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The 277th annual town meeting, scheduled for Monday, October 5, at 8 pm, in the former courtroom of Edmond Town Hall, could be an historic affair. If the package of charter revisions up for a referendum vote in November is approved, this could be the last town meeting in town history. If you plan to attend this annual town meeting, however, you should get there on time. In recent years, these meetings have seldom lasted more than one or two minutes.

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Dorothy “Dot” Baumert, a realtor who lives on Huntingtown Road and who is a former president of the American Field Service, was installed September 21 as the first female member of the Newtown Rotary. Earlier this year, following a Supreme Court decision relating to the issue of women joining Rotary, Rotary International adopted a policy allowing local clubs to admit women.

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The Newtown High field hockey program begins the ’87 campaign with an enthusiastic new coach, 25 players on the combined varsity-junior varsity roster, and high hopes that the team can improve on last season’s 0-13-1 record. The Indians are being directed this fall by Kristine Kautz, a second grade teacher at Hawley School. Unlike several other local towns, Newtown does not have a middle school team. To counteract that, Kautz plans t hold clinics in the spring to introduce the incoming freshmen to the sport, and if possible, issue them sticks during the summer.

September 21, 1962

The employees of Curtis & Son, Inc in Sandy Hook are planning to celebrate the completion of the latest major addition to their plant and office facilities with an Open House on November 3. A tour of the facilities for visitors will show principal equipment in actual operation. The new addition of 11,000 square feet to the plant in the Berkshire district brings the total area to 77,000 square feet, and will enable the company to keep pace with the growing needs of its customers.

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A Taunton Hill Farm ewe lamb owned by Mrs James Brunot of Newtown won Dorset Grand Champion Ewe at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass., this week. Taking the blue ribbon in her own class of 21 entries, this lamb went on to win over the first place yearling ewe for the championship.

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James F. Hinckley, superintendent of schools, reported at the Board of Education meeting that the new school bus system is meeting with almost unanimous approval from parents, students, and teachers. This year high school students and elementary school students travel in different buses.

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A meeting was held August 28, attended by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Borough of Newtown, Newtown Garden Club, Berkshire Garden Club, and the Horticulture Club. The information was released that the state is agreeable to participating in the planting program to the extent that 23 flowering dogwoods and sugar maples will be planted on the state properties, over a period beginning this fall through next fall. At a later date, as funds become available, they will make additional plantings.

 

September 17, 1937

Next Sunday will find the New Milford Elks on the Country Club diamond putting forth their best efforts in an attempt to break the long winning streak of the Newtown team. Closing the season on the following Sunday, September 26, the Country Clubbers will meet their arch rivals, the New Milford Lions, in a double-header of seven innings each, on the local field.

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The sudden death of Edward P. Talty on Monday evening, while presiding at a caucus of the Democratic party held in the Alexandria room of the Edmond Town Hall, caused widespread sorrow throughout the town. The meeting over which Mr Talty was presiding was drawing to a close, when suddenly he lurched forward against a table and died before medical aid could be obtained. Mr Talty was born in Sandy Hook 54 years ago, the son of Edward and Margaret Finnell Talty, and had resided there his entire life.

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Ground was broken this week by William A. Honan of the Borough for the erection of a five-room bungalow next to his residence on Main street, which will be used as a funeral home. The new building will be modern in every respect and will have all of the latest improvements.

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The first fall meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association of Newtown will be held this Friday evening, at 8 o’clock at the Hawley School. Attorney Earle W. Smith of Bridgeport will speak informally concerning scholarships. A large attendance is requested, not only of parents and friends, but of teachers and those officials of the town whose duties are connected with the schools.

 

September 20, 1912

Warren Mitchell, son of Mr and Mrs Edward Mitchell of Pootatuck, met with quite a serious accident, last week Wednesday, while at the Depot in Sandy Hook. Mr Mitchell was standing on the platform near his horse when the horse started and he jumped and grabbed the reins, but the horse dragged him down from the depot to the highway, and is some way the horse kicked one of his limbs, breaking it. Mr Mitchell held the horse in spite of his injuries until he stopped him. He is now getting along as well as could be expected.

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A new cement bridge is being built on the State road just north of the Crowe & Keane Button shop at Botsford. The bridge was washed away in a freshet over a year ago and a temporary bridge has done duty ever since. While the bridge is being built people are obliged to go by way of Huntingtown, to get south of the Crowe & Keane button factory.

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Schaghticoke Lodge is the euphonious name by which Castle Ronald will be known by the new corporation, which will take over this magnificent property as a sanitarium. The management of the new sanitarium have practically entered into an arrangement with one of the best known physicians in the United States, who is in charge.

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The borough of Newtown and the town at large lose a sterling citizen in the passing on of William Homer Hubbell, who breathed his last about 11 o’clock on Monday morning. Mr Hubbell had been seriously ill but a short time and his sudden death came as a shock to the people of the borough and town. He was born June 5, 1841 in Stepney. In 1875 he came to Newtown and formed a partnership in the coal and feed business with Cornelius B. Taylor. He was elected to the Connecticut State Legislature in 1886, had served as assessor, and in 1896 was elected as first selectman on the Citizen’s ticket. Mr Hubbell was a man whose judgment in business and town matters was generally respected.