June 29, 1990

This week, work started on a project involving the construction of new water lines on Queen Street, (from Glover Avenue to Church Hill Road), and on Church Hill Road (from Queen Street to Main Street). Kevin Moran, general manager of the Newtown Water Company, said the new 12-inchpipe will be connected to the existing 6-inch pipes that will remain in the ground. When there are fires, the new lines will help firefighters, he explained. The project should be completed within a month.

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The front lawn of Edmond Town Hall was turned into a Civil War encampment last weekend by Battery B of the First Rhode Island Light Artillery. The unit pulled into town Friday afternoon and immediately set about pitching tents and putting the camp in order. The encampment was arranged by Town Hall manager Tom Mahoney, to promote the movie Glory, playing at the town hall theater. Members of Battery B are avid historians of the war, which raged fro 1861to 1865, and some are collectors of Civil War memorabilia.

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Three Newtown racers placed in the Soap Box Derby held on Casper Street in Danbury this past Sunday. Emily Gallo, 11, placed first in the junior division, and Matt Margules and Ryan Henry took second and third, respectively, in the senior division. By winning the junior division, Emily will now go to Akron, Ohio, in August, to spend a week at camp prior to competing in the All-American Soap Box Derby finals on August 11.

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An eight-year veteran sergeant/training officer with the Newtown Police Department has expressed serious concern about unarmed non-commissioned officers policing Lake Zoar. Newtown Police Sergeant Henry Stormer is one of four Lake Zoar marine patrol officers legally certified to carry firearms during their weekday jobs as police officers, who has refused to patrol the lake on the weekends until the town of Southbury allows him to carry a sidearm while on duty. According to Sgt Stormer, the DEP says that the state will not cover the liability of police officers carrying firearms on the lake, “but if the town and Lake Zoar Authority cover the liability, it is OK.” In addition, the sergeant says it is even more of a liability for the town and lake authority to allow non-police officers, with only six hours of training in boating laws, to patrol the lake in a police boat, in a police uniform.

July 2, 1965

A group of individual homeowners is planning an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas for a reversal of the recent decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals, which would make possible the building of a convalescent hospital on Hanover Road. Believing the board’s decision improper, the group has retained counsel and plans to institute the suit formally in a few days. On June 14, the Zoning Board of Appeals announced its decision favoring the request of Louis Lewis for a special exception to zoning regulations which would permit the building of Hanover Haven, a 135-bed convalescent hospital on a 20-acre parcel of land on Hanover Road.

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The Newtown Jaycees have announced definite plans to raise $3,100 for a high school football team in the fall. This money will be raised through the sale of vinyl-covered stadium cushions, embossed with the Indian emblem of the Newtown High School. The rear of the cushions will display advertising of the local businesses supporting the team. The money will be used for equipment, coaches, travel expenses, game uniforms, and insurance. The team will play a JV schedule this year and go on in 1966 to full varsity status.

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Newtown fire officials announce that the recent bomb scares at the Newtown High School and numerous false alarms have been solved. Three Newtown youths have been interviewed by the police and the information has been turned over to the prosecutor of the Third Circuit Court for the issuance of warrants. The apprehension of the guilty persons will be a source of satisfaction and relief to every citizen of the town.

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Following commencement exercises last Thursday, 175 graduates and their dates attended a party given in their honor at the Congregational Church House. Hosted annually, the party was jointly hosted by the Newtown Jaycees, the Lions and the Rotarians, as a community service project. Running from 9 pm to 3 am, the party was marked for its orderliness and excellent behavior of the students, all of whom seemed to have been caught up in the spirit of the affair.

June 28, 1940

Louie C. Lovell has accepted the agency for the McCormick-Deering line of farm implements. This is one of the oldest and largest farming implement manufacturers in the country, and Mr Lovell is carrying a complete stock of tillage tools, implements, tractors and parts. He will also service machines at any time.

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In support of William Allen White’s “Committee To Defend America By Aiding the Allies,” petitions are being circulated locally under the direction of Miss Hannah Kellogg of Dodgingtown district. This organization believes that the time has come when the United States should throw its economic and moral weight on the side of the nations of western Europe, great and small, that are struggling in battle for a civilized way for life. America must spend every ounce of energy to keep the war away from the Western Hemisphere by preparing to defend herself and by aiding with our supplies and wealth the nations now fighting to stem the tide of aggression.

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Residents of Newtown will be pleased to know that, owing to the increased business at the Newtown Post Office, it will be advanced from third to second class on July 1. All employees of first and second class post offices come under classified service after a Civil Service examination. The first post office in Newtown was established under President John Adams on October 1, 1800, with Caleb Baldwin as postmaster. In 1816, his salary for the year was $35.16.

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Much interest has been aroused in the antiquated mail wagon which has been standing for some little time on the lawn in front of the Parker House. The wagon, now the property of Bill Gradowich, has been loaned for display. The wagon was originally the property of Frank H. Ruffles of Hawleyville, who bought it in 1912 from a concern in Indiana. Mr Ruffles used the wagon on the RFD route from the Hawleyville Post Office from that time until 1932. With the advent of the automobile, he retired it to winter service, when with its light body and high wheels, it proved ideal for snow. George Egan bought the wagon and traded it to Bill Gradowich for some pigs. Thus it has come to grace the lawn at the Parker House, reminding us of days when rural delivery was really “rural.”

 

July 2, 1915

The popularity of the High school with our citizens was again demonstrated, Friday evening, in the great audience which crowded the Town hall to the doors at the annual commencement exercises. More than 100 people, unable to obtain seats, occupied every available bit of standing room in the rear. The decorations of the hall were very neat and simple. In the rear of the hall was a wall of laurel on which was the class motto, “Ich Kann und ich Will.”

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Newtown and Bethel people have expressed general satisfaction over the announcement that Highway Commissioner Bennett is to build a part, at least, of the Bethel-Newtown road via Sugar street. It will be especially useful to people in the southern part of the town. In years to come, we shall hope to see the state road extended through Hattertown from the Dodgingtown corner, to Stepney, and north to Hawleyville by way of Twist Hill.

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Fire broke out in the Winters’ hotel property at Hawleyville, Wednesday evening, about 10 o’clock, laying in ashes the hotel property and the house occupied by Robert Russell, and the ice house adjoining the hotel. The hotel is a three-story building, owned by Samuel A. Blackman and was erected about 1887. The origin of the fire is a mystery. For a time it seemed as if the railroad station must go; as it was, one side is badly scorched. Mr Blackman places his loss at about $12,000.

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The members of the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Co. are planning to celebrate the Fourth of July on Monday, July 5, by giving a clam bake, at 1 o’clock pm, at the grounds of the Fire Company, to the members of the same, their families and invited friends. Among the attractions for the evening’s entertainment are a lawn party and dance, to which all are cordially welcome. Enjoy one of your pleasantest evenings with the firemen, who are noted for their popularity and hospitality.