May 22, 1998

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Suzy Hard.

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The return of gentle summer winds always means the return of the big American flag to Newtown’s famous Main Street flagpole. The smaller, winter-weary flag was replaced Tuesday evening by Police Lt David Lydem, Newtown’s unofficial keeper of the flagpole, with the help of Newtown Labor Day Parade Chairmen Lisa Franze and Kym Stendahl, and Justin Moser of Newtown Hook & Ladder. Milton Adams, also of Hook & Ladder, manned the ladder on the aerial truck, which is required whenever flags are changed on the 100-foot-tall pole.

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The Legislative Council’s ordinance committee Wednesday completed the re-writing of its rules and procedures for creating new ordinances. The committee voted unanimously in favor of the new guidelines. With its house finally in order, the board can now begin work on a handful of ordinances that have been hanging over its head for several months. It can also begin work on the short list of already approved ordinances that are considered by some to be flawed.

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About 50 Easy Reader books have been donated to the Booth Library by Newtown Woman’s Club (GFWC). The organization is participating in the nationwide Libraries 2000 project that promotes literacy by contributing books to public schools and public libraries. The Greater Federation of Woman’s Clubs has pledged $12.5 million to buy books between the inception of the project (June 1997) and the year 2000. Marion Thompson, a member of the local group, also knitted an afghan that was raffled as a fundraiser for this project.

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Several young people were honored for their positive service to the community last Thursday at the Newtown Youth Services 11th annual Outstanding Youth Awards. The 18 youths were nominated by members of the community and then selected by the Outstanding Youth Award Committee. Those selected demonstrated strong, healthy values and used their talents and abilities in a positive way. “We believe the traits these young people possess are strengths that will bring them continued success in their futures,” said Youth Services Director Deborah Richardson. This year, NYS honored Whitney Blanchard, Lauren Burkhart, Aimee Clavette, Paul Copeland, Colleen Glaser, Bryan Hamilton, Holly Hatfield, Lindsey Jones, Jamie Locke, Ryan Miller, Tim Miller, Jared Modzelewski, Sarah Nahabedian, Katie O’Connor, Mike Patrick, Lauren Reed, Amy Robinson, and Eme Walker.

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Betty Lou and Jim Osborne of Zoar Road celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 8, and last Saturday 160 relatives and friends gathered at the Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury to mark the occasion. People came from the far corners of the country, including Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and Sanibel, to join in the evening of reminiscence and celebration. The Osbornes were married in 1948 at Newtown Congregational Church and remarkably, several members of the original wedding party were present at the gala. Most of the Osborne family was also present, including four children, 12 grandchildren, Jim’s brother and sister, two of Jim’s nephews and their spouses, and three of Jim’s first cousins. The evening included dinner at the country club, which was followed by a succession of guests offering their recollections of the Osbornes’ long eventful life together. All the grandchildren rose to give their favorite memories of times at Appleberry Farm, the Osbornes’ home on Zoar Road. Later, guests moved outside to the club’s patio, where a band had set up under a tent. With music in the background, the conversation, laughter, and reminiscence continued well into the night.

May 18, 1973

Voters in Tuesday’s election rejected the proposed $8 million 1973-74 town budget by a vote of 1,476 to 890. Participating in the voting were 31 non-resident property owners and approximately 28 percent of the registered electorate. The Board of Finance must meet this week to decide what to do. First Selectman Frank DeLucia said he will ask the board for an additional $4,000 for the Police Department to finance the proposed new dog warden. But George Grosner, president of the taxpayers’ group which petitioned for the referendum, said the tax payers “have spoken to reduce taxes.” The Finance board had cut $100,000 from the school budget requests and $82,751 from the proposed town budget before the referendum. The proposed budget would have required between a 1 and 1½ mill increase in the tax rate.

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Seth O.L. Brody, attorney of Bridgeport and resident of Newtown, was chosen by the Republican Town Committee (RTC) on Monday for appointment to the Board of Police Commissioners and appointed to the position at the Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday evening. He will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former commissioner Timothy J. Loughlin. Mr Brody has served the town in various capacities. He is a member of the RTC for 15 years and served as its chairman. He also has served as town counsel, chairman of the Board of Education, and a member of the Board of Tax Review.

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The Conservation Commission, acting for the town, has started to process an application from the state for an open space grant for the purchase of the 16-acre Ram Pasture from the Newtown Cemetery Association. The grant would be on a 50-50 basis, with the town carrying half of the burden and the Board of Outdoor Recreation through the State Department of Environmental Protection, the other half. Commission member Rita Lapati has agreed to do the task of filling out the application. The Parks and Recreation and Planning & Zoning Commission also must submit statements attesting that the purchase of the Ram Pasture for open space is acceptable to them.

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Karen M. Coyne and William Patrick Cavanaugh have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the 1973 graduating class at Newtown High School. The daughter of Mr and Mrs Edward L. Coyne, Karen intends to major in nursing at the University of Massachusetts. Bill, the son of Mr and Mrs Michael J. Cavanaugh, has received a congressional appointment to the US Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

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Now that Mae Schmidle has been elected town clerk, First Selectman Frank DeLucia is looking for someone to replace her as the town’s state and federal relations administrator. The position involves dealing with the community development projects and the applicants must have some knowledge of procedures of state and federal grants, experience in research and surveys, interest in working with people, and some legal and community planning.

May 14, 1948

Next Monday night Newtown’s newly organized Cub Scouts will hold their first pack meeting in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall. The formal presentation of the charter will be made by Otto Sauer, president of the Pomperaug Council, Boy Scouts of America, and insignia will be presented to the pack members.

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The Newtown Congregational Church was the scene Saturday afternoon, May 8, of the wedding of Miss Betty Lou Brown, daughter of Robert Young Brown of Sandy Hook and New York City and the late Mrs Brown, and James Morris Osborne, Jr, son of Mr and Mrs James Morris Osborne of Chardon, Ohio. The Rev Paul A. Cullens performed the double ring ceremony. Immediately following the ceremony a reception was held at the Appleberry Farm in Sandy Hook where the parents of the young couple assisted them in welcoming their guests. Before the wedding, a buffet supper for 65 was served, catered by Mrs William A. Bowen of the Hawley Manor, and on Saturday morning, the day of the wedding, about 50 people attended a brunch at the Hawley Manor where 16 members of the family lodged for two days for the occasion. Mrs Osborne Jr is a graduate of Smith College, Class of 1947. Mr Osborne graduated from Choate School, served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater in World War II, then earned his degree from Dartmouth College in 1947. He is now employed by the Y&O Coal Company in Bridgeport. Upon their return from their honeymoon (in an undisclosed location), the couple will reside in Sandy Hook.

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The death of Clinton Peters occurred at his Newtown home on May 12 following several years of ill health. Mr Peters was a man of fine character and a painter of marked ability. He studied in New York and in Paris and had exhibited his work in exhibitions around the world. He was awarded medals at the Paris Salon of 1888 and the Paris World Fair of 1889. After more than 10 years of work and study in France and England, Mr Peters returned to the United States and opened studios in Baltimore, Md., and New York City, where he painted many prominent people. He came to Newtown to make his home here in 1941.

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A very appreciative and musically minded audience turned out last Thursday evening to hear Leonard Seeber of Hartford, well known pianist, in a benefit concert sponsored by the Newtown Parent Teachers Association in the Edmond Town Hall Theater. Mr Seeber came at the request of William Jones, supervisor of music in the Newtown Schools. Except for incidental expenses, the entire proceeds of the concert, $285.44, will be used to buy instruments for the students of Newtown.

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The Parker House’s Saturday night special this week is Connecticut fried chicken, baked potato, green salad, lima beans, and strawberry short cake, all for $1.50. The Main Street establishment’s antique shop also is now open.

May 11, 1923

A KIND LETTER FROM BOROUGH WARDEN A.T. NETTLETON: To the Editor of The Bee: Allow me to congratulate The Bee for its enterprise in installing a new large modern press. It’s an achievement of which you may well be proud and gratifying as well to your numerous subscribers. You have now probably the best equipped plant of any country newspaper in the State. The appearance of your paper is [illegible/covered by mailing label] of course, one will [mailing label] to spend his [mailing label] the many stories and ads in its [mailing label] … Best wishes for your continued prosperity.—Arthur T. Nettleton. Newtown, Conn., May 9, 1923.

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Ralph W. Bull, of the firm of E.W. Bull & Son, of Kent, and a good friend of The Bee, was a welcome caller at The Bee office on Tuesday.

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Frederick Warner and Mr and Mrs James Christopher of Bethel were callers, Sunday, at the home of Dea A.D. Fairchild.

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Mrs Austin B. Blakeman, who has been spending the winter in Bridgeport, has opened her Newtown residence for the summer.

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J.A. James of Hawleyville and W.H. Wakelee of Southbury attended a session of Pyramid Temple of the Mystic Shrine in New Haven, Saturday afternoon and evening.

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The annual Borough election took place on Tuesday, 22 votes being cast out of a registration of 271. A three mill tax was laid. Judge Oscar Pitzschler was moderator of the elector’s meeting. Following is the ticket elected: Warden, Arthur T. Nettleton. Clerk, Charles F. Beardsley. Senior Burgess, H. Carlton Hubbell. Burgess: Herman H. Peck, John J. Northrop, Arthur A. McDonald, George E. Hayes, Allison P. Smith. Treasurer, Rodney P. Shepard. Bailiff, Patrick H. Gannon. Street Inspectors: H. Carlton Hubbell, Michael F. Crowe, S. Curtis Glover. Fire Inspectors: Patrick H. Gannon, George M. Stuart, John A. Carlson. Haywards: Arthur J. Smith, John C. Beers, Arthur A. McDonald, Edward L. Kingman. Pound Keeper, Thomas Carlson. Assessors: Levi C. Morris, Patrick H. McCarthy. Board of Relief: Frank Wright, George E. Hayes. Registrar of Voters, Charles F. Beardsley. Auditors: Arthur J. Smith, Thomas Holian.

May 20, 1898

GALA DAY AT EGAN’S PARK: To show their patriotism, the young men of the Walnut Tree Hill Social club raised a 40-foot flag pole and swing “Old Glory” to the breeze, on Saturday, April 30. After the flag raising there was a grand spread of all the good things for the inner man. After the banquet there were speeches and singing of patriotic songs, including the “Star Spangled Banner” and “America,” which was rendered with great feeling. … The club house was tastefully decorated and in the evening everybody had a merry time, tripping the light fantastic until midnight when the party broke up. The flag is a beauty, in size 9x12, and was kindly presented to the club by Michael J. Quealey of Sandy Hook with a very neat speech which was answered by James J. McMahon, who accepted the flag on behalf of the club.

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Charles Canfield is constantly making improvements on his place; the last is to remove the old fence by the road side and in its place a neat post and wire fence.

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George Young and Miss Minnie Meyers left Sandy Hook on the 8.40 train, Wednesday morning, for Fishkill, where they were to be quietly married. They are to live in Fishkill.

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Patrick O’Dea of Sandy Hook, better known as Panshot, has accepted a position with S. Cohen, who runs the new clothing store at the Hook.

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The bridge on the Sugar Street road, near Will Northrop’s has been renewed. It has been in a dangerous condition for some time. A bridge in Lake George district over Pond brook is also being renewed. One abutment had been washed away.

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SIMPLY FULFILLING A DUTY: To The Bee: I was much interested reading in last week’s Bee the report of the flag raising in Palestine. Secretary Northrop in his remarks refers to the flag as being “furnished through the courtesy of the selectman and presented to the school in behalf of the selectmen.” As I understand the law, as passed in 1893, was to the effect that the selectmen of the town should furnish to each school district a flag and apparatus for the schoolhouse. Nothing was done in our town about getting the flags until after April, 1897, when a penalty law was passed to the effect that if the selectmen did not furnish flags and apparatus to each school district they were liable to a fine of $10 each. And while I believe the selectmen and all town officers should have due credit for work done, I cannot see where the obligation to the selectmen comes in. They were simply fulfilling a duty pertaining to their office, the expense of which is to be met by the taxpayer.—[P.

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The human machine starts but once and stops but once. You can keep it going longest and most regularly by using DeWitt’s Little Early Risers, the famous little pills for constipation and all stomach and liver troubles. E.F. Hawley, Newtown; S.C. Bull & Co., Sandy Hook; A.B. Blakeman, Botsford; B. Hawley Co., Stepney.

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.