* * *

Newtown Congregational Church members are divided over whether to paint or side their historic Main Street structure. Currently, the paint that was applied six years ago is peeling. The goal was to find a solution which would be the easiest to maintain over a long period of time. In either case, the problem of excess moisture inside the church would have to be corrected first.

* * *

Richard McGuire, of Forest Drive, Sandy Hook, a 10-year postal employee, has been named the postmaster of the Newtown Post Office, effective Saturday, July 6. He relishes the thought of being a postmaster and looks forward to meeting the job’s challenges.

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With the hanging of a memorial plaque, the non-fiction room in the children’s library at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library has officially become the Robert Raynolds Room. The library trustees voted in March 1983 to name the new children’s room after the late Robert Raynolds, a Newtown author and former president of the library board of trustees. Following Mr Raynolds’ death in 1965, a memorial fund was established in his name with funds earmarked for what was then a proposed children’s library.

 

July 10, 1959

In addition to being a well-known artist and a leader in his field and medium, Joseph Low of Eden Hill Road, Newtown, also is one of those increasingly rare people, a craftsman. Mr Low is now embarked upon a new venture that demands the very most of him, as an artist and as a printer. He is hard at work publishing his own book, a portfolio of prints based on ten proverbs.

* * *

The combined fire companies of Newtown are staging this week one of their most successful annual carnivals on the grounds in the rear of the Grand Union on Queen Street. Perfect weather the early part of the week brought thousands out to the many stands on the grounds and children nightly seemed to enjoy the attractions of the various rides.

* * *

Sudden Song

How good it is to be a limber reed,

Rooted, and wild in sweet responsive flash

To the divine blowing of our daily need —

Rooted in God and unafraid of brash

And blowing wondrous winds of sudden light

That burst like fire and music out of earth,

And sweep my spirit with new create delight.

Refreshing every moment with an holy birth!

O, thus to be a man of earth and God,

With root in Being, and being formed for song.

A singing reed upsprung from hallowed Sod —

This joy that God began, love does prolong!

Sweet glory is it, that a man so springs,

Upward grows in radiant light, and sings!

—Robert Raynolds, Newtown, Conn., June 28, 1959

Pfc Sidney C. Pitcher of Shady Rest, Sandy Hook, and Pfc Edward Hoffman of Illinois spent the Fourth of July weekend with Pvt Pitcher’s parents, Mr and Mrs Erwin S. Pitcher in Sandy Hook. On July 4, the two men took part in the flag raising ceremonies at the annual picnic of the Shady Rest Association.

July 6, 1934

A cement bridge has been built on the Hattertown-Huntingtown Road at French’s dam. It is 18 feet long and wide enough for two vehicles to cross at the same time.

* * *

Newtown Country Club: Everyone at the club on the Fourth appreciated the new coat of paint on the outside of the club house and the newly decorated club room inside, with the new light fixtures. As an adjunct to the newly graded parking space and first tee, brightly painted porch chairs first made their appearance on the Fourth.

* * *

James B. Nichols, veteran milk dealer of Mt Pleasant, who recently retired from the RFD route, after 30 years of service, was gored in the fleshy part of his left leg by a young bull, Monday afternoon. Dr E.L. Kingman was summoned and gave him attention. Later in the day he visited him again to insert a drain pipe in the veins and to administer the anti-tetanus toxin.

* * *

The antique auction held at Wilton Lackaye’s Auction Barn on Tuesday was well attended, both by local buyers and many from out of the State. May of the articles brought forth keen bidding and both Mr and Mrs Lackaye were well pleased with the result of the sale.

 

July 9, 1909

Those old enemies in the national game, Palestine and Dodgingtown, got together again on Monday morning in a ball game which was nip and tuck all the way, Palestine coming out one run ahead. Both teams had secured big league twirlers for the occasion and they put up a grand exhibition. Errors were frequent, but each dumb play was offset by a brilliant one.

* * *

Don’t fail to attend “The Wreck of Stebbins’ Pride,” a comedy in two acts followed by “The Man With the Hook,” a roaring vaudeville sketch, to be given by St Rose’s Dramatic club at the Town hall, Thursday night, July 15. Dancing will follow. Music by Gallagher’s orchestra.

* * *

Mrs Susan Hall’s residence had a narrow escape from burning, Monday. Fire was discovered on the roof by a boy passing. Brisk work saved the house, but not until a sizable hole had been burned in the roof.

* * *

James B. Nichols, who is harvesting the hay crop for C.F. Beardsley, cut the great piece of timothy on the hill below Mr Beardsley’s residence, Monday. Mr Nichols says it is the heaviest piece of grass he ever cut and will easily figure up three tons to the acre.