June 13, 1997

Friday evening at 5 pm, 245 Newtown High School seniors will celebrate a benchmark moment in their lives, as they look back on their last 17 or 18 years and prepare to receive their high school diplomas. No doubt, high spirits and hilarity will be the dominant mood as the Class of 1997 sits down together for the last time and listens to several commencement speakers offering carefully chosen words of wisdom. Among those speakers will be Valedictorian Lauren Kalb and Salutatorian Delphine Tuot.

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A new job? He won’t say. But one thing is for sure, Bob Cascella is calling it quits as first selectman at the end of this year. Mr Cascella, 37, informed the Republican Town Committee Tuesday night that he will not seek re-election to the town’s top seat, which he has occupied since 1993. Mr Cascella cited personal reasons for his decision, which he says he made two weeks ago. He plans to stay in Newtown.

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A request to rezone land on both sides of Barnabas Road in Hawleyville from residential to industrial has drawn fire from some nearby residents who question the wisdom of allowing industrial uses of the land. Applicant Steve Nicolosi, representing Buzzano Contracting, wants a change of zone from Residential-1 to Industrial M-4 for about four acres he owns on the north side and south side of Barnabas Road near its intersection with Hawleyville Road. Mr Nicolosi holds about 2.5 acres on the north side of Barnabas and the remainder on the south side.

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Newtown has no official Who’s Who, but if you want to know who the movers and shakers were during the past 103 years, take a look at the membership list for The Men’s Literary and Social Club of Newtown Street. The group, which just held its 1,000th meeting, has changed little since Newtown Bee editor Allison Smith founded it during the Victorian era. “The object of this club shall be to enlarge the social and intellectual life of its members, to foster a kindly feeling and fellowship among them and to promote public welfare,” stated its constitution. And, at that time, the group extended its influence outside of its membership to promote policy, stage public plays, perform civic functions such as erecting the third (and tallest) flagpole at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Main Street, and offer lectures about timely topics such as tuberculosis, which was the leading cause of adult deaths through the 19th Century.

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Thirty seniors enjoyed the first picnic of the season at Nunnawauk Meadows in the new gazebo donated and erected by the Lions Club earlier this spring. The meal, provided by the Congregate Housing Service Program, included hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, lettuce and tomatoes, watermelon, and iced tea. A summer concert series will be held in the gazebo in July and August.

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Middle Gate School second graders took a ride up Main Street last week for a tour of the center of town. While there, First Selectman Bob Cascella led the students through Edmond Town Hall. The Matthew Curtiss House, across the street from the town hall, was also on the walking tour.

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Attendance nearly doubled for this year’s Rocking Rooster Run, presented by Newtown Parks & Recreation with a few changes this year. The course moved from Newtown High School to Newtown Middle School, and changed from a 5-mile to a 5K (3.1 miles) challenge. The new “Rocking” Rooster also added prize money and official point rankings. As a result, the one-time small hometown race drew a handful of hardcore racers including Danbury’s Sergio Ribeiro. The Brazilian native finished the race in 15:16.21, nearly 30 seconds ahead of the second and third place finishers and over a minute ahead of fourth place. “He could have stopped for coffee,” one observer volunteered as the crowd at the finish line waited for the second place finisher to follow Ribeiro in.

June 16, 1972

Troop 370’s Scout of the Year Dinner was Tuesday night, June 13, in the Trinity Church Undercroft. Highlight of the evening was the presentation of the second annual Scout of the Year Award. The award is given to the Scout selected by troop members voting for the one they feel “most exemplifies the Scouting spirit and all points of the Scout Oath and Law through his interests in helping others and his contribution to the Troop including ability, cooperation, participation, and enthusiasm.” This year’s recipient is Edmund Smith, son of Mr and Mrs Franklin Y. Smith, Sandy Hook. Ed is a Star Scout in Troop 370, has served as Assistant Patrol Leader and Patrol Leader, and during the past ten months has held the post of Troop Scribe. He is an Ordeal member of Order of the Arrow (Scouting’s honor camping association), and his interests include fishing, stamp collecting, and camping.

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Opponents of the treatment center for alcoholics proposed for construction on Alberts Hill Road have taken the Planning and Zoning Commission to court for its conditional approval of the center. Papers were served late on Tuesday, June 13, which summon the commission and William H. Johnson to appear before the Court of Common Pleas in Bridgeport on July 11. Mr Johnson, a resident of Alberts Hill Road, applied to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a special exception to zoning to permit the use of about 11 acres of his land for the treatment center, to be known as Eagle Hill. The commission approved the application at its meeting on Friday, June 2, with ten stipulations, as noted in The Bee of June 9. The plaintiffs are, the summons says, residents and taxpayers of Newtown and own land near or abutting Mr Johnson’s property. They are aggrieved because their property “will suffer a serious and substantial depreciation in monetary value and the plaintiff will be denied and deprived of the use and enjoyment thereof.”

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On June 11 firemen from the United Fire Company of Botsford responded to an oil burner fire at the home of Mrs Hastings Blake on Huntingtown Road. Engines 51, 52, 55 and Tankers 1 and 59 responded from the Botsford station, and Engine one and the aerial responded from the Newtown Hook and Ladder station. A dry powder extinguisher was used and smoke ejectors and deodorizers cleared the smoke. Thirty men responded under the direction of Chief Joseph Dauplaise. Minor damage resulted. The following morning, at 3:59 am, the Botsford volunteers responded to an electrical fire at a home on Botsford Hill Road owned by Steven Tozser and occupied by Mr and Mrs Edward Walker. A short-circuit in the wiring caused damage to a wall and the roof. A booster line was used and smoke ejectors and deodorizers were again used. Oxygen was given to two firemen for smoke inhalation. Twenty-six men responded under the direction of Chief Dauplaise.

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Saturday, June 3, the Charles Howard Peck Jr and Sr Post 308 of Newtown installed officers. LaVerne B. Cary was instituted as Commander; Clayton Boston, Senior Vice Commander; John Miller, Junior Vice Commander; Conrad Fleishmann Sr, Chaplain; and Wendell Matthews, Adjutant. Installing officer was Stanley Powell, State Department chairman, VFW Service and Rehabilitation, Post 9991 of Bridgeport. Post 308 and the Ladies Auxiliary join Poppy Drive Chairman Clayton Boston in thanking all participants and contributors who helped with the recent Buddy Poppy Drive.

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Saturday, June 10, was Ladies Day at the Newtown Country Club, and the men had to move aside while the women played a member-member best ball tournament. Rita Murphy and Irene Knudsen were the day’s winners, with net 60; and Kathy Ries and Flo Godino, runners up with a net 64. Mary Bassell was tournament chairman.

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Monday morning, June 12, was bright and sunny and members of the Town and Country Garden Club took advantage of the weather to plant flowers on the island at the intersection of Route 202 and Main Street. Mrs Laurie Shewan, Mrs Charles O’Connor and Mrs Franklin Smith planted red, white and blue flowers.

June 13, 1947

Bound for further study or to take their places in life, 29 Seniors of Hawley High School, completing four years of preparation, are being graduated with fitting ceremonies in the theater of Edmond Town Hall this Thursday evening.

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Allen H. Pike Jr, of Mansfield Center, was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the 64th commencement exercises of the University of Connecticut at Storrs on Sunday. Mr Pike, who is the son of Mr and Mrs Allen Pike of Danbury, former Newtown residents, is a graduate of Hawley High School in the class of 1940. He has taken a position with the Connecticut Public Expenditures Council at Hartford.

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Mr and Mrs Frank Fitzsimmons of Danbury are the parents of a daughter born early Monday morning at the Danbury Hospital. Mrs Fitzsimmons is the former Dorothy Honan of Newtown.

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There was an attendance of thirty at the yearly planning meeting of the Hopewell group of the Farm Bureau women, who met Wednesday afternoon at the home of Mrs Horace A. Smith in Dodgingtown. Mrs Irvin W. Waterhouse, chairman of the group, presided and an interesting group of meetings was scheduled for the coming year. Light refreshments were served at the close of the meeting.

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In attempting to pass two northbound cars on Route 25 less than 500 feet south of the Amaral garage at 11:55 Monday night, a young motorist lost control of his car, swerved to the left side of the road and struck a highway fence post, was deflected back onto the road and cracked up against a tree a few feet beyond. The impact of the crash telescoped the car, wedging all three occupants between the front seat and the floorboard. With the driver, Robert J. Pelletier, 26, of Bridgeport, were Albert E. Corliss, 20, of Milford, and Donald Puzzo, 16, of Stratford. Corliss was riding between the other two and was killed instantly; Pelletier and Puzzo suffered lacerations and possible skull fractures and remain in critical condition at Danbury hospital where they were taken by John Sedor and Wendell Mansfield in the Newtown ambulance.

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At the annual meeting of Virgilius Council, Knights of Columbus, held Tuesday evening of last week in the K. of C. Hall, Sandy Hook, J. William Hayes of Sandy Hook was elected grand knight. Other officers were elected as follows: Albert L. Carbonneau, deputy grand night; John A. Gorman, chancellor; George M. Marriott, recorder; D. Lawrence Condon, treasurer; Harold Morgan, advocate; John P. Keane, warden; William O’Shea, inside guard; John Condon, outside guard; Joseph Bailey, M.F. Crowe and William Kayfus, Jr, trustees.

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The second match show of the Newtown Kennel Club was held last Thursday, June 5th, in the gymnasium of the Edmond Town Hall. There were about 45 dogs entered and the attendance was so encouraging that the Bench Show committee has decided to hold a match every month during the summer. The next one will be July 10th, with Thomas M. Gately, of Gayterry Kennels, Wilton, doing the judging.

June 9, 1922

Evelyn Peck, aged 11, and Ethel Peck, aged 16, children of Mrs Bertha Peck, were operated on for appendicitis at the Danbury hospital by Dr Brownlee, assisted by Dr W.H. Kiernan. Evelyn was operated on Friday night and Ethel, Sunday night. Both young ladies occupy the same room. Ethel is a High school junior.

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The Men’s club met at the Parker House, Tuesday night, guests of W. R. Curtis. A fine dinner was served by Mine Host Parker. A.P. Smith, in charge of the literary program, spoke on the lack of public observance of Memorial day, and suggested a committee be appointed to assist the few remaining members of Custer post, G.A.R., in decorating the graves of the veterans and to arrange for a public observance of the day. A committee was appointed consisting of A.P. Smith, P.H. McCarthy and Rev J.L. Lasher. Mr Smith also called attention to the lack of interest on the part of the public in buying copies of the History of Newtown, by Mrs E.L. Johnson, and declared that future generations would rise up and call her blessed. Rev J.L. Lasher collaborated with Mr Smith and in an interesting approach showed how a proper observance of Memorial day might be worked out.

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VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION NURSE’S MONTHLY REPORT, Newtown, Conn, May, 1922: Number of patients brought forward from last month: 31. New patients: men 1, women 4, children 4, Total 40. Number of visits made: Nursing, 43; Instructive, 30; Social service, 16; total 89. Cases cared for: Medical 7, Surgical 5, Babies 20, Prenatal 3, Maternity 2, Communicable diseases — Tuberculosis 3, Contacts 11. Number of cases dismissed 9, died 1. Number of cases carried forward to next month, 30. Number of social service visits made 16; office 2. Number of patients referred to private physicians 4; hospitals 2, clinics 1, dentists 2, relief agency 1. Meetings attended: N.E. Health Institute, Hartford, Conn., talk given on “Dental Clinic.” Emergency relief given one family. Amount of money received from patients $22.80.

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The Sandy Hook Y wishes, through The Bee, to thank Mrs Louise Gibson for a contribution of $5.

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Michael Keaton is out riding in a new Ford touring car, bought of Carlson Bros., of the Liberty Garages.

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Miss Marie Laverty has returned to Brooklyn, N.Y., after a week passed at the Golden Peach.

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Fred Leiss Sr and Fred Leiss Jr passed Sunday at their home in the Glen.

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Edward Carmody is out with a Buick six cylinder roadster.

June 18, 1897

THE ACADEMY — THE GRADUATING EXERCISES: The high regard in which the Newtown Academy is held by the parents and friends of the pupils, was shown by the large and representative audience at the exercises of the graduating class at the Town hall, last week Friday evening. The platform and stage had been prettily decorated with wild flowers and green. At the right of the stage was a bank of green on which was the motto of the graduating class, “Factis Cognoscimur.” The platform was filled with the pupils of the Academy, dressed in their most approved apparel. The members of the graduating class, of course, had the posts of honor, occupying the front seats. They numbered six, five young ladies and one young gentleman, and although the latter had no part in the program, he was the recipient of marked attention by the essayists and the audience as well. The members of the graduating class were: Miss Laura M. Mitchell, daughter of Mr and Mrs Frank H. Mitchell; Miss Edith S. Minor, daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles E. Minor; Miss Alice S. Beers, daughter of Mr and Mrs Eli B. Beers; Miss Jessie M. Taylor, daughter of Mr and Mrs C.B. Taylor; Miss Florence A. Lake, daughter of Mrs L.B. Lake; and Elm B. Corning, son of E.B. Corning, of Stepney.

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Rev Fred F. Johnson left on Wednesday for Colorado. He hopes to arrive in Denver, Sunday morning, and will remain there for a fortnight, when he takes up work in his new parish at Glenwood Springs. Glenwood Springs is a popular resort town on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains and about midway between Denver and Salt Lake City. Mr Johnson enters on his work thoroughly equipped for the sacred duties of his calling. A graduate of our own Academy, he entered St Stephen’s college at Annandale, N.Y., from whence he went to Trinity college at Hartford for a four years’ course. His divinity studies were at the Berkeley divinity school, Middletown, where he graduated, this year.

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Mr and Mrs Aaron Sanford were in New York, Saturday morning last, to see the steamer arrive with their two grandsons, William and Rodney Procter, who have been abroad two and one half years around the world. Mrs Proctor and Rodney spent Sunday in Newtown.

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Julius Beers spent Sunday with his daughter, Mrs Sutlift, in Southington. Mr Beers thinks well of the poultry business we should judge, for besides the chickens he has already, he set 20 hens on eggs, last week.

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Miss Mary Botsford is staying with her cousin, Claribel Winton, in Zoar.

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Miss Nora Keane has been sick with her old trouble, quinsy sore throat.

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Arthur Day had a finger dislocated while playing ball, Saturday evening.

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.