July 23, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Don Butler.

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Police charged two Sandy Hook youths Wednesday each with two counts of third-degree arson in connection with fires that were set in May off Jo-Mar Drive in Sandy Hook and at a sand and gravel mine in Botsford. One of the two youths had been charged in May with bomb manufacturing and possession of explosives in connection with the case. Detective Sergeant Henry Stormer said police served arrest warrants Wednesday morning against an 18-year-old Washington Avenue male and a 16-year-old Waterview Drive resident. The two youths surrendered to police at the police station. They were each placed under $100,000 bond and arraigned that morning on the charges in Danbury Superior Court.

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The family and friends of the late Jason Gowdy, 15, gathered Thursday, July 15, at St Rose Cemetery, not far from Jason’s home, for graveside ceremonies for the slain youth. Police have charged two men in the shooting death of Jason, who was accosted and robbed while walking along Riverside Road near Cherry Street on the night of Saturday, July 10.

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As the crowd streamed out of The Little Theatre following The Town Players rendition of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Or What You Will one night last weekend, a child of about nine kept plucking at her mother’s arm, demanding in an insistent tone, “I want to see it again!” … Director Ruth Anne Baumgartner is demonstrating once again, as she did in previous seasons with As You Like It and Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Players, that classical Shakespeare works just fine, so long as the person in charge keeps it funny. And without a doubt, whether you’re nine or 90, this production at The Little Theatre in Newtown, complete with color-rich period costumes, authentic Elizabethan music and graceful minimalist sets, is a hoot!

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A three-day regional conference for youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints included service at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. “We had 40 youth and adult leaders from our Newtown ward participate on July 1 in improving trails, mulching the picnic area, and cleaning the length of the Pequonnock River that runs through the zoo,” said Ashley Welch, 14. … Zoo Director Gregg Danko praised the teens. “They’re happy, they’re working hard,” he said. “People come from all over to this zoo. Today they’ll be able to see how the community can support us in significant ways.”

July 19, 1974

About 60 people turned out to discuss the proposals of the Charter Revision Commission Wednesday, July 17, and were rewarded by a display of partisan fireworks, trenchant opinion and a look at a divided Commission. Democratic Town Committee chairman Jack Rosenthal became aggressively specific in his defense of the concept of a board of ethics. He questioned the propriety of the First Selectman awarding a $3,000 contract to the Republican chairman of the Public Building Committee, who is also a member of the Republican Town Committee, without either discussing the matter with other Selectmen, putting the job out for bids, or asking for an appropriation to cover the work.

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Tax Collector Betty Smith wishes to remind taxpayers that the Tax Collector’s office will be open the next two Saturday mornings, July 20 and 27, from 9 am-noon, to receive payment of taxes. The last day to pay the current tax bills without interest will be Thursday, August 1.

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“Judge Devlin’s long-awaited decision,” as Town Counsel Robert Hall termed it, in the settling of the price Newtown will have to pay for its 37.5 acre landfill site was released this week by the Board of Selectmen. The present landfill was condemned by the Town of Newtown on June 8, 1970. The former owners, Hain Brothers of Norwalk, had operated a sand and gravel business on the site prior to the adoption of zoning regulations. The Hains, as plaintiffs, brought the price settlement to court. Judge Raymond J. Devlin, state referee, informed Town Counsel Robert Hall last week by letter that “there is a sufficient basis for a valuation finding of $187,500,” which comes out to $5,000 per acre. The valuation is based on land prices of the date of condemnation, not 1974 figures.

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The annual summer outing of the Newtown Horticulture Club took place Saturday afternoon at the home of Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith on Currituck Road. Following swimming and games, a cookout supper was enjoyed with Hastings S. Morse and James Brunot presiding in professional fashion at the grills, ably assisted by Tom McClintock. The two chefs were appropriately garbed in well-decorated aprons. In the evening Mrs Robert Kalbaugh acted as auctioneer, using both humor and salesmanship to entice bids on an entertaining variety of items supplied by the members. Saturday’s ideal weather contributed to the enjoyment of this annual fun event for the club.

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Cable television service is being planned for Newtown. By the middle of 1976, if all goes as Paul Hancock of Housatonic Cablevision hopes, cables could run past 50 percent of the homes in Newtown. What this means is that in about two years, many Newtowners will have the option of getting 27 television channels perfectly, besides 28 FM radio stations. Of these 27, at least three will be non-commercial public access channels, one for the schools, one for the municipal government, and one for general expression.

July 15, 1949

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — SPEEDING IS NOT FOR COUNTRY ROADS: It recently came to our attention that the residents on some roads in the rural districts of Newtown are bothered and considerably concerned over the speed at which automobiles are driven past their homes. One such stretch of road exists in Taunton district and the people who live along that road, we have learned, have just cause for complaint. There is a constant campaign, by police, in the press, and by other means, to discourage excessive speeds on our state highways. If the number of accidents and deaths over Fourth of July weekend is any indication, the campaign is not entirely successful. We are at a loss to know just what tactics can be taken to prevent dangerously fast traffic in front of country homes. … There is no excuse for the dangerous habit of speedy locomotion which seems to have spread from main highways to make particular victims of the good people in Taunton who like their peace and quiet and should be allowed to enjoy them in safety.

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A volunteer fire company for Botsford is in the process of formation and all residents of Botsford, Huntington and Hattertown have been invited to attend its next meeting. The meeting will be held at The Pines Inn on Route 25 through the courtesy of John Hansen, who has provided a room for past meetings and for those to be held in the future. The new company, it is stated, is to be known as the Independent Hose Company of Botsford. Two meetings have previously been held at The Pines, with a large attendance showing enthusiastic interest in the project. They express the conviction that fire protection is much needed in the Botsford-Hattertown-Huntingtown section of the town. Serving for the present as officers are Alvin B. Coger as chairman and F. Robert Mount, secretary. Carroll R. Eaton and Douglas Eaton have been appointed to a committee on organization according to the National Fire Protection Code and the National Fire Underwriters requirements.

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All of the past week, Mr and Mrs Richard J. Stanton of South Main street have been receiving congratulations from relatives, friends and neighbors on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary, which occurred last Friday. “We’ve always pulled together,” was Mrs Stanton’s cheery and confident explanation of their happy arrival at this 60th milepost. “That’s the only way we could have done what we have.” To which Mr Stanton added, with a philosophic smile, “We have our arguments. Everyone has arguments; but it takes two to keep them a’going.” And then with a twinkle and a nod toward Mrs Stanton, “When she gets ‘bossy,’ well we just meet that situation fifty-fifty.” It was July 8, 1889, that “Pop” Stanton took Lillian A. Kelley of Madison avenue, Bridgeport, daughter of Jerema and Alice Turney Kelley, as his bride. … The framed marriage certificate, prepared on that occasion, adorns the wall of the Stanton home.

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In a selected six-hole tournament played off recently by members of the Woman’s Golf Association of the Newtown Country Club, Mrs. Nelson Curtis took first place. Four players tied for special prize for the best score on the eighth hole, resulting in a play-off to be held next week. On July 21st the women of the Highland Golf Club of Shelton will be the guests of the local club.

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Rt. Rev Msgr. William J. Collins, formerly pastor of St. Rose church, has been a visitor in Newtown for several days this week. His pastorate extended over 17 years, during which he endeared himself to residents of the town by his constructive influence in many civic undertakings. He is now rector of St. Joseph’s cathedral, Hartford. His Newtown friends wish they might see him more often.

July 11, 1924

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: The sympathy of the people of all parties is with President Coolidge and wife as they go to lay away in the soil of Vermont, the beloved body of their youngest son, Calvin, Jr. Funeral services were held at the White House in Washington, D.C, and the Edwards Congregational church at Northampton, where the President’s family formerly attended. Dr Irvine, headmaster of the Boys’ preparatory school at the Mercersburg Academy, where the President’s son attended for three years, in speaking of him said that the boy showed an exceptionally fine sense of balance, was on the honor roll for the entire three years in school, and was sure to have made his mark in the world had he lived.

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Mrs Tracy Peck and Mrs John L. Gilbert entertained at Sophie’s Tea Room, last Saturday afternoon, at a tea in honor of Miss Blanche Gilbert. A preserve shower was a feature of the afternoon entertainment and Miss Gilbert was the recipient of many jars of delicious preserves. … Mrs John L. Gilbert presided at one table and Mrs Tracey Peck at the other, and tea was served as only Sophie serves it.

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Miss Margaret O’Keefe of Jersey City, N.J., is passing a week at the Maguire homestead on Walnut Tree Hill.

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The funeral of Jerry Keane was very largely attended on Tuesday morning from St Peter’s church, Danbury. Those who attended from Newtown were: Mrs M.F. Carmody, Richard Carmody, Michael J. Keating, P.F. Keating, Michael Keating of Hungtington, James E. Corbett, Mr and Mrs Thomas Maguire.

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Barbed wire, poultry wire, bush scythes, rifles, grindstones, rope, John W. Masury’s painting, Nomar stains, varnish, window glass, etc.—[H.G. Warner & Co. Adv.

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Dea and Mrs Willis Olmstead and Miss Helen Olmstead of Bridgeport were guests, Sunday, of Mr and Mrs Edward Olmstead of Taunton.

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Mr and Mrs Arthur Moore and children of Bridgeport, called on friends in Taunton on Sunday.

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