September 12, 1997

Newtown’s famous flag loomed large as it dipped closer to the pavement last Friday night. Governor John Rowland had ordered flags in the state to be flown at half-staff over the weekend in observance of the funeral ceremonies of Diana, Princess of Wales. The gesture made the flagpole in the center of Newtown’s Main Street the focus of the town’s response to the tragic death of England’s most humanitarian and photogenic “Royal.” After the services at Westminster Abbey, televised early Saturday morning at an hour more suited for fishing than grieving, flowers began to appear at the base of the flagpole. By Sunday, the accumulation was edging its way into the traffic lanes.

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It may always be referred to as the Amaral property, but the land along Elm Drive and Deep Brook Road now officially belongs to the Town of Newtown. The town and brothers Daniel and Marcus Amaral signed the final papers Tuesday afternoon, putting the land in the hands of Newtown at a cost of $400,000. The 13-acre piece of land lies adjacent to Dickinson Park, just north of the tennis courts. The property was purchased using most of the remaining open space grant money made available to the town by the Iroquois Gas Transmission System. The former farm land extends in a triangular shape in a northerly direction from the town part to the point where Elm Drive and Deep Brook Road intersect at Village Cemetery.

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Planning and Zoning Commission members have rejected a request for a two-lot resubdivision in Whispering Pines in Sandy Hook. P&Z members September 4 turned down PSD Partnership’s request to resubdivide the 3.1-acre Lot 10 on Miya Lane into two house lots. Reasons stated for turning down the application included that the land has severe slopes and the proposal is inconsistent with provisions of the town’s 1993 plan of development.

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School officials had a brief scare Monday afternoon when they smelled an odor of burning plastic coming from the lower level of the new addition. Sandy Hook Volunteer Firefighters responded to the scene, but the smell turned out to be glue from a recently uncrated tack board. Dominic Posca, school maintenance supervisor, said, “I’ve got a brand-new building here, so I wasn’t going to take any chances.”

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The Town Players of Newtown have made Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads — three short stories that make up the whole, done as dramatic monologues — its newest undertaking. Under Mary Poile’s direction, the Town Players have done a terrific job in bringing the challenging work to the stage as a three-act play. Deirdre Seely, Damien Langan and Evelyne Thomas each take their turn as one of life’s losers. This show succeeds in being both moving and entertaining, and is definitely worth a trip to The Little Theatre.

September 15, 1972

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — NO EASY ANSWER: Because we are in the midst of the Jewish holidays, and in light of the tragic events during the 20th Olympiad in Munich, the world finds itself in a pensive and appraising mood. What can be wrong with people, that death and destruction are so rampant? Where lies the proper course to pursue to cure troubles? These questions are on many lips, and the answers are as elusive as the questions are frequent.

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Statistics for the ‘72 Summer Olympics have gone down in the books by now, and here are ten of them which were recorded in Munich on September 7 and 8: 100 meter, 11.3 seconds; long jump, 21.5 feet; shotput, 44.10 feet; high jump, 6¾ feet; quarter mile/400 meters, 49.4 seconds; ten meter high hurdles, 15.6 seconds; discus, 138 feet, 7 inches; pole vault, 15 feet, 1 inch; javelin throw, 216 feet; and 1,500 meter race, 4.18 minutes. Those statistics belong to Bruce Jenner of Sandy Hook, and show how he ended up in tenth place in the two-day decathlon event with a total of 7,722 points. It was a good showing, coming in as one of the top ten men in the most grueling event of the Olympics.

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A raging fire completely leveled the main building of the old Silver City dude ranch on Hanover Road Monday night, September 11. The cause of the blaze is still undetermined but is under investigation by Newtown Fire Marshals and the State Fire Marshal’s office. Although firemen were not called to the scene until 6:30, it was reported later that residents on George’s Hill Road in the Hawleyville district had seen smoke from the area at 6 pm. By the time the alarm was sent in and the firemen arrived on the scene, the building was totally involved in flames with the roof about ready to cave in.

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The United Methodist Church finally came to rest on its new foundation in Sandy Hook on September 13. Wet weather during the summer held up every phase of the church’s relocation, especially the pouring of the cement for the foundation. But now the church really has a new home.

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Mrs C. Harold Schwartz and Mrs Joseph Sullivan happily celebrated the mailing out of 1,200 tickets for the 1972-73 Newtown Arts Festival Series. Now in its third season, the series has been completely sold out — a great achievement for the festival volunteers, who should be heartily congratulated for a job well done.

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A member-guest Scotch-foursome tournament was played at Newtown Country Club on Sunday, September 11. Low net winners after a sudden death playoff were Fran Hyatt and A. Torcellini, 57. Runners-up were Rick Grandel and Evelyn Stemple. The team of Lucy Keenan and Dave Howard took low gross.

September 12, 1947

In the first of two very lovely weddings to take place in the Newtown Congregational church on Saturday afternoon, Miss Dorothy Main, daughter of Mrs Harold A. Heasley of Queen street, became the bride of George L. Mentley, Jr, son of Mr and Mrs George L. Mentley of Taunton district. The Rev Paul A. Cullens performed the double ring ceremony.

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Carol Lloyd Petzold, daughter of Mr and Mrs B.W. Loyd of Fulda, Minn., became the bride of Frederick R. Hillsey, son of Mrs W.H. Johnson of Jackson Heights, L.I., and Dr John J. Hillsley of Larchmont, N.Y., in a beautiful candlelight ceremony in the Newtown Congregational church last Saturday afternoon. The double ring ceremony was performed by the Rev Paul A. Cullens.

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Last Thursday night was another Workshop night for Town Players, and the group, making use of new talent, presented two plays in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall before a large and appreciative audience. The first of these was produced, staged and directed with but little help from the author, for it was a bad play. John Woodbridge and his cast are, in consequence, to be congratulated for having tackled so self-conscious a chore as “City Symphony,” a play in which cops clutter the stage, on the lookout for a wounded killer.

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Bonnyleigh’s Martini, a Skye Terrier from Bonnyleigh Kennels, Greens Farms, won best in terrier group and best in match at the Newtown Kennel Club’s Fifth Match Show last Thursday evening. The winner is owned by Miss Leigh Graham.

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Hugh Quinn, son of Mr and Mrs Hugh Quinn, who is now stationed with General MacArthur’s Honor Guard in Tokyo, was promoted to the rank of sergeant this week.

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Miss Mary T. Forbes of Wendover Road returned home on Monday on the S.S. “Marine Tiger,” after having spent the summer doing reconstruction work at Le College Cevenol, Chambon-Sue-Lignon, in Southern France, with a group of young people of the Congregational Christian Service Committee, under the supervision of the Reverend Joseph Howell, son of Alfred C. Howell of Bethel and New York. On the way home, Miss Forbes stopped in England and visited friends in Cornwall.

September 8, 1922

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: Hereafter, owing to the pressure of work, the caucus notices of all political parties will be charged for at regular rates.

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At about 5 o’clock, Wednesday morning, a man from Mt Kisco, N.Y., driving a Ford, went partly through the railing of the bridge over the Housatonic river, at Sandy Hook. The car hung by its bind part on the railing. The driver got back on to the bridge and sent to Lillis & Hurd for help, who pulled the car back on to the bridge. The same morning, about a half hour later, a man from Middlebury, driving a Buick car went through the railing and landed on the soft and shining waters of Lake Zoar. He and his companion jumped out and waded or swam ashore. The car was partly submerged. Later in the day he came over from Middlebury with a truck and pulled the car on to the road. The radiator was smashed in and the engine damaged somewhat. The Middlebury man did not seem to want to advertise his involuntary bath. The numbers on his car were 94,039. The moonbeams of the early morning shining in his eyes are said to have confused him.

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In the heavy wind storm of Wednesday afternoon a large section of the maple tree in front of the residence of Dr W.H. Kiernan, crashed across the highway, holding up traffic for some minutes. A gang of telephone men, returning from the fire at Tilson’s farm, set at work with their axes and had the highway cleared for traffic in a very short time. It was surprising to see how so large a number of cars gathered from the result of the short blockade. Mr Northrop should hand the telephone men an engrossed letter of thanks. They were “Johnie on the spot.” Dr Kiernan stood in his garage, having just driven in, and saw the tree, the pride of his heart and joy of his eyes, laid low in a second.

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VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION NURSE’S MONTHLY REPORT: Newtown, Conn., August 1922: Number of patients brought forward from previous month, 33. New patients: men 1, women 4, children 7, total 45. Number of visits made: home 79, nursing 40, instructive 26, total 145. Cases cared for: medical 4, surgical 4, babies 29, prenatal 1, maternity 2; communicable diseases 4; Tuberculosis contacts 14. Number of cases dismissed, 7. Number of cases carried forward to next month 38. SOCIAL SERVICE Number of Social service visits made: homes 25, office 1, total 26. Number of patients referred to private physicians 8; hospitals, 2. SCHOOL SERVICE Number of children examined 10. Number of children referred to physicians for throat 10. Literature distributed 20 copies. Amount of money from July patients, $50.75. From the August patients, $19.00. Total $69.75. Respectfully submitted.—[Nora E. Crowe, R.N.

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Miss Catherine James went to Greenwich, Monday, to enter upon her duties in the Greenwich public schools.

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One of the largest and most successful auctions ever held in town, was that of Mr Aron at C.F. Beardsley’s place. Four hundred people were in attendance. People were crazy for the antique goods and Beardsley, the popular auctioneer, was at his best.

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Earl W. Smith returned on Wednesday, after an enjoyable summer’s stay at John Gregg Clarke’s camp for young men, at Timagami, Canada.

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Charles Hammond, who has passed his vacation of two weeks at his home on the Boulevard, returned to New York on Tuesday.

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In the heavy wind of Wednesday afternoon, a half of a large maple tree standing near the driveway to the barn, on A.P. Smith’s farm, blew over, blockading Mr Smith’s approach to the barn. His wood pile will be appreciably increased later on.

September 17, 1897

Miss Georgiana Gordon of Bridgeport is a guest at Edward Egan’s on Walnut Tree Hill.

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The boys on Walnut Tree Hill have built a club house on “Egan’s Park.” It has been the custom of the boys to gather at the point for 20 years, having bonfires and illumine the evenings.

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Farmers who have a good potato crop, this year, are in luck, as the crop in this section is light, and the retail price already rules at $1 and $1.10. Potatoes at $1 pay handsomely.

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From all sections of the country have come sincere expressions of regret at the burning of Dick’s hotel; especially from the large number of patrons in New Haven, Bridgeport and Greater New York, who look upon the burning of the hotel as a personal loss. The hotel had gained in prestige under the management of Mr Leonard. The members of the summer colony, as well as the townspeople, are hopeful Mr Leonard may find it for his interest to rebuild.

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The full choral service of praise and thanksgiving held in Trinity church, last Sunday evening, was greatly enjoyed by the very large congregation present. Pros C.S. Platt presided at the organ and the choir, under the leadership of Mrs C.S. Platt, rendered the whole service exceedingly well. The chanting of the Psalter (Psalms 148, 149, 150) was vigorous and hearty, and the singing of the well chosen hymns was most inspiring.

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.