August 9, 1996

The lives of Joan and Jim Crick are inextricably woven into the fabric of Newtown. “We belong here, in Newtown, in the Borough. Our roots are here,” Joan told The Newtown Bee. For their many contributions to the community, the couple has been tapped by the Newtown Summer Festival Committee to serve as parade marshals for the Labor Day Parade.

***

About 125 Garner Correctional Institution correction officers and their supporters took their concerns to the streets Tuesday, marching near Garner in an informational picket line and saying they want recent correction officer staffing cuts at the high-security prison restored. The staffing cuts represent decreased overtime for the correction officers. Correction officers say the cutbacks endanger their safety. They point to a July 29 incident in which Donald Fields, an inmate kitchen worker, assaulted a food service supervisor. Ronnie B. Moss, 37, required emergency eye surgery after the assault and is reportedly in danger of losing his eye.

***

In light of continuing residential growth, the selectmen are asking Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members to consider creating tighter land use regulations to control growth more strictly. Following lengthy discussion August 5, the selectmen unanimously approved a motion stating they are deeply concerned about the local impact of residential growth, requesting P&Z members consider what level of growth is sustainable and practical from a financial and public safety standpoint, and to review town land use regulations to determine whether the development rules should be tightened to better control residential growth.

***

Volunteers are needed 10 am to 12:30 pm on Sunday, August 11, to assist the Cyrenius Booth Library staff in placing plastic sheets over all equipment, books, and furniture to protect them while construction crews break through the back wall of the building. The library will be closed August 12 to September 9 for renovation work.

***

NOW PLAYING by Alexander Paul III: Twister, the first box office smash of this summer, will be blowing into Newtown this week. Twister has it all — thrills, chills, crowd-pleasing effects, affable actors, a booming soundtrack… everything but one little four letter word: P-L-O-T! Don’t get me wrong, I am not giving the movie a thumbs-down. I quite enjoyed Twister, actually. But to be enjoyed, it requires that the audience shut down a fair percentage of their mental faculties and just soak in the film’s flood of awe-inspiring special effects.

August 13, 1971

Newtown’s first Chief of Police is Captain Louis D. Marchese, a career officer in the Connecticut State Police. He takes over his new duties on Monday, August 16. The Board of Police Commissioners interviewed 12 applicants for the position and found all to be eminently qualified. Marchese was the original and unanimous choice for the position, according to a statement from the board. His appointment will be for a period of one year, and his salary will be $13,577.72.

***

Volunteers from the United Fire Company of Botsford and Newtown Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 fought a stubborn fire in a roof portion of the Batchelder Company on Wednesday afternoon. Heat was one of the factors which made fighting the fire so difficult, since the fire was directly over a vat of molten aluminum. The major part of the blaze was fought with dry powder. Firemen were on the scene for over an hour.

***

With approval by a town meeting of funds for a full-time recreation director, a considerable portion of Tuesday evening’s Park and Recreation Commission dealt with finding the best-qualified person to fill this new position. Chairman William Honan appointed a committee of three Commission members, David Larson, chairman, Fritz Freeman and Sutherland Denlinger, to take on a search for candidates, interviews and screening to select the top three or four, who will then be considered by the Commission for recommendations and appointment.

***

At 8 pm on Sunday, August 8, Miss Elaine R. Seligman, of Clifton, N.J., became the bride of Peter J. Shaw, of Newtown, in a ceremony at Richfield Regency, N.J., officiated by Rabbi Leon Katz. The bride is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Edward Seligman of Clifton. The bridegroom is the son of Mr and Mrs Herbert Shaw of New York, N.Y. After their wedding trip, the couple will live in Newtown.

***

Approximately 40 high school band members have concluded six weeks of music instruction this summer. Band members who expressed a desire to continue instructions during the summer were put into groups at the conclusion of school in June. Each group met for one hour per week. Instructions were at the high school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 am-noon and there was no charge for the lessons. The classes were directed toward the strengthening of the individual through sight reading, rhythmic dictation, and ensemble playing. Problems of playing the instrument and solutions were also discussed.

August 9, 1946

The pleasure of hearing a symphony orchestra play a program of lighter and more familiar music, together with the interest in Miss Carmen Torres, guest artist, appealed to the music lovers of Newtown and vicinity to such an extent that the theater of the Edmond Town Hall was practically filled for last Thursday evening’s concert by the Newtown Orchestral Society. Nor was the audience disappointed in the performance of either the coloratura soprano or the orchestra under the capable direction of Mario DiCecco.

***

Mrs Ann Hobbs, Newtown’s Visiting Nurse during the past eight months, left on August 1st to make her home in the West. It was with regret that the Visiting Nurse Association accepted her resignation, for she has done a fine and conscientious job. The Association feels fortunate, however, in being able to obtain the services of Mrs Edith Cher of Bethel. Mrs Cher will assume the duties of Visiting Nurse for Newtown as of August 19th. She is a graduate of the Danbury hospital and has served as a cadet Nurse during the way.

***

Plans for the Communion breakfast for the men of St Rose parish to be held under the sponsorship of Virgilius Council, Knights of Columbus in observance of the Council’s 50th anniversary, were completed at a meeting of the Council held in the K of C rooms on Riverside road Tuesday night. Deputy Knight J. William Hates presided. The breakfast, which men of the parish are invited to attend, will take place in St. Rose hall Sunday morning, August 25, following the 7:30 o’clock Mass.

***

The Woman’s Auxiliary of the Charles Howard Peck, Sr. and Jr. Post, V.F.W., is sponsoring a square round dance at St Rose Casino this Friday evening from 8:30 until 12 o’clock. Admission will be fifty cents, including tax, and the public is cordially invited.

***

Cpl. Clifford Johnson, son of Mr and Mrs Fred Johnson, and Cpl. Harold C. Lehman of Pine Grove, Penna., spent last weekend at the Johnson home. Both boys recently returned home from overseas service, having been attached to the 508th Parachute Division at Frankfort, Germany, for the past year. “Clif”, who has seven jumps to his credit, is now a patient at the hospital at Fort Dix, N.J., where he is recovering from an attach of pneumonia. He expects to receive his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army as soon as he has recovered.

***

Pvt. Raymond Person of the U.S. Army, son of Mr and Mrs Oscar Person of Currituck, is now stationed at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington.

August 12, 1921

STATE BANK EXAMINERS FIND NEWTOWN SAVINGS BANK IN FINE CONDITION: J.B. Byrne, chief examiner, and J.K. Bissland, deputy commissioner for Bank Commissioner E.J. Sturges, of the State Savings Bank department, paid an official visit to the Newtown Savings bank last week. The bank was found to be in fine condition, with an increase in deposits, despite the quietness of the times. The Newtown Savings bank has a fine name, both at home and abroad.

***

The work on the new Hawley school, under construction by the Dewitt Construction Co., is going forward in a commendable manner. The editor dropped in on Superintendent Hunt Wednesday afternoon, who has the work in charge. The septic tank is completed and the filter beds are pretty well along. The steel girders, weighing about three tons each, are in position over the gymnasium and the steel lumber is in position over the gymnasium. The coin corners are set up to the water table. The brick walls are all laid up to the water table. The floors are ready for the pouring of the concrete, which is to begin on Thursday. The masons are now laying the jack arches. The Danbury Plumbing Company are putting in the inserts and hangers for the steam pipes and plumbing. Mortimer S. Scofield of the Danbury Plumbing Co. is superintending this work. William T. Rock of Bridgeport, who has the contract for the electric work, is putting in the conduits. Two carloads have been unloaded and carted to the grounds this week.

***

ARRIVALS AT THE PARKER HOUSE: Mr and Mrs C.W. Thompson, Julia A. Thompson, Oxford, N.Y.; J. Manning, New York; James E. Burroughs, Crown Point, Ind.; H.H. Worthington, R.H. Thomas, New Milford; B.S. Curtis, Newburg, N.Y.; Miss Haddow, Brooklyn, N.Y.; James H. Wykoof, Sharon; Mr and Mrs Hartman, Pittsburg, Pa.

August 13, 1896

A Mr Taylor of Bethel has opened a meat market in the old store at Hawleyville.

***

F.S. Andrews and son, Harry, have returned from a fortnight’s sojourn at Lake Waramaug.

***

Mrs Louisa Blackman, an old resident of Newtown, died at Danbury, Thursday, in the 82nd year of her age. Some time since Mrs Blackman had a shock, the effects of which resulted in her death. The funeral services were conducted from the home of her daughter, Mrs W.D.B. Ferris, on Saturday afternoon, at 2:30 o’clock, Rev G.T. Linsley officiating, and the interment was in the Newtown cemetery. Two daughters, Mrs Ferris and Mrs David Curtis, and a brother, Horace Platt of Hopewell, survive her. Mrs Blackman was the widow of the late Donald Blackman, who died some 30 years ago.

***

NEW BOOKS added to Newtown Library: Little Men, Alcott; A Fight With Fate, Mrs Alexander; The Horse Fair, James Baldwin; Sweet Clover, Burnham; A Wise Woman, Burnham; Mrs Romney, Carey; The Sticket Minister, Crockett; The Red Badge of Courage, Crane; The Jungle Book, Kipling; The Supply at St Agatha’s, E.S. Phelps; A Singular Life, E.S. Phelps; Mrs Gerald, Poole; Tom Grogan, F. Hopkinson Smith; Beautiful Joe, Saunders.

***

There was quite an exciting runaway at the foot of the Street, last Saturday morning. Philo and Walter Nichols, accompanied by young lady friends, drove from Bridgeport to attend the dance at the Town hall, last Friday evening. Saturday morning they drove around the lake and were just starting for Bridgeport. When about in front of Dick’s hotel one of the horses stumbled and fell, breaking the pole off about two feet from the whiffletrees. With this swinging back and forth between them, the horses started on a run down the road. When near Sheriff Rodger’s place the wagon ran into the bank head on and almost turned a somersault. The occupants were thrown out, but not seriously injured, though somewhat bruised. The carriage was rather badly damaged. The horses ran against a post in front of Aaron Sanford’s farm house and were easily captured. The young ladies went back to Bridgeport on the train, Mr Nichols driving the horses, which were only scratched and not seriously hurt, back later in the day.

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.