August 21, 1998

The whole town just exploded, said Henry Stormer moments after Tuesday’s violent thunderstorm. The detective was helping out in the police department’s dispatch room when the calls started coming in. The brief but intense storm hit at 3 pm in the central part of town, blowing down trees which blocked roads, downing power lines which caused electrical outages, and making it very difficult to drive in intense blinding rains. Some said they hadn’t seen it rain that hard in several years. Fierce bolts of lightning came crackling down. Ironically, other parts of town, including Dodgingtown, never even got a drop of rain.

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The Board of Selectmen Monday authorized First Selectman Herb Rosenthal to make an offer to the state for seven old homes and eight empty lots along Queen Street. The first selectman must now approach the state with a proposal by September 1. The state-owned homes were once part of the Fairfield Hills campus, which closed three years ago. The small homes were used to house staff members.

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John Del Vecchio’s experience as a war correspondent during the Vietnam War inspired him to write the best-selling novel The 13th Valley back in 1982. The same was true with For The Sake of All Living Things and Carry Me Home, his second and third books. The latest book by the Newtown resident has little to do with Vietnam, dealing instead with an entirely different kind of war, although it was Mr Del Vecchio’s own life experiences that brought it to life. Due in October, Darkness Falls: An American Story centers on the life of a 50-year-old Italian-American who struggles with the realities of life typical of the Baby Boomer generation.

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Edmund J. Chesto, a physics teacher at Newtown High School, completed four weeks of teacher training in physics education and technology integration this summer at the university of Maryland at College Park. Mr Chesto was one of 200 high school teachers from 43 states chosen to be trained for two summers in an effective new method of teaching physics. The student-centered approach is called modeling, which brings classroom learning closer to workplace experience. Students work in teams to ask questions of nature, and they design experiments using computers as scientific tools.

August 17, 1973

Atty Harold Schwartz, representing the Fairfield County Shopping Mall Inc proposal for a 400,000-square foot shopping center off Church Hill Road, told the Planning and Zoning Commission and some 200 persons gathered for a public hearing last Friday night that the proposal was of “high quality and of beautiful design and structure,” and would provide needed facilities for the town. But as the four-hour hearing progressed, the presentation raised serious questions, some not fully answered, from attendants who expressed their unanimous disapproval of the proposal.

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POND WATER GOOD: Dr Thomas F. Draper, Town Health Director, reported this week that the coliform count at the pond at the town park is ten. The full report is in the office of the Department of Health at the Town Hall. A count of ten is considered an excellent level.

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Officers elected for the Sandy Hook Fire Company, August 6, are Herb Lewis, chief; George Oberstadt, assistant chief; Frank Halstead, first assistant chief; Don Lewis, second assistant chief; Paul Wilson, first engineer; Bill Halstead, second engineer; Michael Lucas 3rd, third engineer; and Dave Lewis, fourth engineer. Ken Casey was elected president; Jay Giull, vice president; Bob Brown, treasurer; and Frank Leahu, secretary.

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With the Police Department busier than ever before, Chief Louis Marchese reported to the Police Commission on Monday night that overtime pay for the officers is amounting to $5,000-$6,000 per month. “This makes it around $60,000 per year for overtime,” the Chief said, “which can be used to hire additional officers.” With the recent citizens drive for lower speeds along Main Street and other town roads, the police have had to use extra men for the radar units, all on overtime. The force, with 22 men including Chief Marchese, is also faced with a shortage because two officers recently sustained injuries, which will take them temporarily off duty for several weeks.

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The board of directors of the Newtown Summer Festival Committee has announced its incorporation. The committee represents private citizens of the community who are interested in providing and participating in programs from May through September for the fun and enjoyment of all citizens. It is a non-profit corporation, organized under the Non Stock Corporation Act of the State of Connecticut, and is governed by its own board of directors. The current members of the board are Nelson Denny, David Larson, Robert Rubinstein, Christopher Spiro, and Edward Sullivan. Mr and Mrs Richard Sturdevant are the Festival cochairmen for 1973. The incorporation of the Committee was handled by Atty S. William Denlinger.

August 13, 1948

Roy Everett of Newtown captured the best in match award with his Airdale terrier, “Dell of Newtown” at the 15th AKC sanctioned match show of the Newtown Kennel Club held in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium last Thursday evening, August 5th. This was the club’s first show designated by the American Kennel Club as “Plan A,” two of which must be conducted before a licensed show, at which championship points can be awarded, may be arranged. Entries last Thursday were limited to AKC-registered dogs that did not have championship points.

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Mrs Henry Taylor of Mountain Pleasant has returned to her home after having been called away by the death of her mother, Mrs Mala Angle Pursel. Mrs Pursel died in St Petersburg, Florida, last Thursday, August 5, and was returned to Phillipsburg, N.J., where services were held on Tuesday of this week. Burial was in Easton, Penna.

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Judge and Mrs Paul V. Cavanaugh and daughter are enjoying his vacation from the Probate Court, spending some time at their Blarneystone Valley cottage in Hanover district.

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The SAC baseball team traveled to Candlewood Knolls on Monday afternoon and played a six-inning game with the Knolls team, which ended in a 7-7 tie. The team and the other “chain gang” members who made the trip then enjoyed a swim in the lake and a picnic supper at the cottage of Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith. Volleyball followed supper, before “Papeeta” Lackaye and Jerry Jackson, who provided transportation, returned the boys home. It is hoped by both teams that another game can be arranged before the end of the season.

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The Drum Corps dispensed with its meeting again this week as the community Auxiliary’s meeting was rather long. Before leaving, though, the president appointed two Drum Corps members to be on the grievance committee (Demerit System Committee). On this committee is Chief Hanlon, Mike Lucas and Mr Olson, firemen; Mrs McCarthy, Mrs Qubick, Women’s Auxiliary; Ruth Berglund and George Hanlon, Drum Corps members.

August 10, 1923

The Community Chautauqua came to a close, Tuesday night, with the concert by the Metropolitan band, which delighted the big audience. Wallace N. Mitchell made the pleasing announcement that Chautauqua for Newtown in 1924 was assured, as 64 guarantors had been secured. The program of the 1923 Chautauqua as a whole has been eminently satisfactory, and there was really no poor number. The Newtown Chautauqua in 1924 will have as its officers: President, Wallace N. Mitchell; Chairman Ticket committee, Mrs Charles A. Peale; Secretary and Treasurer, P.H. McCarthy; Manager Advertising, Arthur J. Smith.

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Henry Lang, night clerk at the National Art Club in New York City, is spending a month’s vacation at his home on Walnut Tree Hill. Mr Lang, who in former years was one of Walnut Tree Hill’s famous landscape artists, is making various improvements about his pleasant home during the vacation.

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Fred Mayer of Meriden passed Sunday with his family in Sandy Hook.

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One of the saddest occasions in the community in some time was the death and funeral of Miss Claribel Troy, who died early last Friday morning at her home, after a brief illness. Miss Troy was 24 years of age, being the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Martin Troy. She was a young lady of very lovable disposition, and the sympathy of a large circle of friends goes out to the sorrowing family. The esteem in which she was held was testified to by many floral and spiritual remembrances. The funeral was largely attended from her late home, Monday morning, at 9.30 o’clock and at 10 from St Rose’s church, where a Solemn High Mass was celebrated by Rev Michael Regan, celebrant, Rev James Conghlin, deacon and Rev Jeremiah McAuliffe subdeacon. … The pallbearers were all cousins of the deceased. … Besides her parents, Miss Troy leaves to mourn her loss, two sisters, Miss Lillian Troy of Botsford, Mrs D.C. Honan, of Bridgeport, and two brothers, Earle of Botsford, and John, of New Haven.

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TAX NOTICE — Notice is hereby given that the taxes on the list of 1923, Borough of Newtown, Conn., will be due and payable on August 4, 1923. I will receive the above tax on or after the above date. All taxes not paid before Sept. 4, 1923, will be subject to interest at the rate of 9 per cent from August 4, 1923. P.H. Gannon, Collector.

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In his prayer at the morning service at the Congregational church, Sunday, Rev James Arthur Lytle offered a fervent petition of thanksgiving for the life of President Harding, so devoted to the interests of the nation. He offered the petition that Almighty God might come with comfort and help to Mrs Harding in her great bereavement. On the new President, upon whose shoulders the mantle of Mr Harding has now fallen, he prayed that wisdom and strength might be given him in administering the duties of his great office.

August 19, 1898

Three … lads from Bridgeport giving their names as Oakley Payton, John Clarkson and Edward Cables, all under 18 years of age, were arrested, last Saturday morning, for stealing muskmelons out of J.H. Blackman’s market wagon as it stood in front of his market being loaded for a trip, about 4 o’clock in the morning. Mr Blackman happened upon the scene as they were making off with the melons and gathered them in. Later in the morning Grand Juror Camp swore out the papers and they were brought before Justice M.J. Cavanaugh at Lawyer W.J. Beecher’s office. They were fined $2 and costs in default of which Constable W.H. Glover took them to Bridgeport on the 11.27 train and turned them over to Sheriff Hawley, where they will work out the bill. It was hoped that the midnight pantry thieves had been trapped in their capture, but they told a pretty straight story of their whereabouts, and it is to be feared that the midnight marauders are still at large and liable to get hurt.

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W.H. Sturges of Taunton district and Seth P. Sturges, while raking oats one day recently, each found a cent on the oat field. Curiously enough both coins bore the same date, 1864, so that there must be some luck in it somewhere.

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Mr and Mrs W.B. Lashar of Bridgeport were guests over Sunday at Fern cottage, the summer home of Mr and Mrs C.N. Worthen.

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EDITORIAL NOTES: We hope the friends and patrons of the Newtown Academy will not pass by with stolid indifference the appeal of Principal MacFarland. The object is a good one, and a small contribution from many persons will accomplish the desired result.

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TOWN TOPICS — WOMAN’S NATIONAL WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION: Now that peace is declared it is a great satisfaction to many Newtown people to know that $45 has been sent to the treasurer of the above named association from this town. Of this amount $20 was collected in Sandy Hook and vicinity, chiefly thro’ the personal efforts of Miss Lucy Wright; $25 was also collected in the Street and vicinity chiefly thro’ the personal solicitation of Mrs Oscar Dikeman. Newtown may be congratulated upon this generous response to the request to help sick and wounded soldiers, who still need this help even since hostilities have ceased.

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.