently the group was the subject for a picture story by Shelton Looms. Available for the photo that day were Mrs Burt Whedon, Mrs William Seaman Bainbridge, Mrs Edward M. Conger, Mrs Herbert Wilde, Mrs M.F. Jacobson, Mrs James B. Forbes, Mrs W.W. Bayley, Mrs Margaret Johnson, Mrs Willis Gladwin, treasurer, Mrs Bradley Randall, Mrs Sanford Mead Sr, and Mrs Jerome P. Jackson, chairman. Absent the day of the photo but active in the group since its inception is Mrs W.W. Holcombe, secretary.

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Some 50 members of Hiram Chapter, No. 1, R.A.M., gathered at the Masonic Hall in Sandy Hook on Saturday evening for the Chapter’s annual dinner. An excellent menu, including baked ham, was served by Mirah Chapter, O.E.S, following which an excellent program was presented by Vynn Boyar of Forestville. Mr Boyar is a magician of national reputation and included in Saturday night’s program, a large and varied assortment of slight-of-hand work, which greatly entertained and completely mystified his audience. Charles T. Cooper was chairman of the committee in charge and was assisted by Raoul Thiman and Wendell A. Mansfield, who acted as master of ceremonies. The evening was greatly enjoyed by all in attendance.

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Mr and Mrs Everett Soltmann and daughter, Starr, of Huntingtown district returned home last Thursday, April 28th, from a winter’s sojourn in Stuart, Florida. The condition of Starr, who was taken ill with the mumps during the drive to Newtown, is much improved and she will return to school next Monday.

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Mrs Richard B. Hibbard, and daughters, Carol and Ruth, returned on Tuesday, after a week’s visit with Mrs Hibbard’s parents, Mr and Mrs Kenneth Dameron, in Melrose, Mass.

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The Memorial Park at the head of Newtown street has been undergoing extensive re-conditioning and a general cleaning up by Basil Bartram, keeper of the grounds. The lawn has been mowed and raked, the evergreen trees have been thinned out and trimmed, and the entire plot has been edged. Considerable credit is due Mr Bartram for his excellent work.

May 2, 1924

Miss Esther Louise Camp, formerly principal of the Albany Academy for Girls, Albany, N.Y., died yesterday in the home of her sister, Mrs Clyde O. Anderson, 6830 Thomas boulevard, Pittsburg. She was born in Newtown, Conn., in 1862. She graduated from the Wyoma Knox Seminary, Lebanon, N.Y., in 1885, and later got her A.B. degree at Harvard. Afterwards she taught at St Catherine’s school, Davenport, La., until 1902, when she became principal of the Albany Academy for Girls, which position she kept until 1923. … Miss Camp had many relatives and friends in Newtown, who will regret to learn of her passing away.

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Automobiles and bootleg whiskey do not mix. This truth was illustrated on Monday evening last, when a trio of intoxicated Bridgeporters did acrobatic stunts in our peaceful town. Charles Holsworth and Maurice C. Finn and a third man, who quietly stole away, drove through Newtown and Sandy Hook across the bridge to Southbury and returned according to their own testimony “so tanked up that they did not know what they were doing.” Their car overturned near the Methodist church at Sandy Hook and only by a hair breadth was life and limb not endangered. Deputy Sheriff Morris D. Beers arrested both Holsworth and Finn. Finn went quietly enough to the lock-up and later plead guilty to a charge of intoxication and was fined $1 and cost by Judge P.H. McCarthy. But with Holsworth things were different and he put up a stiff fight to avoid the night in jail. Sheriff Beers called on Rev G. Herbert Ekins, George E. Hayes and William Parker for assistance and Holsworth was literally carried to the cell. In Judge McCarthy’s court he plead guilty to charge of drunkenness and resisting arrest and not guilty to the charge of “operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.” Testimony proved him guilty on all three counts and his honor gave fines of $100 and costs.

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The Hawley High School of Newtown were defeated in baseball, on Friday last, by the Woodbury High School nine. The Hawley High school lot was so wet with the recent rains that they were forced to go to the Sandy Hook grounds, which were dry and in good condition. The score stood 5 to 4 in favor of the Woodbury boys, and it was a good game to watch. The weather conditions were not as they should have been, and it made it rather hard for the pitchers of both teams, for it was cold. The batting averages of the Newtown boys were weaker than their opponents, and otherwise, they held their own. It was rather unfair that Newtown did not have an impartial empire [sic] to judge the game.

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Some disorderly person on leaving the dance at the Town Hall, entered their car, drove down the sidewalk in front of Morris & Shepard’s and turned on the street in front of the door of Rev G.H. Ekins’ residence, and then made for the highway, leaving the marks on the parsonage lawn. It is too bad we have such a thoughtless and brainless person in the community. He is a candidate for Judge McCarthy’s court.

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Mr and Mrs Thomas Talarico of Hawleyville are the parents of a son, born on April 19.

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Frederick Andrews has been making substantial improvements on his residence, adding a front porch and newly painting the exterior of the house.

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Extra good Maine seed potatoes, Lowell fertilizer, timothy, red top, alsike and red clover seed, poultry netting, rubber roofing, barbed and plain wire, wheelbarrows, and a full line of garden seeds in packages and bulk.—[Corbett & Crowe.Adv.

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Men’s and boys’ work and dress shoes, all the new lots in ladies’ Oxfords in the popular spring shades.—[Corbett & Crowe.Adv.

May 12, 1899

Miss M. Grace Smith and Harry Beers of North Haven were guests over Sunday of Mr and Mrs Daniel G. Beers.

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Mr and Mrs M.B. Terrill of Ansonia were in town over Sunday and attended the funeral of Jerome Judson.

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E.C. Platt & Co., the hustling Hawleyville furniture men, sold a handsome bill of lumber the other day, through their advertisement in The Bee.

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A CARD: To our kind friends and neighbors, who rendered us their aid and sympathy, during the recent illness and death of our beloved son, we are desirous of extending and expressing thanks and our deep gratitude.—[Mr and Mrs Ira Wildman, Newtown, Conn.

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Charles D. Derris left, last Saturday, for Buffalo, where he went to buy cattle. He expected to return the middle of this week.

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David Curtis of New Haven was a guest over Sunday of Mrs D.B. Ferris.

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Another of the “Old Guard” of Sandy Hook has passed on to the “Great Majority,” Jerome Judson, whose death occurred, last week Friday, about 5 a.m. Mr Judson had been in failing health for three months. He first had a jagged tooth which wounded his cheek, developing finally into a case of cancerous nature, which caused his death. He had been on the street at the Hook within two or three weeks and his death comes as a shock to all but those who knew him intimately. Mr Judson was hardly known to the average citizen by the name of Jerome. Everybody called him “Pope,” and he was known at home and in neighboring communities by this title. … Jerome Judson came of sturdy New England parentage. … Mr Judson’s great-grandfather was Abel Judson, who was born in 1721, and married Anna Bennett. … Jerome Judson’s father was John Judson, a practitioner of medicine. … The subject of this sketch was the last of four brothers. … Jerome Judson passed most of his life in the merchandizing business. He had his training for business in the store of the late William B. Glover at Sandy Hook. Then he came back to Newtown and was postmaster, under the Buchanan administration, if we are not mistaken. He then returned to Sandy Hook, and entered into partnership with his brother, John Judson, under the name Judson Brothers. They started business in an old building, formerly William B. Glover’s store, which stood south of the present location of Campbell’s saloon. Later they moved across the bridge and bought the store where Levi and Eli Morris had carried on trade. After the death of John Judson in 1881, Jerome continued the business for a year or so, selling out to Terrill & Booth. Upon his retirement he took hold of the grist mill property at Sandy Hook, which came to him as the result of financial difficulties of other parties, and conducted it for several years till he found a purchaser. Mr Judson is survived by five nephews and nieces. … Although naturally of a reserved nature, Mr Judson was a genial, friendly man and will be missed at Sandy Hook, where he has been a familiar figure for many years. The older citizens are fast falling out of the ranks, and as one looks over the death list of the last 16 months he is appalled: Marcus Hawley, Abel Prindle, Philo Clarke, Samuel Curtis, Dr Monroe Judson, Mr Morehouse, Jerome Judson, and there are others who might be named. The funeral was largely attended on Sunday at 2 p.m., from the home of Mrs Nellie Tucker at Sandy Hook, Rev O.O. Wright officiating. … There was a number of very handsome floral pieces from friends and relatives. The burial was in the 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.