June 25, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Ed Osterman.

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Dr Louis Robert Wasserman, an internationally renowned authority on hematology, husband of 42 years of State Rep Julia (Weisskopf) Wassermann, died Monday, June 21, in Danbury Hospital at the age of 88. He had been a resident of Sandy Hook since 1960. He had been in failing health since 1994. During his long, distinguished career, Dr Wasserman made significant contributions to the understanding of factors regulating production and destruction of red blood cells.

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Newtown residents are doing their part to ensure that a group of Yugoslavian refugees are made to feel at home here in town. The 13 refugees arrived in Newtown just over two weeks ago after fleeing their war-torn homeland. They came to Newtown — to stay with family members Nasser and Hidajete Behluli — straight off an all-night flight from the Macedonian capital of Skopije. While hostilities have ceased in Serbia and Kosovo, Newtown’s newest residents say they are here to stay. Life in their homeland will never be the same, and as they watch CNN at night, they know they can never go back.

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Members of the quilting class at Newtown Senior Center are raffling off a small quilt they recently completed. The quilt is approximately six by six feet square, with a predominantly yellow backing and smaller squares on its top. Raffle tickets will be sold through the summer months for $1 each, with the drawing to be held on September 1.

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Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue (NUSAR) is conducting a life jacket loaner program for youths from now until Labor Day. NUSAR has 15 life jackets available for loan to youths who weigh up to 90 pounds. Arrangements to borrow a life jacket may be made by calling NUSAR.

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State police reported an accident on eastbound Interstate 84 in Hawleyville in which an automobile traveling in the wrong direction collided with a tractor-trailer truck. State police said a 49-year-old male driver from Parlin, N.J., was driving a 1998 Volvo tractor-trailer truck eastbound on I-84 near Exit 9 about 2:50 am June 20 when he encountered a 25-year-old male of Waterbury, who was driving a 1991 Honda Accord westbound in the eastbound lanes, resulting in a collision. The Honda driver received a broken leg, cuts and bruises in the crash and was transported by the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Danbury Hospital for treatment, state police said. State police said the accident is under investigation.

June 21, 1974

The Town of Newtown conducted soil tests over the past week on three parcels of land which might be purchased in the future. On Friday, June 14, highway department vehicles were used to dig test pits on two sites in Sandy Hook being considered for future location of an elementary school by the Zoar-Berkshire school site committee. The sites were the Italian Community Center field on Route 34 and the Kayfus property on Toddy Hill Road. On Monday, Town officials, a backhoe, soil scientists and a state health department representative ventured into the woods of a 59 acre parcel owned by the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company. As reported in last week’s Bee, First Selectman Frank DeLucia learned recently that the hydraulic company is considering offering certain of its properties for sale to the Town, including the 59 acres, located in the vicinity of Route 302 and Key Rock Road. An official report of the results of the tests is expected shortly.

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The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials chose on Thursday, June 13, the bid of Combustion Equipment Associated of New York City to design, construct and operate a regional solid waste plant in this part of the state. The bid includes construction of a $22 million resource recovery plant which would process all solid waste from towns participating in the regional set-up, projected for location on Newtown’s 37-acre landfill site.

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Depending on whether the New Canaan firm of Victor Christ-Janner Inc can get a new section adopted as part of the Newtown zoning regulations, a 132-acre tract of land held in trusteeship for the People’s Savings Bank of Bridgeport will be proposed for location of a housing development of up to 300 units.

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Pearl Cabral, Judy Matricardi, Pauline Spencer, Dorothy Marks, Alice Loomis, Evelyn McLain and Debbie Cypher presented a check for $46.50 to Mrs Barbara Bigham of the National Salvation Army Board of Directors. The money was raised at a cake sale by the parents of children attending Camp Nathan Hale this summer as an effort to increase the campership fund. Camp Nathan Hale, in Coventry, is operated by the Salvation Army Unit in the state. The Newtown Salvation Army Chapter, under the chairmanship of Mrs Benjamin Blanchard, plans to send 35 children between the ages of 9-12 to the camp from July 29-August 5. The cost of one campership is $45.

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“Moving Up,” the Newtown High School Jazz Ensemble’s perennial opener, set the pace for the “Pops” concert of the High School music department Friday, June 14, when a well-filled auditorium was treated to a combination of razzle-dazzle and musicianship approaching professional. Sam Mell of the Danbury Musician’s Union said he hadn’t thought a school music department could produce a better concert than the “Pops” concert he heard here last year, “but you did!”

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Robert Munger recently accepted a check for $200 on behalf of the Newtown Scholarship Association from Art Moore, store manager of Lloyd’s Lumber. This is the fifth year that Lloyd’s has contributed $200. The money will go into the scholarship fund.

June 17, 1949

As the result of a recent town meeting, the town dump off Route 34, Sandy Hook, has been cleaned up, a full-time attendant hired and regulations promulgated for its use. … Every precaution has been taken to maintain sanitary conditions in the area. The attendant, in addition to keeping the grounds in shape, is charged with the responsibility of enforcing rules pertaining to its use.

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Harold S. DeGroat, director of health, recreation and physical education for Newtown, received the honorary degree of Master of Physical Education from Springfield College, Springfield, Mass., last Sunday. He was one of five to whom the college bestowed recognition at the commencement exercises for distinguished careers in public and professional service. The occasion was the 63rd commencement for the college and the 35th anniversary of Mr DeGroat’s graduation there. Accompanied by Mrs DeGroat, he left Newtown for Springfield last Friday to be present at the exercises.

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The Newtown Bee took their first defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon, when Shelton beat them 18-17, in eleven innings of play. Newtown played good offensive ball but they fell down on the defense. Shelton went out in front in the first inning, when they scored two runs, while Newtown picked up one in the last of the first. Newtown pulled ahead in the third and fourth by collecting seven more runs, while Shelton gained one, and two in the fifth. Shelton picked up in the sixth with seven runs crossing the plate to Newtown’s six, making a 14-12 game.

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Mr and Mrs Joseph Brenner of Miami Beach, Florida, are passing the summer in town at the home of Mr and Mrs Max Newman of Huntingtown district. Mr and Mrs Brenner and their daughter, Anna Breyer Meyers, have just returned from a three months trip to Israel. Mr and Mrs Brenner resided for many years on Church street.

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Lester Reynolds, farm superintendent at Fairfield State Hospital, who has been a surgical patient at Memorial Hospital, New York City, returned home last week, where he is reported to be progressing nicely. He is under the care of Dr Bradley Coley, surgeon, New York, and Dr J. Benton Egee.

June 13, 1924

To-morrow, Friday, at 9 o’clock, the pupils of Hawley school will take part in exercises to celebrate Flag Day. There will be readings by individual pupils and singing of patriotic songs by all. The State Department of Education has prepared a “Flag Day Memorial” from which selections have been made. The Daughters of the American Revolution of Newtown have been invited to be present at these exercises, and Mrs Charles F. Beardsley has been asked to talk to the pupils. All parents and friends of the pupils are invited to attend these exercises.

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Mr and Mrs Fred Hubbell and H. Carleton Hubbell were in New London over Sunday attending the baccalaureate exercises at the Connecticut College for Women. Miss Dorothy Hubbell is a member of the graduating class.

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Rev William H. Jepson, rector of St Luke’s church, Connecticut and Wilmot avenues, Bridgeport, and who has numerous friends in Newtown (a long time friend of The Bee), was given a reception and presented a substantial purse of gold by his parishioners Monday evening. Rev Jepson was ordained 25 years ago, and for 13 years has been at St Luke’s church. Mrs Jepson was given a beautiful bouquet of roses. C.O. Lister made the presentations. A musical program was given by the choir of the church. Mrs E. Waterworth, contralto, was soloist and Miss Harriet Kimberlin gave a reading. An old fashioned minuet was danced by Miss Kimberlin and Lillian Mert. Miss Ethel Forth played a violin solo and Mr and Mrs Lelands gave a duet. Refreshments were served by the Women’s Guild.

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Walter Hine of Orange, deputy for the Fairfield County Pomona, was present at the meeting of the Pootatuck Grange, Tuesday night when the third and fourth degrees were conferred on five candidates. Mr Hind found the Grange in excellent shape and was well pleased with the work of the officers. Mrs Hine also was present.

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METHODIST CHURCH NOTES: Every Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, standard time, the Sunday school meets, followed by preaching service at 3. This afternoon the Dorcas Circle held their annual meeting at “Mapleton.” There was a good attendance, last Sunday afternoon, at the annual Children’s day exercises. The church was prettily decorated with spring flowers, and the children all took part very nicely. The pastor baptized the following children: Shirley May Schaefer and Vernon Earl Schaefer, children of Mr and Mrs George Schaefer, and Benjamin Earl Franklin, son of Mr and Mrs Benjamin Franklin.

June 23, 1899

Rev Otis W. Barker, Henry Smith, Carlson Smith and Mr and Mrs H.W. Wright attended the Christian Endeavor Fellowship meeting on Monday evening in the Methodist church at Stepney. The Christian Endeavor society will hold a basket picnic tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon from 4 to 6 o’clock on Sunday Hill under the trees at the rear of the home of Mrs W.L. Allen. The friends of the members of the society are most cordially invited. This is the first in a series of summer sociables.

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J.H. Costello has secured the services of A.F. Moffett at his blacksmith shop at Sandy Hook. Mr Moffett will be found at the shop every day. He is a skillful workman and understands the business in all its branches.

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Miss Mary A. McNamara is the guest of her sister, Mrs Thomas McNamara, for a few weeks.

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It was children’s night at Pootatuck Grange, Tuesday night, and an enjoyable program was presented. Following the exercise, cake and ice cream were dispensed. The program: Composition on Strawberries, Eleanor Northrop. Recitation, “1,2,3,” Ruth Johnson. Recitation, “When Papa was a Little Boy,” Henry Young. Recitation, “Celeste’s Visit,” Marjorie Coleman. Song. Recitation, “Grandma’s Housekeeper,” Elsie Johnson. Recitation, “Mother’s Song,” Willis Coleman. Recitation, “A Cat and a Mouse,” Frances Botsford. Recitation, “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” Mabel Northrop. Recitation, “A Little Brown Seed in the Furrow,” Robert Botsford. Song.

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.