September 2, 1994

Having stropped out cynicism razor sharp this year on the events in Washington D.C., and around the world, we have built up an overwhelming urge to scrape away all that is discouraging about the late 20th Century and get down to something very basic and simple to appreciate. In short, we need something to cheer about. Fortunately, at this time every year, we find what we are looking for at Newtown’s Labor Day Parade... For citizens feeling a little beleaguered, cheering is a balm, especially when done wholeheartedly and in sincerity. And this we can do for the kids of Hawley School, for our Judge of Probate, for the Newtown Environmental Action Team, for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and for scores of other groups. (We are especially looking forward to cheering for the newly crowned King and Queen of Dogs for the fun they have given us in recent weeks.) Get yourself a good seat on Main Street, Glover Avenue, or Queen Street on Labor Day, and cheer on the parade.

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Voice mail may be gaining popularity with many companies, but it’s not winning any points with the people who feel forced into a maze of options and button-pushing that accompany some systems. In a recent survey, executives from the nation’s largest companies said that 40 percent of the voice mail systems are annoying or hard to use. Executives were asked, “What percentage of the voice mail systems you encounter are annoying or difficult to use?” The response was 40 percent.

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Police charged a 25-year-old man with breach of peace and two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon at Tom Sawyer’s Restaurant at about 7 pm on August 25. Police said they went to the restaurant after receiving a report that there was an intoxicated man there who refused to leave. Police said they found Larry Alan Denison of North Bend, Oregon, in a highly uncooperative state. Police charged him with breach of the peace because he used obscene language in front of families and children. Police said Mr Denison is hitchhiking from Oregon and had a backpack with him. Police said they found a knife with a sharpened blade more than four inches long as well as a wrist-support style slingshot in his pack. Police held Mr Denison on bond for an August 26 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

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Spend an unforgettable evening with Ed and Lorraine Warren on Thursday, September 8, at 7:30 pm, at the Masuk High School on Route 111 in Monroe. The illustrated lecture will benefit the restoration of Monroe Historical Society’s newest acquisition, the Beardsley Homestead. This landmark is an 18th Century saltbox located on Great Ring Road in Monroe. The Warrens are known as “America’s Top Ghosthunters.” They will be featured in a CBS special to air in late October which was taped in their home museum in Monroe. Local apparitions such as “The Ghostly White Lady” of Stepney and Easton graveyards and “Hannah Cranna,” the legendary witch of Monroe, will be noted.

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The best time to sow a lawn is from the middle of August to the middle of September. The bluegrass and fescues we use evolved from pasture grasses of cool dewy meadows in England and only in the fall here are the conditions similar enough to risk the investment of your time and money. If it is a new lawn, a sod test by the University of Connecticut is a wise move.

August 22, 1969

Residents of Newtown between Currituck and Tunnel Road met Wednesday night at the Edmond Town Hall to formulate a group protest against the proposed I-84 rest area, which according to a letter received by First Selectman Timothy Treadwell from George Koch of the Connecticut Highway Department is to be constructed along the Interstate near where Tunnel intersects Currituck. It is feared that such construction would not only blemish the beauty of the vicinity but that resulting noise, need for police protection, and possible water pollution would result in property devaluation. Most affected is Andrew Sedor, who runs a dairy farm in the area. The rest area as described in The Bee on July 4 would accommodate about 63 vehicles westbound and 42 eastbound.

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A very great lady in the antiques world known far and wide as “Wally” is really a wise young gal of eighty-nine on August 29, with a twinkle in her shrewd eye and a lilt in her laughter. She is Moira Wallace, of international heritage and reputation... On a very hot day, in the quiet cool of her fine old barn-turned-antiques-shop on Main Street in Woodbury, Mrs Wallace spoke of the glories and trials of her eighty odd years worth of living. The turquoise crescents in her ears swayed like small new moons as we laughed together or she made a simple statement that caught the breath in her throat in sheer astonishment or the luck of the Irish reared its head in the stories of early days in the antiques dealing. She is truly a delightful lady of justified renown.

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The Newtown High School Football Team will begin practice on Monday, August 25, at 9 am. Boys are to meet in front of the gym with their gym equipment. All reporting students must have had a physical examination. No student will be allowed to participate until he has been cleared by a doctor and the proper medical form has been completed. Forms are available in the high school office.

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The annual Headstart picnic was Thursday, August 14 at Dickinson Town Park. Mrs June Russo, director, termed the event “most successful.” Approximately 115 persons attended. Highlights of the day included water games and initial swimming instruction for the 27 Headstart children enrolled in the program, under the supervision of Jeanne Berkins.

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Wetlands preservation was uppermost in the Newtown Conservation Commission’s discussion Monday evening, August 18 at Edmond Town Hall. Specifically, the commission seeks to preserve the watershed of the still unpolluted Halfway River in the Botsford district. Chairman William Morrissey reported that, as a result of a study by commission member David Davis, a letter has been sent to the town of Wayland, Mass., asking details of that town’s ordinance which restrict wetlands use. Similar legislation, if enacted in Newtown in time, might protect the 12-square mile Pine Swamp which forms the headwaters of the Halfway River.

August 25, 1944

One copy of the May 12 Bee went places, saw people, did things in a big way — and then came home somewhat tattered but content with having led a long and useful life, even for a copy of a weekly newspaper! Originally mailed to a local boy in France, this particular copy was eagerly read upon arrival, not only by the boy but by his buddies as well and was then used as wrapping to protect an earthenware wine jug, shipped home from the front lines of France. The paper arrived back in Newtown on Wednesday, August 16, which was just about three months since it rolled off the press at The Bee office. It now goes into the scrap paper collection, and part of it may get to France again, in an ammunition case or package for field ration. Great distances to travel these days — as this copy of The Bee can testify.

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“Charlie” Cavanaugh returned to his duties at The Bee office on Monday after a week’s vacation which took Mr and Mrs Cavanaugh and Judge and Mrs Walter Reynolds to Lake Sunapee, N.H. Very little has been heard about how the fish were biting and rumor has it that both of the aforementioned gentlemen are dickering for a demonstration from “Scud” and “Teddie” Smith of how the big ones are landed at Lake Candlewood.

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As the Fredericka House children come to the close of their vacation in Sandy Hook they are very proud of the large number of cans and cartons and clean waste paper which they have been able to save and give to the Newtown salvage drive.

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Last Thursday evening’s severe electrical and rain storm, thought by many to be the hardest this area has suffered in several years, resulted in considerable property damage. It was reported by Tom Touhy, Southern New England Telephone Company general manager, that more than 900 phones were out of order in the Danbury area, with 62 lines and 225 individual phones out of working order in Newtown alone. Outside help was brought in to make repairs, the patience of the public being much appreciated. During the storm, a bolt of lightning struck the dairy barn owned by Mr and Mrs Donald Ferris on Shepard Hill Road. Despite the heavy rain that fell intermittently during the early evening, the fire gained considerable headway, destroying two large silos and the main dairy barn used to house cattle, and above which more than 60 tons of hay was stored for the winter. As the Ferris telephone had been put out of order, Mrs Ferris drove a considerable distance to summon help. Firemen from Hawleyville, Newtown, and Dodgingtown worked well into the night removing burning hay from undamaged sections of the barn. At The Bee office the printing of the paper was held up for more than two hours due to lack of electrical current. All in all, it was an exciting and disastrous afternoon and evening.

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Ike Spotts who gave up liquor ten days ago is now in the hospital havin’ his backbone reinforced at the special request of his wife, Tessie.

August 22, 1919

George G. Canfield returned to his duties at The Bee Monday, round and rosy, after a vacation of two weeks. Although he passed some time in the hills, he did not “escape to the hills” as C.F.C. intimates and is ready to meet the latter gentlemen with gloves or any weapon he may select at any time. “One round would finish C.F.C.” George says.

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F.D. Keeler of Bridgeport was before Justice McCarthy last week on the charge of operating an auto without proper lights. He was allowed to go on payment of costs, amounting to $8.51. The same day, Neady Lelovitz of Bridgeport was before the same court on the same charge. Costs of $8.51 were taxed against him. The arrests were made by Constable Thomas Carlson.

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The Sandy Hook Baseball club was defeated on their home grounds by the White Sox of Bridgeport on Sunday by a score of 10 to 3. The local team did not attempt to play ball until after the fourth inning, after which they did not allow a run. The correspondent has been in the habit of noting the brilliant plays and the players and publicly giving credit in The Bee, but at the present stage of the game a little constructive criticism would be beneficial: 1st more team work; 2d on your toes for nine innings; 3d run for the ball, don’t walk.

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The American Hardware Co., of Bridgeport are issuing a very neat little monthly magazine called “The American Eagle.” In addition to various announcements about this big store, it contains a lot of very readable matter. It is well edited.

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Selectman Newton Curtis finished, Thursday, the harvest of Carman peaches. They have been unusually fine in quality. The Luscious Elbertas will be coming along in about 10 days. With Mr Curtis the editor took a stroll through the orchard Wednesday afternoon, and saw evidence enough that there will be lots of peaches. It is not a bumper crop, but there will be a lot of peaches and the size and quality will leave nothing to be desired. Mr Lynch took a load of peaches for Mr Curtis to South Britain and found ready sale for them.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.