September 9, 1994

At its meeting September 7 The Legislative Council authorized the Board of Selectmen to convey 3.5 acres on Philo Curtis Road to Housatonic Habitat for Humanity. Located near Riverside Road, this property is being given to the non-profit at no cost, for construction of two owner-occupied “affordable” houses. This giveaway was approved by voters at a town meeting August 15. Habitat for Humanity will also need to get the two-house project approved by town land use agencies.

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Employees from CITGO Distributors, Consumer Petroleum, Friendly Service Station, and Secondi Truck Stops started marching in the Newtown Labor Day Parade on Monday, and kept on walking, raising $2,000 for “Jerry’s Kids” in the process. The marchers collected pledges and donations in the weeks prior to the parade, with proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. All participants in the Consumer’s Walk-a-thon part of the parade also enjoyed a picnic at Dickinson Park following, courtesy of their employers and some local businesses.

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The Newtown School system will pay $5,000 toward the salary of a Brookfield teacher who will develop the “distance learning” concept in area schools. Superintendent John Reed told the school board Wednesday this money will come from the school system’s account for curriculum development. Distance learning is a term for educational efforts in which communication equipment allows a teacher in one school to simultaneously interact with students in that school and in another school. In addition to Newtown, the region 15 and region 12 school district will also pay $5,000 to Brookfield in compensation for the time spent by Brookfield teacher Carl DeVoe in developing distance learning.

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Air Force Airman Mark E. Patterson has graduated from the Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas. Airman Patterson is the son of Felix M. and Diana E. Patterson of Valley View Road. During his six weeks of basic training, Airman Patterson studied the Air Force’s mission and customs and received special instruction in human relation topics.

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The Flagpole Photographers will gather for the first of their 1994-95 meetings Wednesday, September 14, at 7:30 pm in the CH Booth Library meeting room. The guest speaker will be Robert Marsala, manager of photography and graphic services at the Taunton Press. Mr Marsala will focus on the type of photography done at Taunton Press, as well as the changing nature of photography in the publishing business. His interest in photography started at a young age and continued after he earned his degree in professional photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Bob has a special interest in historic photographic methods. Guests are welcome.

August 29, 1969

The 1969-1970 bowling season opens for the men’s league Monday, September 8, at the Newtown Bowling Alley. The league officers are President Harold Berglund, vice president Earl Meyers, and secretary Roger Streeter. Any men interested in joining the league should call Mr Streeter at 426-9448 as there are a few openings. Teams and the opening night schedule will be found in next week’s Newtown Bee.

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The Rev Edward H. Cook, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown, has announced his resignation in order to pursue a year of study. His resignation is effective October 1. Rev Cook has been rector of Trinity for almost seven years — since November 1962. As he said in a letter to his parishioners, he feels that the work he was called to Trinity to accomplish has been done. Trinity is a strong, united, and growing parish, he said, and he feels it is time for fresh leadership to carry the church onto the years ahead. In addition, he has planned for many years to take a full year of study on the place and purpose of the Christian Church in our time. The moment for this year of study, he feels, has come.

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Requested by Newtown Congregational Church officials to wash the dust from the building’s exterior, Newtown Hook & Ladder Company positioned the aerial ladder truck at 11 o’clock Sunday morning ready for the job. The washing process was called off, however, when it was discovered that water was seeping into the old church. Twelve firemen took part in the drill, positioning the truck in different locations around the church. Those on the ladder during operations included Chief Lee Glover, engineers Lew Rowe, and Edmund Forbell and fireman Larry Slaney.

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On Tuesday evening, August 26, the Children’s Adventure Center Board of Directors elected Robert Jackson as chairman of the board. Mr Jackson received a BS degree from the University of Richmond and is presently employed by the Geigy Chemical Company in White Plains, N.Y. He is a board of director member of Newtown Jaycees. His wife, Sandra, and two-year-old daughter, Jill, live at 13 Lincoln Drive.

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The annual outdoor festival for patients at Fairfield Hills Hospital took place on the green adjacent to the ballfield on the hospital grounds. Nearly 1,000 patients tried their luck and skill at the many booths set up on the lawn. Athletic events of all types were also included in the day’s program. Prize coupons were awarded and the patients could redeem them for candies and momentos at the prize booth. Trayloads of doughnuts and gallons of cold drinks prepared by the hospital kitchen and bakery staff were served at the refreshment stands which were popular places throughout the day. This annual event is planned and supervised by the hospital staff.

September 1, 1944

Donald Ferris, fifteen-year-old son of Mr and Mrs Donald B. Ferris of Shepard Hill Road, proudly exhibited his three-year-old team of Durham oxen at the Fair on Saturday. Donald raised the pair himself, and during the past summer has kept them busy on his father’s dairy farm. Donald very capably put the oxen through their paces before a large circle of spectators and, amid much applause, was awarded a blue ribbon.

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After spending the summer at her old home on Church Hill Road, Mrs Jesse B. Wilson has returned to Flushing N.Y. to resume her duties with Stern brothers of New York City. Her daughter, Mrs John C. Stratton, and great-granddaughter Caryl, will remain with the Beers family while Lieutenant Stratton is in training for combat duty at Chanute Field, Illinois. For the past year he has been serving as an instructor at George Field.

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Dr and Mrs. D. Elton Trueblood and family of California have rented the house opposite Sunset Tavern on Currituck Road, recently occupied by the Gidding family. Dr Trueblood is a professor of philosophy and has been serving as chaplain at Stanford University.

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Miss Margaret Halsey was the guest of her parents, Mr and Mrs R.H.F. Halsey, over the weekend. Miss Halsey’s new book, entitled, “Some Of My Best Friends Are Soldiers,” and which she calls, “a kind of novel,” will be published September 18.

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A special Labor Day Dinner will be served at the Newtown Country Club on Monday at 1:30 pm. Golf events are being arranged for the day by the tournament committee.

August 29, 1919

Labor Day will witness a game of ball between Bethel and Sandy Hook on the Bethel field, to play on a 60-40 basis, winners to take 60 percent. Money will be wagered on the Bethel game, as the teams are evenly matched and there always has been keen rivalry between the two teams. Sandy Hook depends on its native sons and hopes to win without having outside talent. Baseball is a clean American sport and deserves the support of all American citizens. Gov Marcus Holcombof Southington and Hon J. Henry Roraback of Canaan, chairman of the republican state central committee were in town Wednesday, and dined at the Newtown Inn. They were on the way to Stevenson to inspect the great dam there, in which Gov Holcomb has taken a great interest.

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Miss May Donlan of Jersey City, N.J.is a guest at the Donlon homestead on Walnut Tree Hill.

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There will be a band concert Labor Day night, by the Sandy Hook Band on the Square at Sandy Hook. A dance will follow at St. Mary’s hall with music by the band orchestra.

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A special dinner will be served at the Newtown Inn, Labor Day, with dancing afternoon and evening. The Inn has been enjoying a fine patronage of late.

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Martin Moller has purchased a Ford car.

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.