May 28, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Bill Honan.

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Newtown High School seniors Jennifer Staple and Dan Sobo are the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the 1999 graduating class. Both are bound for Yale University in New Haven next fall. They will address their classmates at commencement ceremonies June 14 at Bruce Jenner Stadium. Earlier this week, both sat down with The Bee to discuss their high school achievements, their dreams for the future, and the people who have helped lead the way. Jennifer and Dan also gave a brief preview of their message to classmates.

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Botsford firefighters responded to an arson set off by firebombs early Wednesday morning at the D’Addario Sand and Stone Company on Button Shop Road. Fire Marshal George Lockwood said five Molotov cocktails were thrown by someone at the gravel mine’s scale building on the north side of Button Shop Road about 2 am. Three of the five firebombs ignited, setting the small office building ablaze and causing an estimated $5,000 in damage, the fire marshal said. There were no injuries. Police Officer Dominick Salvatore, who was on patrol at the time of the fire, initially responded to the call and put out the blaze with the fire extinguisher which is carried in police cars, Mr Lockwood said. … Charges in the case would include third-degree arson and manufacture of bombs, both of which are felonies and carry serious penalties.

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Hiram Lodge No 18 has named George Mattegat its Mason of the Year. The award was presented to Mr Mattegat by Grand Lodge Officer R.W. George Greytak. Among those at the recent event were Mr Mattegat’s wife Carol, Master Owen Carney, and past award recipients P.M. Gunner Lindstrom, Richard Miller, P.M. Steve Gerak, Alan Denison.

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While First Selectman Herb Rosenthal may not have been asked to declare it official with a proclamation, last week sure felt like it could have been called “Newtown Arts Week.” Two of the schools, Hawley School and Sandy Hook School, presented huge collections of works that had been done by students during art classes in the 1998-99 school year.

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Michael Pelillo, a Sandy Hook resident who has operated the food service department at Cornerstone of Eagle Hill for 19 years, has had a recipe selected for inclusion in the new chicken recipe cookbook by Tyson Foods, Tastes of the Times. Mr Pelillo is one of only 125 chefs chosen to have a recipe published. His recipe for “A Nutter Chicken Pizza” was selected following a nationwide search through entries from food service creators and chefs. Tastes of the Times is available in book stores, or it can be ordered directly from Tyson Foods. Copies of the hardcover book are $34.95 each. Mr Pelillo lives in Sandy Hook with his wife Marcia and their youngest child. He is a two-time Cully Award-winning chef. The Cullys are the food service equivalent of the Oscar, Grammy or Tony Awards of the entertainment industry.

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They hoped it would happen, but never dared believe that it would. But the Newtown High School girls’ track team, despite losing from last year some powerful forces in the weight and distance events, nevertheless defended its 1998 South-West Conference championship with a thrilling performance on Tuesday at Bunnell High School in Stratford.

May 24, 1974

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — NEWTOWN’S MUSIC MAN: We can remember back a good number of years to a dedication ceremony at the Town Park which was attended, as most such functions are, by a small number of people. Standing off to the side of the gathering was an equally small band, one which probably only stirred pride in the hearts of the parents of the members and the band leader. In fact, we know that the director was proud of his group for it has grown over the years, changed faces many times over and now has taken its place as the finest high school concert band in the state — and even beyond. After hearing the band concert last Friday evening at the high school, we can only level our highest compliments at each and every member for an outstanding performance. And to the director, Joseph Grasso, our hat is off, held high with those of the countless others who recognize the dedication and hard work he has given to his profession. … We know of no other program in the school system which has developed such perfection over the years, both the band and the chorus alike, under the direction of one teacher. Joseph Grasso gives the students of Newtown a rare opportunity to learn in his classroom, and gives his audience a musical treat at concert time.

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On May 31 Mrs May Sturges Richmond Miller will retire as Postmaster of Hawleyville Post Office after years of service which have given her many busy hours of enjoyable work. Although Mrs Miller has been Postmaster since 1956, she actually started her work at the post office when she was 16 and still in high school. It all began when E.C. Platt, Postmaster at the time, found that to be able to get home to dinner he needed some extra help, so he asked Mrs Miller, then May Sturges, if she would like to work five evenings a week from 5-7 and take care of three mail trains which went through the area between those hours. Thus, at the astronomical salary of $2 a week, May Miller began her career.

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The Board of Selectmen and residents of Pootatuck Park took steps this week to reach long- and short-term solutions to problems which residents of that private development in Sandy Hook are having. Seven neighbors of a section of the Park attended the Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday night, May 21, to find out what could be done to enforce regulations and get rid of such problems as illegal discharge of firearms; garbage being strewn about the area; junk cars and abandoned vehicles blocking roads; and improvement of roads, as brought out in an article which appeared in last week’s Bee.

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The long-awaited copies of the proposed wetlands and water courses regulations with accompanying maps have been filed at the Town Clerk’s office. Conservation Commission chairman Theodore Whippie submitted them on Thursday, May 16, and at the same time, set the date for the public hearing on them for June 20, exactly 35 days after filing. By July 1, Newtown will have to have its regulations approved by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or else state regulations will go into effect here as they will in a majority of the towns in Connecticut.

May 20, 1949

A daughter, Katherine Byrd, was born on Thursday, May 12th, to Lieutenant and Mrs Harold W. Walters of Columbia, Missouri. Mrs Walters is the former Susannah Johnson, daughter of Mr and Mrs Frank Willard Johnson of Grays Plain district, Newtown.

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Mrs J. William James gave her annual spring luncheon bridge, including out-of-town and local guests, at her home in the Grays Plain district last Friday. Present were: Mrs Alexander C. Kleberg, of Noroton, Conn., Mrs Arthur Curry, of New Rochelle, N.Y., Mrs Fred C. Bauer and Mrs Fred Buermeyer, of Newtown, and Mrs Alfred H. Jurgens, Sandy Hook.

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Contributions to the current campaign being conducted in Newtown for the Junior Republic at Litchfield have now reached $336.50 toward the desired $400 goal. It is requested that any further donations be sent to Paul S. Smith at The Bee office, to be forwarded and acknowledged directly from the school.

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A reminder is issued by First Selectman, W.W. Holcombe that written applications must be filed at the Selectmen’s office for permits to sell fireworks in Newtown. The applications must include the applicant’s sales tax permit number, the location of the stand, and a statement that there are adequate off-the-highway parking facilities.

May 16, 1924

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE SANDY HOOK FREE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION On The Death of Mrs H.E. Sniffen: Whereas it has pleased Almighty God in His Wisdom to call from her earthly labors our friend and fellow worker, Susan Minor Sniffen, a director of this Association for 12 years, its assistant librarian for two years, its head librarian for 12 years, and a member of its book committee for 16 years. Be it resolved that we place on record this expression of the loss which this association and its Board of Directors have sustained in her death and our deep appreciation of her sterling character, her efficient work and her untiring labors in behalf of the library, And be it further resolved that we extend to her husband and the other members of her family our sympathy in their bereavement, And also be it resolved that these resolutions be spread upon our minutes, a copy sent to the family and that they be printed in The Newtown Bee. Adopted by the Sandy Hook Free Public Library Association at Sandy Hook, Conn., May 13, 1924. John O. Pitzschler, Mary H. Warner, Elsie F. Stowe, Edith W.G. Mitchell, Directors.

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The regular May meeting of the PTA was held at the Hawley school on May 8. Although the evening was stormy a fairly good crowd was present. Those who braved the storm were delightfully entertained by Mrs George Taylor, contralto, and Miss Jeannette O’Brien, soprano, accompanied by Miss Dorothy Scott, all of Danbury. The singers were enthusiastically applauded. Miss Vivian Collins, of the State Physical Education department, saying that the best way to entertain people was to make them entertain themselves, led the meeting in games and stunts. Refreshments closed a very enjoyable evening. The PTA voted to give $50 from its treasury to the piano fund. Any public spirited citizen wishing to help this fund may send his donation to any member of the association. All contributions will be acknowledged in The Bee.

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Mr and Mrs J.C. Lewis entertained a party of their friends from New York, Bridgeport and Stepney, Saturday evening. During the evening’s entertainment the engagement of their daughter, Maud Emily Lewis, to Edward Arthur Mills of Southport was announced. Miss Lewis is connected with the Sales Department of the Bridgeport Brass Co and Mr Mills with the S.L. Mills Co of Bridgeport. Miss Lewis has many friends in this place, who are pleased to extend their congratulations to her.

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HATTERTOWN NOTES: Willard T. Morgan has sold his handsome Devon steers to a Mr French in Oxford. | Ernest Northrop and family of Stamford, Edgar Northrop of Monroe and Charles Shafer of Danbury have been recent guests of Mr and Mrs Eugene Northrop. | Miss Angie Wakeman of Norwalk was a week end guest at the home of Mrs Ada Parmelee. | William Wakelee is sick and under the care of the doctor. | Mr and Mrs Hiram Perkins of Nichols were the guests, Sunday, or Mr and Mrs Thomas Perkins. | Earle Lewis, of the USS Wyoming is at the home of his parents, Mr and Mrs Jesse Lewis, on a two weeks furlough.

May 26, 1899

The body of the late Edwin Clarke, whose death was noted in last week’s Bee, was brought to Newtown, last Saturday morning, on the 10.39 train. It was taken in charge by Prindle & Morris, and burial followed in the Newtown cemetery, Rev George T. Linsley officiating. The friends present were Mrs Edwin Clarke, and children, Miss Julia Clarke and Edwin Parker Clarke, Mr Parker of New York, a brother of Mrs Clarke, Mrs Emma Jane Peck, a sister of the deceased, Rev Sylvester Clarke of Bridgeport and David Beecher of Ansonia. The pall bearers were Charles Henry Peck, E.L. Johnson, S.S. Scudder, George Crane, Elmer Fairchild and Aaron Sanford.

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RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE METHODIST CHURCH: Resolutions adopted at a regular meeting of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church, Sandy Hook, Conn., May 22, 1899: Whereas, Our Heavenly Father has seen fit to remove from our membership Brother Silas E. Fairchild, who was for 43 years one of our members; and Whereas, he witnessed a good confession in his private life as a Christian; and Whereas, he served the church faithfully 32 years as a steward, 30 years as trustee, 12 years as sexton, and a number of years as chorister; Resolved, That we have lost in this devoted disciple of Christ a pillar of our Zion; and Resolved, That we tender our Christian sympathy to Mrs Fairchild and her family; and Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon record —a copy of them given to the family of Brother Fairchild, and a copy be printed in The Newtown Bee. Signed—[George W. Graham, clerk.

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Mr and Mrs John Lieb of New York City, who were united in marriage, last week, have been passing 10 days at the home of Prof C.S. Platt, enjoying the fine scenery and air about Newtown.

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Jesse Sanford and daughter, Miss Jessica, of Redding, were in town on Sunday and attended service at the Congregational church. They were guests of Ex-Sheriff Aaron Sanford.

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Edward Egan always has one of the best and earliest gardens in these parts and this year is no exception. He has peas now all ready to blossom.

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John Keane of Gas street is having an addition built on to his house, 30x10, for a kitchen and pantry. T.F. Brew is doing the work.

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Simon Corey’s house is receiving a new coat of white paint, this spring.

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.