July 24, 1987

State police divers have been exploring the bottom of Lake Lillinonah beneath the Shepaug Dam this week mainly to certify divers and equipment but possibly to find a freezer that might contain the torso of Helle Crafts. Sgt Daniel Lewis, spokesman for the state police and a diver, said the search for the freezer is “purely speculative.” Sgt Lewis said the police have no evidence to suggest that Richard Crafts, who was arrested for the murder of his wife Helle in January, brought the freezer, which is missing from the Crafts’ home, to the dam. He also said that the torso has never been found and police speculate it might be located in the missing freezer.

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Newtown Police Chief Louis Marchese told The Bee this week that he plans to retire before November. Chief Marchese took over his present post on August 17, 1971. Today the department, numbering 28 officers, is running efficiently and with no big problems, according to the chief. Lou Marchese has been in police work for 45 years and was captain of the Western Division of the Connecticut State Police prior to coming to Newtown.

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Danbury Hospital is suing the Town of Newtown because it did not pay the hospital $17,065 worth of bills belonging to a pauper in town who had died. The suit claims the town is liable for the bills because of a state law which requires towns to pay hospital bills for its indigent.

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Newtown’s Jim Fraser breezed home the winner at the America’s Cup Veteran’s Championship two weeks ago, in Quebec. Jim Fraser left Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, for a new life in Connecticut 20 years ago, but the accent remains fully intact. So has his love for bicycle riding. Fraser reached his peak in 1974 when he won the Scottish National title and trained with the US National Team. Today he is one of the top competitors in the Northeast in the Veterans’ Division (35-44 years old).

July 27, 1962

It may not have been a Barnum and Bailey circus or a Hunt Brothers performance, but the one-ring circus given Sunday afternoon by a group of neighborhood children, made up in enthusiasm and energy what it lacked in size. The performers, ranging in ages from three to about 12, put on a variety of acts in a tent erected on the property of Mr and Mrs James Carmichael, South Main Street. Between the acts, the young hawkers sold popcorn, cold drinks and candy so the full “flavor” of the real circus was there. A real live bullfrog, who refused to cooperate and insisted on jumping away, almost stole the show.

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A nine-member board to act as the Newtown Charter Revision Commission, consisting of four Democrats and five Republicans, was appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The commission has been established, according to the selectman, for the purpose of studying the charter and to recommend provisions for the town to change over to a uniform fiscal year.

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Sheep farms in The Bee’s territories did well at the 20th annual show and sale of the New England Sheep and Wool Grower’s Association held last Friday and Saturday at West Springfield. Taunton Hill Farm, which is owned and operated by Mr and Mrs James Brunot in Taunton District, won a blue ribbon in the Dorset ewe lamb class. The lamb was fitted by Dayle Hamilton, Jr and shown by Don Grant.

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Wednesday morning, August 1, at 11:30 o’clock, is the time set by Mr and Mrs Joseph T. Chase for ribbon-cutting ceremonies at 33 Main Street — the former Atchison Block on Main Street that the Chases purchased and have been in the process of renovating for several months. The renovation project has been a large one. The building as it now stands adds greatly in the appearance of Newtown’s Main Street — an improvement which meets with hearty approval among townspeople.

 

July 23, 1937

Gordon Nichols, who was cut by a scythe while assisting in the harvesting of oats in Taunton District last week, is now resting comfortably. It took 32 stitches to close the wound in his left leg and he will be confined to his home the greater part of the summer. Because of his Scout training, the young man was able to aid himself until the arrival of a doctor.

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Miss Anna Haitko of Hattertown district was a recent visitor at the Westchester airport at Armonk, N.Y. While there she enjoyed a 35-mile ride in an airplane. Miss Haitko is a student at the Hawley high school.

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Since revival of the Newtown Forestry Association at the meeting held on July 6, there have been a number or townspeople who have requested to be included in the membership. The dues are one dollar a year and everyone in town is more than welcome to join. An added interest in revival of the association, after ten years of inactivity, is the generous vote on the part of the association, extending use of its six acres of woodland in Taunton district to the Boy and Girl Scouts of Newtown.

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Edward S. Pitzschler has purchased the Sandy Hook Barber Shop on Main street, Sandy Hook, from the Estate of John O. Pitzschler, and will operate the shop in connection with the Newtown Barber Shop on Main street, Newtown.

 

July 26, 1912

The annual Guild sale, under the auspices of Trinity Guild, which took the form of a country fair, was a splendid success. The weather was ideal, the attendance large, and the patronage generous. The booths were pretty in the extreme, white and green crepe paper being used. The attendants and waitresses wore paper caps of white and green. The ice cream parlor was screened off with spruce trees. Altogether is was a most successful sale and the ladies are to be congratulated on the result.

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The Grand Central, Newtown, Connecticut. This well-known hotel has been thoroughly renovated and opened as a First Class Summer Boarding House. Its high elevation, healthful climate, situated as it is, in one of the most beautiful villages of New England, where all conveniences are at hand, make it an ideal spot to spend one’s summer vacation. The service and accommodations are all that could be desired. The rates moderate. Auto parties invited. C.E. Pomeroy, Proprietor, NEWTOWN, CONN.

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Steve Gerag’s house on the Southville road, about a mile north of Mulligan’s crossing in Hanover was recently burned to the ground with all its contents. Mr and Mrs Gerag were awakened in the night by the crying of their children and hastened to their room to find it full of smoke. The fire had gained such headway that nothing could be done to save the house or anything out of it and they were obliged to hasten out for the house in their night clothes. They just got out before the inside of the house broke into a mass of flames and in a very short time the house was burned to the ground. Mr Gerag and his family are living temporarily in a part of his barn but expects in the fall to build a house on the hill near his large barn if he does not sell the farm.

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The committee of the Middle district have looked over the North Middle school building and find that $200 will be necessary to cover the repairs. Only $55 has been subscribed and the citizens must come forward liberally with subscriptions, or else face the necessity of having a tax laid. Any amounts may be left with the treasurer, A.B. Blackman.