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With few questions, and by a unanimous 16-0 vote, the Legislative Council approved Wednesday $460,000 in funding for Phase II of Timothy B. Treadwell Memorial Park, Philo Curtis Road, Sandy Hook. The $460,000 special appropriation authorized by the council will be financed by a one-year serial note. The total half million project will be funded by a $250,000 National Park Service federal grant; a $125,000 state grant and $125,000 in Town of Newtown funds.

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Three years after it was first proposed, an ordinance regulating false burglar, holdup and fire alarms in Newtown was unanimously enacted by the Legislative Council Wednesday night following a public hearing in which some fire officials asserted the ordinance is not needed for fire alarms. The council hopes the ordinance will reduce the incidence of false alarms, freeing fire and police responders from going to unnecessary calls.

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An 11th hour decision by the Board of Selectmen will allow the Parks and Recreation Commission to dig a shallow well to fill the town pool at Dickinson Memorial Park. In the past, Parks and Rec has had trouble securing bids for the work because well drillers could not guarantee sufficient water pressure. Finally, the department decided to contract for a hydraulic shovel to dig the hole, with town personnel renting a pump to test for water.

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At the Lonetown Pony Club Horse Trials June 20, Mary Madden of Newtown rode her Appaloosa mare Ain’t Misbehavin’ to the overall championship in Junior Pre-training. The duo was eighth after dressage, third after a clean cross-country, and then moved into first with a clean stadium round.

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A family of four vacationing by automobile this summer should plan on spending approximately $150 per day for meals, lodging and driving costs, says AAA-Hartford. Triple-A’s suggested vacation budget, which is nine percent higher than a year ago, breaks down as follows: $68 for meals, not including tips and cocktails; $58 for lodging; and $24 for gas, oil, etc. for 300 miles of daily driving (eight cents per mile) with the car averaging 20 miles per gallon.

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Converted Barn on 10 rolling acres in one of Newtown’s lovely estate areas. Contemporary feeling from the 5500 sq ft of living area plus a 3000 sq ft loft or studio, 4 stall barn, pond abutting acres of horse trails… $295,000. Mini Farm Possibility Seven years old country barn styled Colonial. Huge fieldstone fpl. Extra large country kit 4 lg bedrooms. Privacy on over 5 acres suitable for use as a mini farm. Less than 1 mile from Exit 8 I-84…$125,000.

 

July 12, 1957

Attendance and attractions of the annual Newtown Combined Fire Companies’ carnival are far ahead of last year. The affair got off to a rousing start Monday evening and the crowds are coming back each night for more. The carnival is operated by and for the fire companies, with firemen manning the booths and selling the tickets.

The annual nationwide Civil Defense test, called “Operation Alert,” will be held beginning sometime Friday, July 12. It will end Sunday, July 14. The public participation phase will be held at an undisclosed time on Friday, July 12. This year two public warning signals will be sounded on air raid alerting systems.

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Sandy Hook Postmaster Arthur Carmody has announced that a second rural delivery route is being established for Sandy Hook effective this Saturday, July 13. In addition to Rural Route No. 1 the new route will be Rural Route No. 2 and Charles Tilson has been appointed temporary carrier for the new route. Mr Carmody said the influx of many new families has made the change necessary.

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A pilot production for a new TV series was filmed in Newtown recently. The proposed series, “The Enric Madriguera Show from La Ronda” was filmed in 35 millimeter at the Newtown restaurant and features Mr Madriguera’s 24-piece band and music of a continental flavor, with Latin American, French and Italian tunes featured.

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Congregational Church Notes: It has been suggested that the men of the church feel free to attend the summer services in the church, when the weather is extremely warm, without their jackets, and the ministers follow the custom of so many Congregational Churches in this area and wear a light jacket instead of the usual gown.

Samuel L. Bickford and Philip A. Coons of Newtown have purchased Osborndale Sir Leda Fobes Jim 1293969, a registered Holstein bull rated as a Preferred Pedigree Sire by the Holstein-Friesian Association of America. The transaction was a part of the recent dispersal of the world-famous Osborndale herd. The coveted Preferred Pedigree rating is a part of the association’s selective registration program.

 

July 8, 1932

Through the courtesy of Irving M. Washburn, who is in charge of the electrical installation work of Silverstone-Erwine, Inc, at the State hospital, the writer was recently given a tour of inspection of the hospital buildings. Not only was the work of installing the electrical equipment in the buildings of great interest, but also the entire project and the amount of progress that has so far been made. The tunnels connecting the buildings, the large dining halls, kitchens, the dormitories, the staff quarters, the power plant, the sewerage disposal system all are immensely interesting to anyone who appreciates construction work.

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The Connecticut State Board of Fisheries and Game today inaugurated a State-wide campaign to rid State waters of vicious snapping turtles and water snakes which now exist in such large numbers in some localities as to constitute a serious menace to fish and waterfowl. Sportsmen are asked to cooperate in the campaign.

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NEWTOWN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: It is foolish, it is wrong to allow our churches to become empty during the summer season. When the days are the best, when the country is at its loveliest We allow our churches to practically suspend activities. It is senseless. Would any business man tolerate such an idiotic procedure? The Church people weekly allow the churches and church schools to go to smash in the summer. Is the summer a time to forget God? Think about it.

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The Washington Bicentennial celebration had a fitting close Friday evening in the Colonial ball, held in the Gymnasium in the Edmond Town hall. The ball was a success beyond expectations, the gymnasium being filled to capacity. The walls of the gymnasium had been decorated with flags and the place presented a beautiful appearance. Splendid music was furnished by the Charles Coles Orchestra of six pieces from Bridgeport.

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Great credit is due to Mrs R.N. Camp and her associated committee of ladies, who served the luncheon to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Ex-service men in the basement of Trinity church on Friday following the Bicentennial parade. Over 140 men were furnished a tempting lunch of sandwiches, cake and coffee. The men declared that in several places where they paraded they were not given any lunch at all.

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The Newtown Bicentennial celebration on Friday was favored with ideal weather. At the time of the parade the Sandy Hook State road and Newtown Street were lined with autos from Lovell’s Garage through to the point where the parade turned to pass through the private grounds of Hon W.T. Cole. The exact number of visitors in town can hardly be estimated, but it was not far from 8,000 to 9,000.

July 12, 1907

It will be good news to Newtown people that W.T. Cole, the popular general manager of the Fabric Fire Hose Co, has decided to build his residence on the hill west of Newtown street at once. The contract has been let to Taylor & Buckingham of New Milford and calls for a house 67½ x 48 feet. The first story will be of stone. The roof will be constructed of tiling, a novelty hereabouts.

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As one takes a ride from the Sandy Hook Depot road on to Walnut Tree Hill, they cannot help but see the fine crops T.J. Cavanaugh is raising on his farm this year. Mr Cavanaugh seems to have the knack of making things grow in spite of the backward season and his field of corn and potatoes would be hard to beat.

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E.A. Scoville is out with a fine new “Stanley” touring car which is a model of comfort, speed and noiseless running. Mr Scoville is an enthusiastic admirer of his new eliminator of distances and an accomplished driver.

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At a meeting of the Newtown Borough, Saturday evening, Warden Charles H. Northrop presiding, it was voted to accept the report of the committee on a contract between the Borough and the Newtown Water Co for the uses of the fire hydrants for a term of five years at the rate of $30 per hydrant, the Water Co to keep the hydrants in serviceable condition.

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John H. Frank has purchased a power plane of the Nettleton estate and will place it in his mill at Huntingtown, where he will be ready to plane all kinds of lumber for all who wish. Henry Morgan of Hattertown has a steam sawmill at work near his home.