June 20, 1997

At 5 pm Friday, June 13, when the long-awaited graduation time finally arrived, threatening skies and an afternoon thunderstorm prevented the Newtown High School Class of 1997 from conducting their commencement ceremonies outside. But the seniors had rehearsed in the auditorium that morning, and nobody seemed to mind the last-minute change in plans. The graduates and their families were totally focused upon enjoying the important moment in their lives: celebrating all of the love and hard work that went into making it possible.

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Workmen have started preliminary construction on the long-awaited Fairfield Hills bypass road, an east-west connector planned to link Route 25 to Exit 11 of Interstate 84, and to Route 34. Workers this week cleared a broad swath from a stand of trees near Mile Hill Road in preparation for bypass road construction. The overall cost of the project is estimated at $4 million, including construction and design costs. The low bidder for the project is Dayton Construction Company, Inc, of Watertown, which will do construction work for $3.2 million. The project is planned for completion by the end of 1998.

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The Planning and Zoning Commission has unanimously rejected a request to rezone four acres along Barnabas Road in Hawleyville from residential to industrial. P&Z members June 13 turned down the request from Steve Nicolosi of Buzzano Contracting to rezone the land on both sides of Barnabas Road. Mr Nicolosi holds about 2.5 acres on the north side of Barnabas and 1.5 acres on the south side. Mr Nicolosi wanted to change the zoning from Residential-1 to Industrial M-4 so he could submit a proposal to build a prefabricated building there for various industrial uses.

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The Borough Zoning Board of Appeals has granted My Place, Inc, a zoning variance that will allow My Place Restaurant to continue selling alcoholic beverages when it moves from its current quarters to the former post office at 8 Queen Street. In granting the variance June 18, the board stipulated that the restaurant place no signs in its windows and that it only be allowed to sell alcohol from a service bar in the restaurant. The restaurant needed the variance because in moving into the former post office, it will be within 300 feet of Newtown Middle School. The borough zoning regulations prohibit alcohol sales within 300 feet of a school or church.

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Newtown Police report that a 25-year-old truck driver from DeLune, Quebec, Canada, was westbound on Church Hill Road around 8:20 am June 13 when the cargo of plastic pipe he was carrying atop a truck struck the Housatonic Railroad overpass, causing some of the pipes to fall to the roadway. A second truck was called to carry away some of the pipes. The driver was not injured. The overpass has warning signs stating it has a 12-foot, 7-inch clearance, but the driver didn’t know the cargo’s height, police said. Police issued him an infractions ticket for failure to obey state traffic commission signs and markings.* * * * *

Cub Scout Pack 170 recently held a clean-up day at Cullens Memorial on Taunton Lake Road. Scouts, parents and siblings participated by cleaning the lodge, the kitchen, and restrooms. Litter was properly disposed of, trails were cleared of fallen tree limbs, wood was chopped by adults and stacked by the Scouts, and minor repairs were made to the dock to make the area ready for all who use the facility.

June 23, 1972

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: For four score years and ten, Carlton Hubbell has been a part of Newtown, until his recent illness and death on Tuesday night at Danbury Hospital. Because, according to his own wish, there will be no funeral service, we think it appropriate to mark his passing with a few words about him in this column. Carlton could trace his ancestry to the original Hubbell who landed at Saybrook in the 1600s. … For years Carlton owned and maintained the small saltbox house facing Hattertown green which was the home of his great grandfather Taylor. … Carlton has been a familiar figure at the Newtown Savings Bank where he was honored in April 1971 for fifty years of service. He started at the bank in 1921 when the late Arthur T. Nettleton, then president, took over the active direction of Miss Mary E. Hawley’s financial affairs and needed Carlton to assume some of his banking responsibilities. Quiet and unassuming, but with a friendly smile, Carlton enjoyed his contacts with the people at the bank. He had a fine feeling for history and a large bump of civic responsibility which kept him busy with matters concerning the Newtown Village Cemetery Association and similar organizations. For a long time Carlton was organist at the Congregational Church. … A true Newtowner, Carlton with his quiet ways and generous spirit will be missed along Main Street which has been home to him for so many years.

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Newtown police have made more drug arrests, and the latest one happened on Thursday morning, June 22, just as The Bee was going to press. Det Sgt Michael DeJoseph of the department’s detective bureau, and Fairfield Police Detective Steve Zadovich had gone to a home on Pond Brook Road in Newtown with an arrest warrant for a male at the residence for possession of hashish with intent to sell in Fairfield. When the men got to the house, Det Sgt DeJoseph found eight to ten marijuana plants growing in the building. As a result, three other occupants were arrested. Those three were charged with cultivating marijuana, which is a felony, and will be arraigned in Danbury Circuit Court. The original male named in the arrest warrant will be arrested by Fairfield Police in a few days. Officer Richard Stook of the Newtown Police was also at the scene of the raid.

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The water in the pond at Dickinson Memorial Park rates Class A for swimming according to state standards. Tests are made three times a week at the inlet and the outlet, with the samples checked by Ferris Laboratories in Danbury. The Class A quality of the water was reconfirmed this Wednesday, June 21. William Honan, chairman of the Parks & Recreation Commission, notes that the test results go also to Dr Thomas Draper, Health Director for Newtown.

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The Rev Jack Grenfell Sr is the new minister at the United Methodist Church of Newtown. He is taking a Sabbatical leave for a year to serve the church of which his son, the Rev John Millard Grenfell, was minister for several years. His son is now pastor of the Summerfield United Methodist Church on Staten Island, N.Y. The new pastor’s wife is a reading consultant with the Westport schools.

June 20, 1947

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: Newtown, at this Friday evening’s town meeting, will consider further its school building problem, and particularly the elementary school situation. We hope that intelligence will be shown throughout the meeting — based on the recognized fact that our town’s educational facilities are totally inadequate for the present enrollment of our own children who are seeking an education and who, it is fair to state, are entitled to the best that we can give them. … The town finds itself in an embarrassing position. Long ago we should have expanded our physical plant, and now we are faced with present-day building costs which are excessive. On the other hand, every year that we delay the construction of a suitable building for our elementary grades means that one more school generation passes from our midst without the advantages of modern schooling which can scarcely be obtained when proper facilities are lacking … A strong offensive wins, and Newtown, for its own sake, needs to win over its own present school insufficiencies.

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The last-word in fire-fighting equipment was added to the local scene last week with the acquisition of a truck that combines many novel features, the most important of which is its auxiliary portable pump. The Briggs-Stratton pump can be carried by two men and used either for filling the truck’s water tank or employed against the fire itself. Another feature of the truck’s equipment is the latest type fog nozzle; these cover more fire area and use far less water than do other types. The truck’s water tank is of 500-gallon capacity and it carries 1,000 feet of 1½” hose. According to the Board of Fire Commissioners, the new truck will be sent to all fires in all districts to cooperate with outlying, volunteer units.

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Newtown playgrounds got under way Monday on Taylor Field back of Hawley School. An average twenty youngsters attended the morning and afternoon sessions, while on Tuesday the numbers swelled to twenty-four in the morning and sixty odd in the afternoon. Monday afternoon Bob McMahon’s nine won a practice tilt against some of Joe Portley’s players and some other lads who were on hand. Plans are under way to match these two teams against some of the Woodbury and Southbury teams.

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A dinner held under the sponsorship of Hiram Chapter, R.A.M., took place at the Parker House last Saturday evening with nearly 40 members present. The committee in charge was composed of George Beck, Charles Nichols and Charles Cooper. The chapter will conduct a stated convocation in Masonic Temple, Sandy Hook, Wednesday evening, June 25, at 7:30 o’clock.

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At a convocation of Hiram Lodge A.F. and A.M., held in Masonic Temple this Wednesday evening, Second District Deputy Edward Plumb of New Milford made his official visit. The E.A. degree was worked on a class of candidates, and lunch was served following the meeting. Members of the lodge will attend in a body at the services being held in the Newtown Congregational church this Sunday morning at 11 o’clock.

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Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith and son, Teddy, attended Commencement festivities at Amherst College, Amherst, Mass., on Saturday.

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Barton Carmody, son of Mr and Mrs John J. Carmody of South Main street, was graduated from Fordham University on June 10th, receiving his A.B. degree at the commencement exercises held in the gymnasium of the university. Mr and Mrs Carmody and their daughter, Katherine, attended the exercises, accompanied by rev John F. Culliton. Also in attendance were Edward M. Carmody of New York City, an uncle, and Miss Mae Egan of New York City and Sandy Hook, a cousin.

June 16, 1922

Mrs Rodney Shepard gave a miscellaneous shower, Tuesday night, in honor of Miss Lillian Harrison, whose marriage to Frank H. Johnston takes place the last of this month. Refreshments of fruit salad, sandwiches, ice cream, cake and punch were served by the hostess. Those present included: Mrs George Stuart, Mrs L.B. Badger, Mrs Henry Carlson, Miss Anna Carlson, Miss Gerda Anderson, Miss Florence Sheehan, Miss Adaline Hurd, Mrs Sarah Mitchell, Miss Caroline Whiting, Mrs Rodney Shepard.

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The community was greatly shocked, Wednesday morning, when it became known that Rev John Conway, the beloved pastor of St Rose’s church, had passed away about 4.20 a.m., that morning, after a brief illness. Father Conway on Sunday morning had officiated at the Mass in St Stephen’s church, Stepney, and appeared as well as usual. Rev Father Conway was born in Cavan county, Ireland, and was 42 years old. He is survived by two sisters, Mrs James Nowlan and Mrs John Keane of Naugatuck. … Father Conway was ordained, December, 1905, by the Most Rev Archbishop Bruchesi of Canada. It is perhaps a coincidence that his first appointment as assistant was in St Rose’s church, Newtown, under Rev Patrick Fox, who he eventually succeeded as pastor. … He was appointed as pastor of St Rose’s church of Newtown and died on the morning of the first anniversary of his pastorate. During his residence here he had to a remarkable degree won the love and esteem of the members of St Rose’s parish, and had made many warm friends in the membership of other communions. He was an exceedingly broad-minded, sympathetic and generous hearted man, and a large circle of people will mourn his early death.

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Hiram chapter, No 1 , R.A.M., conferred the Most Excellent degree, Wednesday evening. The Royal Arch degree will be conferred on June 21.

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L.B. Badger, the popular principal of the Newtown High school will take a summer course of six weeks at Columbia University during his vacation. Mrs Badger and son will pass the vacation with her parents in Vermont.

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Mr and Mrs Richard Egan of Palestine were in New York, Sunday and Monday, called there by the death of a relative.

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Mr and Mrs Albert Boyson and son recently motored to Yonkers, N.Y., and visited Mr and Mrs James Ewing.

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Charles E. Beers was a visitor in the Park City on Monday.

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Mrs Geckel of Walnut Tree Hill has a new Ford car, bought through the agency of J.B. Nichols.

June 25, 1897

The special races held at Ronalds Park by the Newtown Agricultural Fair Co, last week Thursday afternoon, was a very successful gathering, judged from all the essential points of view that are necessary for the success of the sport. The weather was very satisfactory, and while the sun did not shine out in all its glory, yet only a few filmy clouds hid it from view, and these clouds were not the kind that held buckets of water, only a few sprinkles. … The attendance was very flattering and an estimate of 500 people would not be far from correct. … The racing was the feature that held the interest for the spectators. The horses entered, of which there was quite a bunch, were superior in speed qualities to those here at the time of the fair. There was not as much neck and neck racing as would have created more enthusiasm, but the noble work of the winners won many warm words of praise.

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Mrs Henry A. Hitch, whose serious illness had been noted in last week’s Bee, died last week Thursday evening, at Dick’s hotel, about 10 o’clock. She came to Newtown in February to attend a social gathering, and was taken ill that evening. Her condition was considered grave from the first, but she rallied, and at times it was hoped she might recover. Her maiden name was S. Margaretta Leonard. She was 38 years old and was a native of Middletown. … The funeral was attended from Dick’s hotel on Saturday afternoon, Rev George T. Linsey officiating.

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The correct figures in regard to the attendance at the Sandy Hook public school for the past year are: Primary department, 93-10; intermediate, 19; senior, 20 6-10; total, 48 9-10.

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Mr and Mrs Earle Stevens of Hotchkissville, formerly of Hawleyville, were made happy, last week Wednesday, by the birth of a son.

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John Donovan was brought before Justice M.J. Bradley, last week, on the charge of non-support. He was sent to the Bridgeport jail for 30 days.

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Miss Bloom and her sister, Miss C. Belle Bloom of Brooklyn, are among the arrivals at Dick’s hotel.

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.