July 30, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Ginger Humeston.

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In its proposal for the redevelopment of the Fairfield Hills core campus known as “Legacy at Newtown,” SBC Associates, LLC, of Greenwich presents a mixed-use project largely of age-restricted homes, including senior and independent residences, live/work spaces, neighborhood retail, professional offices, a country inn, recreational and open spaces, plus public uses. The firm proposes a children’s museum and a library, plus three sites where the town could construct facilities such as schools, town offices, or buildings for cultural uses.

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Hunger affects more than 300,000 Connecticut residents daily, including as many as 114,000 children. To help in the fight against hunger, the Connecticut Food Bank was founded in 1982. It is a private, nonprofit organization that serves emergency feeding agencies in six of Connecticut’s counties, including soup kitchens, food pantries such as Newtown’s FAITH Food Pantry and the Salvation Army food pantry, and adult and children’s day care centers. In 1998 it distributed over 6.5 million pounds of food; since 1982, it has distributed over 58 million pounds of food.

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A chain-reaction accident involving two trucks and an auto on Interstate 84 west of Exit 10 injured four people and backed up traffic to Southbury for several hours Tuesday afternoon. Westbound motorists trying to avoid the backups exited westbound I-84 onto local roads causing extended traffic tie-ups there. On eastbound I-84, another traffic jam formed when motorists slowed down to look at the accident in the westbound lanes.

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The newest clergyman living in town may still be living out of boxes and his office in the rectory may not be as organized as he wants it, but he is already initiating changes and will be developing, with lay leadership and staff, a mission statement to address current and long-range parish duties. The Rev Robert E. Weiss began his duties at St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown on July 1. He will be officially installed as pastor by the Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, on Saturday, during the 5:30 pm Mass.

July 26, 1974

Newtown has a new landmark; one every bit as distinctive as the flagpole in the center of Main Street and the rooster on the Newtown Congregational Church spire. It sits on magnificent antique directionals housed in a cupola atop the offices of the Bee Publishing Company. Fittingly, it is a weathervane in the image of a bee, probably the only one of its kind anywhere. The idea for its creation came from The Bee’s editor, Scudder Smith, and the genius who built it was John Hallock of Bethlehem. Building and erecting the cupola was Harry Rishor of Newtown assisted by Ray Goldberg and Steve Fesh. … The weathervane rested in the offices of The Bee until the cupola was built, and finally, on Wednesday of this week, up everything went to the roof.

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Friends of Kenneth Shaw of Sunnyview Terrace, Sandy Hook, will be happy to learn he is home and recuperating nicely after spending some time in Danbury Hospital as a surgical patient.

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The British farce, “See How They Run” by Philip King, is enjoying a smashing revival at Newtown’s Little Theatre on Orchard Hill Road. And to judge from audience reaction last weekend, it promises to be a sellout at each of the remaining performances. Set in a small English village during World War II, the play concerns an escaped Russian spy and a number of mistaken identities. This frothy concoction fairly sizzles through three rib-splitting acts. Director Gail Paynter keeps the tangled skein of merriment unwinding at a breakneck pace. Marge Rogers is the producer.

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On Tuesday evening, July 23, Frederic A. Wheeler, chairman of the Zoar-Berkshire site committee, submitted a report and recommendation of his committee that the Board consider the purchase of a 30-acre parcel of the Italian Community Center property on Route 34 as a site for an elementary school in that section of town. The site committee, members of which, besides Mr Wheeler, are Edward Schwerdtle and James Osborne, has been searching over three years for a site for a school which could be located in what is termed the “Zoar-Berkshire” area.

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Mrs Sarah Frances Curtis, Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook, was nominated Tuesday night by Newtown and Redding Republican delegates to seek a tenth term as 106th state general assembly district representative, and asked for the help of everyone in this difficult campaign year of 1974. The mini-convention of nine Newtown and two Redding delegates unanimously endorsed Mrs Curtis for another term. The convention took place at Edmond Town Hall, with Edward Sullivan presiding as permanent chairman.

July 22, 1949

In line with the motion passed at the special town meeting on June 24th, instructing the Board of Selectmen to take action to prevent the Board of Regional School District No. 3 from signing a contract or making other financial commitments for the construction of the regional high school after June 30, a summons was served on William K. Daniels, chairman of the Regional Board, last Friday afternoon. … The summons would have the members of the Regional Board appear before the Superior Court in Bridgeport on Tuesday, September 6, in a civil action brought by the town of Newtown against the Board of Regional School District No. 3, in which an injunction will be sought, claiming $10,000 damages and enjoining the Regional Board from signing any contract or contracts, issuing bonds, or committing the district to any capital expenditure.

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Mr and Mrs John Janocsko of South Main street, Newtown, announce the engagement of their daughter, Doris Helen, to James DeVito, son of Michael DeVito of New Rochelle, N.Y. After attending Hawley School, Miss Janocsko went to work for the Southern New England Telephone Company in Newtown, where she is still employed. Mr DeVito is a graduate of Isaac E. Young School in New Rochelle and is owner of the Harmony Cleaners, Inc, in Bridgeport. No date has been set for the wedding.

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On Saturday afternoon, July 16, at 2 o’clock, in the Newtown Congregational church, the marriage of Miss Henrietta Eleanor Turnbull, daughter of Mr and Mrs Andrew Turnbull of Sandy Hook, to Lawrence Edward McFee, son of Mr and Mrs Joseph McFee of Sharon Springs, N.Y., was solemnized against a background of hydrangeas, myrtle and white gladioli and myrtle entwined candelabra. The Rev Walter Pickering officiated. The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, wore a white satin gown embroidered with seed pearls. It had a sweetheart neckline, fitted bodice, long pointed sleeves, and full skirt with flowing train. Her Chantilly lace cap of illusion veiling was a family heirloom.

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On Saturday morning, July 16, tennis enthusiasts, including players and friends of Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Honegger, gathered at their tennis court on Walnut Tree Hill for the 13th annual Honegger Invitation Men’s Doubles Tennis Tournament. Among those present were some who had participated, either as spectators or players, in all twelve previous events for the coveted Honegger Cup. Loyal followers from far and near make this tournament the occasion for an annual pilgrimage to the picturesque Honegger court, where the game is played hard and fast with no quarter asked, expected or given, yet where sportsmanship is at its highest level.

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The Sandy Hook Fife and Drum Corps, with the Sandy Hook fire truck and firemen from the volunteer companies of Hawleyville, Newtown and Sandy Hook, took part in the firemen’s carnival parade at Harrison, N.Y., Wednesday evening. With 14 companies and many musical units present, the local boys brought back the trophy for arriving from the longest distance.

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A card reached The Bee office this Thursday morning from George Writer, who, with Mrs Writer, is spending a week’s vacation from his duties on The Bee staff at Falmouth Heights on Cape Cod. Also enjoying a vacation this week is Raymond Jandreau whose plans include a quiet rest at home and a few short motor trips with his family.

July 18, 1924

The poultry men of Fairfield County who held their annual field day at Homestead Farm, Newtown, Thursday, showed their interest in the co-operative egg marketing organization by pledging 12,000 birds. The printed contracts drawn up by the local poultrymen in this and neighborhood counties were distributed for signatures.

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During the thunder shower, last Thursday afternoon, lightning entered the home of Mr and Mrs Eugene Peck of Gray’s Plain, Newtown, and took the sole from the shoe of their little daughter, Eleanor, two years old, and slightly burned the bottom of her foot and broke the stove, without doing any further damage. The child suffered no ill effects from it. Mrs Peck is the daughter of Mr and Mrs William S. Clark of East Village.

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The entertainment committee of the Sandy Hook Library wishes to thank all who contributed toward the success of the whist party, held at St John’s Rectory, last Wednesday evening. The proceeds amounted to $27.

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Pillsbury, Gold Medal and Hecker’s flour, extra fancy tub butter, fancy print butter, 1775 blend of coffee, smoked shoulders, bacon.—[H.G. Warner & Co. Adv.

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Mrs French and son, Earle French, and Mrs Lincoln of Bridgeport are in town for their annual summer sojourn, having rooms at C.F. Beardsley’s and taking their meals at the Parker House.

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Miss Helen Mead, a nurse in the Lenox Hill hospital in New York City, is passing her vacation at the Mead homestead in South Center.

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Mrs Seaman Mead, who recently underwent an operation at the Lenox Hill hospital in New York, returned on Sunday to her home in South Center, and is convalescing rapidly.

July 28, 1899

James Carey left the employ of the Rubber company on July 11, and has taken a position with Henry Curtis in Berkshire. The men he was associated with at the factory remembered him with the following testimonial: We, the undersigned employees of the New York Belting and Packing Co.’s Mill, take this method of expressing our sorrow and regret at the loss of our friend and fellow workman, James Carey, and also take great pleasure in presenting to him the accompanying gift as a slight token of the esteem in which he is held by his associates of the past nine years, knowing that the spirit which prompts this presentation will be recognized and appreciated far in excess of the value of the gift itself. We also desire to wish him a full measure of success in the future with happiness and health, begging the return to be allowed a place in the memory of our friend, Carey, as friends and well wishes. Respectfully: Martin Keane, Thomas McGuire, Lawrence Lillis, John Hedderman, Patrick Lynch, John Lynch, Michael Thurner, Edwin S. Hook, John J. Keating, Peter Cogan, Patrick Curtin, Bernard J. Keating, John Foran and James Fox.

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The Fresh Air Fund, which has for its object the bringing of a party of children to Newtown, in early August, in connection with the work of the New York Tribune, received a grand impetus last Saturday evening, July 22nd, in the entertainment given at the Newtown Inn. The fund was swelled by the collection there taken beyond any anticipation of those who are promoting the plan, and as a consequence the party of children who invade these quiet precincts in a few weeks with the noise and coltish spirits let loose, will be much larger than was hoped for. It now looks as if 25 children would come.

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The ladies of the Street and vicinity have organized a morning whist club. They met, last week Thursday, for the first time with Mrs W.F. Hayes and this week with Mrs W.J. Beecher.

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Mr and Mrs Allen of New Jersey are guests of Mrs David Northrop.

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Mrs R.T. Russell of Southbury is a guest of her daughter, Mrs Theron E. Platt.

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.