August 17, 1990

The long-awaited renovations to the exterior of the Newtown Meeting House began Friday, August 10. Plans are to remove the siding and insulation from the north and south sides of the building and apply new insulation, plywood, and new “historically correct” siding. The work on the exterior of the building is expected to take about two months and will cost about $60,000. Volunteers have been refurbishing the interior of the building, and making changes to bring the old church into compliance with fire and health codes. Once renovations are complete, the building will be open to the town for public use. The Meeting House, which was built circa 1810, was the sanctuary of the Newtown Congregational Church from 1814 until June 1988.

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In the past year, the town’s Social Services budget and caseload have doubled, and the director believes a depressed economy and lack of affordable housing are among the reasons. Although the economy is readily cited as the most obvious cause of increased needs, other changes have contributed, as well. An improved computerized state system for processing welfare applications more quickly, higher medical insurance rates, and improvements to the two food pantries have resulted in the doubling of Newtown’s caseload.

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Pat DeCesare and Leesa Dunleavy are helping to establish a local support group for parents of children with cancer. The group will be meeting with a therapist from the Family Life Center for the first 12 weeks with a grant provided by the Newtown Fund. Eventually, they hope to incorporate volunteers from the community in a support hotline.

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A 6,500-pound Asian elephant, named Lisa, will perform in the Roberts Brothers Three Ring Circus, on Sunday, August 26, at Newtown High School. The Newtown Summer Festival (NSF) is sponsoring the circus, which will have shows at 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm.

August 20, 1965

More than 1,000 people, both young and old, attended the live discotheque sponsored by the Newtown Jaycees last Saturday evening at the Queen Street Shopping Center. The dance, which kicked off the fund drive for the Newtown High School football team, was a lively, go-go affair, finding many adults enjoying the dancing antics of the youngsters. Tom Vail, youth activities director for the Jaycees, was pleased with the enthusiasm shown by those present, and indicated that additional youth activities were being planned. Three youthful bands, the Cavaliers, Ravens and Squires, who donated their time, provided continuous music from 8 pm to midnight. In addition to several record albums, a surprise dancing prize, a large white rabbit, was awarded to the best dancing couple of the evening.

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The work on the new Trinity Church parking lot and parish house, which had been delayed by a strike, is now progressing rapidly. However, because of the delay, the opening date for church school this fall is in doubt.

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Richard Hayes, lifeguard at the Town Park, on Monday evening added another star to an already fine record by saving the life of three-year-old Thomas Bloxsom, son of Mr and Mrs Eugene Bloxsom of Quaker Lane. About 7:15, Richard called the small boy out of deep water and brought him to his mother, just at the time Mr Bloxsom was returning home in one of the two cars which had brought the family to the park that afternoon. Thinking the boy was safe with his father, Mrs Bloxsom was stunned about ten minutes later to see her son carried out of the water, unconscious. The child had once again gone into the water, this time with almost fatal results. Richard immediately began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In a few moments the little boy began to cough and came back to life. On Tuesday, the child came home from the hospital and went with his parents to Town Park to thank Richard in person.

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First Selectman Carl Schutz made two announcements at the open meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday evening, one on the hiring of a temporary aide in the highway department and the other on a change of hours for the town dump. Harry Rishor has been retained as a road inspector as “a temporary measure to help with the road situation.” He will work “a very limited time” at the rate of $30 per day, “Per nine hour day.” The town dump will be closed on Sundays, starting next week.

 

August 16, 1940

Last Sunday, at the evening service and concert of harp and organ music in Trinity church, approximately 100 music lovers listened attentively to 14-year-old Demetrious Bonos of Kent play his Lyon and Healy harp, and Donald A Griscom, organist, render selections on the 87-year-old organ, installed in Trinity over a decade before the start of the Civil War. Master Bonos played exceptionally well, despite the fact the dampness, quite prevalent this time of year, raises havoc with the tuning of this delicate instrument.

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The Newtown Orchestral Society launched its new season last Thursday evening in an atmosphere reminiscent of a gala opening night in New York. The Edmond Town Hall theater was filled to capacity and in the audience were several distinguished figures in the world of music, including Grace Moore and her husband, Valentin Parera; Hilda Burke, soprano, and Desire Defrere, stage director, both of the Metropolitan Opera; Frederick Schang, head of the Metropolitan musical Bureau; and Ellen Longone of the Chicago Opera. To match all the pleasant fanfare in the audience, the orchestra under the direction of Mario DiCecco gave what many people felt was the most impressive performance in the nine years of its existence.

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Officials of the State Militia are planning a nucleus for Home Defense, with Paul Daly and Dave Randall of Westport in charge of organizing the outlying towns in the part of Fairfield county. E.G. Poindexter of Easton is assisting with the work in Monroe, Newtown and Easton and would like the names of at least 25 men in these three towns who are interested in taking part. Men are sought who can ride and shoot and who area over 35 years of age and not in the reserves.

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The Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company held its annual meeting and election of officers on Tuesday evening, August 6, when the following officers were named for serve for the ensuing year: Hiram Hanlon, chief; Roswell Tilson, first assistant chief; Donald Mainwaring, second assistant chief; Fred Kuhne, captain; Robert Lockwood, secretary; Hawley Warner, treasurer; J.H.A. Symonds and Edward Knapp, auditors. Work on the new firehouse has been started, the basement being dug by Thomas Cavanaugh. The retaining wall is being built at the rear of the property.

 

August 20, 1915

The peaches of the Carman variety at the orchards of Newton Curtis on Curtis Hill have been ripening finely, this week, and Mr Curtis has been marketing some luscious fruit. He has picked some 350 baskets already, which have had a ready call from his regular customers in Newtown and Danbury. In 10 days or so, the standard and reliable Elbertas will be coming into market, and Mr Curtis certainly has a bumper crop, barring accidents or a hurricane.

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Contractor T.F. Brew is now pushing the work on the new building of Arthur J. Gallagher in the Glen. It will be 40x38, three stories, with an ell, 20x20, and double verandas all around. The building will be equipped with an air-pressure water system. He will install a dynamo and will supply his own electricity for lighting the building. It will be a great improvement over the present building and will make an attractive looking property.

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Some good bargains in summer footwear. Rubber soled shoes that were $1.50, now $1.15; rubber soled sweat shoes that were 75 cents now 55 cents; rubber soled business shoes that were $3.50, now $2.99. Always good value for your money at Morris & Shepard’s.

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Unauthorized persons having broken into and entered the Newtown High school building so many times of late the committee in charge of the property are determined that this practice must stop. Anyone wishing to enter the building, while the school is not in session, must secure the consent of the High school principal or some member of the High school committee. Anyone forcing an entrance through the windows, will be liable to prosecution.