September 10, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Jan Steinfeld.

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Monday’s less-than “picture perfect” weather could have kept the crowds away from Newtown’s 38th annual Labor Day Parade. But it didn’t. It may just as well have been sun and blue skies judging from the turnout. As was evident by the throngs of parade goers who lined the streets, it takes a lot more than a little rain to keep the Newtown faithful away.

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A Danbury Superior Court judge has ruled the state has shown there is enough evidence for prosecutors to pursue felony murder charges against two 19-year-old men in connection with the shooting death of 15-year-old Jason Gowdy of Sandy Hook on the night of July 10. In a courtroom with heavy security, Judge Patrick Carroll ruled that the state demonstrated probable cause to pursue the charges after hearing five hours of testimony from three witnesses September 2. Charged in the case are Alejandro Melendez of Bridgeport and Roberto Lugo of Stratford. Each is charged with felony murder, first-degree robbery, and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. … The defendants are scheduled to enter pleas in the case September 28.

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Ask architect Rodger Braley to name his favorite project and he is likely to respond — as did Frank Lloyd Wright — “the next one.” But a few of Mr Braley’s projects are memorable, including the US Tennis Association stadium in Flushing Meadows, the Japanese Gasho Restaurants, a Florida horse farm with a 44-stall barn and indoor riding ring, and now, perhaps, the house that Bill and Hilary Clinton intend to buy in Chappaqua, N.Y. Mr Braley, who has lived in Newtown for the past 10 years, said that as soon as he heard the news reports, he realized the Clintons’ new house was one of his projects.

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The group that calls itself “Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown” got a big boost this past weekend when more than 800 residents signed its petition calling for the town purchase of the 186-acre campus. The group has now collected nearly 1,000 signatures and is expected to pick up many more in the coming weeks. Most of the signatures from the past weekend were solicited at the parade and the library book sale.

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Choir Director Mary Andreotta, Music Committee Chair Judy Benson, and choir member and soloist Sharon Goodkowsky are opening the Newtown Congregational Senior Choir season with enthusiasm, tapes, and lots of inspiration after a week of Music Camp this summer in Lisbon, N.H. Camp Ogontz music program is directed by George Kent and is an annual week-long workshop for singers, church musicians, and choral conductors. … “It was a humbling experience, but we learned so much,” they all agreed. The campers numbered about 120 men, women, and a few high school artists. Many were from the 200-member Chorus of Westerly, which requires annual auditions for membership.

September 6, 1974

The skies were grey and threatening on Monday, but this didn’t stop the many participants in Newtown’s fine annual Labor Day Parade from stepping fancy through the center of town for the enjoyment of the hundreds of people who turned out. Honorary Parade Marshal Richard Hibbard and wife, and parade co-chairmen Bob McCulloch and Judy Furlotte, were in the two lead cars, followed by each of Newtown’s volunteer fire departments leading a division, local dignitaries and politicians from all over the state. The parade was planned by the Newtown Summer Festival Committee. From the reviewing stand set up on Queen Street, the parade officials judged each of the passing entries as announcer Edward Sullivan informed viewers of the identities of all concerned.

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Carla Polcyn, fifteen-year-old Newtown High School sophomore, became Miss Teenage Newtown in a presentation by the Newtown Exchange Club Thursday, August 29 in Edmond Town Hall. Eleven contestants from an original field of 15 appeared in a competition in which talent, personality, appearance, poise and scholastic achievement were major considerations.

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The Newtown Water Company application to change its rates to increase its revenues by $29,737 or about 29.4 per cent was denied by the Public Utilities Commission on the basis that the proposed return would be “more than just and reasonable …” PUC advised the company instead that a rate change providing a return of $14,971 or about half of what the application called for, subject to certain conditions would be accepted to it.

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For the second time in less than a week torrential rains pelted the area, and once again Newtown’s highway department was out on the roads attempting to stem problems caused by washouts on the town’s dirt roads. Last Thursday the men and machines were in the Pootatuck Park area, as well as at a few other roads after the rain on Wednesday night. … On Tuesday night heavy rain came again.

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Lindell A. Hertberg of Newtown has been elected a member of the 1974 Producers Council of The Travelers Insurance Companies. Council membership is determined by 1973 production of life and health insurance and related financial services. Mr Hertberg represented The Travelers through Lindell A. Hertberg & Associates, 61 Main Street, Newtown. The purpose of the 18-member council is to improve communication between agents and The Travelers home office in Hartford and to serve in an advisory capacity to ensure that the best interests of policyholders, agents and the company are considered in all recommendations.

September 2, 1949

Dr and Mrs Waldo F. Desmond returned home from their vacation trip on Tuesday evening, bringing their son, Danny, and daughter, Susan, home with them. Danny has been at Camp Kawanhee, Weld, Maine, and Susan at Camp Kuwiyan, Meredith, N.H.

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Gould Curtis and his family left Newtown early Tuesday morning for a motor trip to an indefinite destination in Maine or Canada. They are expected to finish their week’s motoring and return to their home in Berkshire immediately after Labor Day.

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A second daughter, Laura Marie, was born to Mr and Mrs William Wenzel of Sandy Hook on August 25th, in Danbury hospital.

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Title was passed, Tuesday afternoon at the office of Attorney John F. Holian, on a piece of land of some eight acres, off Riverside road, Sandy Hook, which has been purchased by the SACs from Harold Bassett for use as an athletic field for the club. The acquisition of this land will mean a great deal to the SACs, who are eager to develop a baseball diamond and other athletic facilities on the property.

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A real musical treat was offered a large and pleasantly surprised audience in the Edmond Town Hall theater last Thursday evening when the Berkshire String Quartet made its first appearance here under the sponsorship of the Newtown Orchestral Society. Surprised is a word used advisedly, for the last time local audiences had occasion to hear Urico Rossi, first violin and leader of the group, he appeared here in the second violin section of the Newtown Symphony. Since then he has developed to the point where he could assume the chair left vacant by Jacques Gordon’s untimely death last year.

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There were nearly 200 local volunteer firemen who gathered at the Hawleyville firehouse last Sunday for the annual clambake of the four combined fire companies of Newtown. Activities started shortly after 10 a.m., when steak sandwiches were served through the noon hour by Archie Iles of Bethel, who prepared the bake. The main course was served at 2:30 p.m. Robert Popovich was general chairman in charge and was assisted by Chiefs John Qubick, Hiran Hanlon, Harold Dunleavy and Peter Feli, of the Newtown, Sandy Hook, Dodgingtown and Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Companies, respectively, and several members of the companies.

August 29, 1924

The undefeated Sunrise Club baseball team kept its long string of victories intact by defeating the Huntingtown baseball team to the tunes of 13 to 1 and 6 to 4. In the first game, Al Levinson pitched magnificent ball, allowing but one hit. His home run with the bases full greatly thrilled the 800 people watching the game. Dave Lieberman, who is to receive a try-out with the New York Yankees, did the receiving and did it well. … In the second game, the boys from Huntingtown managed to give the Sunrise team more opposition, but not enough to win. The Sunrise team had such stars as Jack Freeland, leading semi-pro player from New York, Irving “Stretch” Levinson, formerly with the Newark International baseball team, and Mack Lipp, future baseball star in Botsford.

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In honor of Miss Rosalind Levinson’s birthday, the Sunrise celebrated by going on a theatre party to the Newtown movies. An enjoyable time was had by all. A silver loving cup was presented to Miss Levinson and she was congratulated by such notables as Herman Silverman of New Haven, George Chaney, lawyer from Philadelphia, and Sid Bubsky, future lawyer and great statesman in New York.

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CARD OF THANKS: Through the columns of The Bee I wish to return sincere and heartfelt thanks to Mrs John Maloney, Miss Mary McNamarra, Miss Finkle, the visiting Nurse, and L.C. Morris, the funeral director for their many kindnesses to me in my recent great bereavement. Also to those who contributed flowers and furnished their automobiles for the funeral.—[William H. Prindle.

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The Sandy Hook “All Stars” lost a hard fought contest to the “Red Men” of Danbury by the score of 8 to 7. It was their third defeat of the season and was largely attended.

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Miss Agnes Clark of Bridgeport has been the guest of Miss Gladys Campbell.

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H.G. Warner will leave on Monday for a week’s stay at the Loomarwick, New Preston.

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Anthony Gradovich is building a small bungalow on his property on the state road, opposite Lovell’s garage. The bungalow will have a piazza in front enclosed in glass.

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Rt Rev F.F. Johnson and Mrs Johnson, who have been for two weeks in Maine, returned to Newtown on Wednesday. Bishop Johnson expects to leave by automobile on Friday for St Louis. He will be accompanied as far as Western Pennsylvania by Frank Wright.

September 8, 1899

The grateful thanks of all who gathered in the Congregational church, last Friday evening, September 1st, are certainly due to Miss Carrie Knapp of Bridgeport for her beautiful and realistic presentation of “The Passion Play.” Miss Knapp gave the lecture entirely without recompense, and the proceeds netted a neat sum for the benefit of the Congregational church. Her example is most worthy of imitation, for if others to whom ample means give opportunity for travel and study, would share the pleasures of their outings with those whom business duties and limited capital keep at home, the world would be richer and better.

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At the communion service at the Congregational church on Sunday morning Mrs O.F. Terrill was received into membership by letter from the Congregational church in Bethel.

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A.B. Fancher, the genial Hawleyville merchant, is about again after having had a severe time with his teeth. He had some bad teeth successfully removed, last week, but the nervous shock made him sick for several days.

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J.J. Reynolds and family of New York, who have occupied the residence of W.M. Reynolds, Ben Vue, for two months, returned to the city on Friday last.

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Mrs W.M. Reynolds, Miss Kathryn Reynolds and Arthur Reynolds, who have passed the summer at Stone Ridge, New York, returned to Newtown on Friday last.

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.