The issue of adopting an ordinance to form a Newtown economic development commission to work to attract industry and business was defeated by a one-vote margin Wednesday by the Legislative council, the town’s ordinance making authority.

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Newtown voters will be asked to act on a special appropriation Wednesday night that would provide funds to complete phase one of a new 56-acre town park off of Philo Curtis Road. The $118,365 they will be asked to approve at a Town Meeting is money needed by the town in addition to a $358,000 appropriation approved for the project by an April 1978 town meeting. Half of both amounts will be reimbursed by the federal Heritage Land and Water Conservation Fund during the progress of construction.

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For the third time in the past year the board of Selectmen will consider the question of whether to recommend a special appropriation to construct an addition to the 47-year-old Cyrenius H. Booth Library. First Selectman Jack Rosenthal received a formal request this week to consider an appropriation from Herman Jervis, president of the library’s board of trustees. Mr Jervis said trustees will attend the selectmen’s meeting on Monday, September 24, at 8 pm in town hall to discuss the proposed addition.

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When Mary Hawley made her gift of Edmond Town Hall to Newtown, it was with the intention that the town clerk and judge of probate would have their offices there. The wealthy benefactress also set up a theater and gymnasium there and a town hall trust fund that was intended to cover maintenance costs for the building. Things have changed since the structure was built in1930. Other town offices are now housed there, a wing has been added, and the $35,000 a year that comes from Miss Hawley’s fund now provides a little over one third of what it costs to operate and maintain Edmond Town Hall. But the basic essence of Miss Hawley’s gift, to provide the town with needed facilities, has remained.

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Governor Ella T. Grasso and other state and local officials were among nearly 100 people who attended formal dedication ceremonies last Thursday that marked the opening of the new office facility in Newtown for Dual-Lite Inc.

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The Newtown United Methodist Church will formally dedicate its outdoor chapel on Sunday, September 25, at morning services at 11 am. Dr Richard A. Thornburg, superintendent of the Connecticut west district, will lead the service and will speak on the topic, “God’s Gift—What is It?” At the conclusion of the service, members and friends will proceed to the outdoor chapel where formal service of dedication will take place.

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The Newtown junior varsity football team picked up where they left off last year on a winning note, by trouncing New Milford, 42-0, this past Monday at Bruce Jenner Stadium. The Indians built up a 30-0 halftime lead and had little trouble holding onto it.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1954

With the school year well underway in Newtown schools and a record number of students enrolled at Hawley School, Sandy Hook School and Newtown High School, a large number of young people have left home during the past two weeks to continue their educations at many private schools, colleges and universities throughout the country. Nineteen of this year’s graduates of Newtown High School have gone on to colleges and universities or into professional training.

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A town budget of $598,856.77 has been recommended for the fiscal year beginning October 1 by the Board of Finance. Including the selectmen’s budget of $273,627.30 and a Board of Education budget of $325,229.47 for the operation of the town’s schools, the budget is advertised elsewhere in this issue and will be presented for the approval of voters at the annual Town Meeting, Monday, October 4 at 8 pm. The recommended budget for the coming fiscal year is approximately 16 percent higher than the 1953 budget of $514,987.70.

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The business of the Republican caucus on Monday evening was dispatched in 15 minutes. Herbert H. Cutler was nominated as candidate for representative from the First District. Mrs Sarah Frances Curtis was renominated as the candidate for representative from the Second District, and Judge Walter A. Reynolds was nominated for the position of Judge of Probate.

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An informal meeting of the residents in Hattertown District was held Sunday afternoon at the home of Mr and Mrs Richard Noack, when several matters of community interest were discussed. These matters concerned in particular highway safety and postal service.

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The New Haven Railroad’s passenger stations at Brookfield and Gaylordsville will be the scene of hearings by the Connecticut Public Utilities Commission of application by the railroad to abandon the two stations on Monday, October 4.

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Caryl Stratton, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Stratton of Church Hill Road, was guest of honor at a birthday party given by a group of her friends last Friday evening at the home of Anna Lou Watkins, daughter of Mr and Mrs Reginald Watkins, Glen Road, Sandy Hook.

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Harry Greenman and A. Fenn Dickinson were reelected to the Board of Trustees of the Newtown Ambulance Association for three year terms on Tuesday evening, September 21, in a meeting held in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall. Kenneth Shaw also was elected for a three-year term, succeeding the late Paul V. Cavanaugh. George Kayhoe was chosen to fill the unexpired two-year term of Raymond J. Trimpert.

SEPTEMBER 20, 1929

The pilgrimage to the old Marshall House in Woodbury, where Samuel Seabury was elected the first bishop of the American Episcopal Church, was made by a big delegation of the YPF of Trinity and St John’s Sunday afternoon. Leaving in Billy Burrough’s big truck, the “happy band of pilgrims” flocked into the old house and was shown the many interesting relics connected with this venerable mansion.

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William H. Egan is now enjoying the fall season at Camp Egan on Walnut Tree Hill. He has an expert East Indian chef, this season, in the person of Alia Moshe of Calcutta.

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Dr R.N. Lesk, superintendent of the Connecticut State Hospital, Middletown, and architect Crabtree, of Hartford, who is to prepare the plans for the new Fairfield State Hospital, were in town Tuesday, looking over the houses on the property the state has lately acquired.

Mr and Mrs Levi C. Morris will be at home to their friends on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary from 3 to 5 o’clock pm on Tuesday, October 1.

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Contractor Henry Johnson is transforming the barn on the former E.C. Platt place, on the Danbury-Newtown state road, now owned by Mrs Marjorie Lattin, into an attractive house.

SEPTEMBER 23, 1904

Saturday afternoon, the 24th, the public-spirited ladies and gentlemen of Newtown and Sandy Hook are requested to meet at the main building of the fairgrounds for the purpose of cleaning and decorating it for the fair.

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E.R. Botsford shot a hawk recently, which measured five feet and four inches from tip to tip.

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Arthur T. Nettleton, Eli B. Beers, Hobart H. Curtis, and C.M. Parsons attended the Republican state convention in Hartford Tuesday. Mr Nettleton served on the committee on resolutions.

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Edward Taylor enjoyed the races at the New Milford fair on Thursday last.

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A telephone is to be installed shortly in the residence of R.D. Smith in Dodgingtown. The line will be constructed from the corner near the residence of A.C. Moore.

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The Democratic caucus to nominate town officers will be held at the Town Hall on Friday evening, the 30th, at 7:30 pm, also a probate judge for the district of Newtown.

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The ladies of St John’s Guild have put in an order, this week, for a new carpet for the church, to be furnished made and laid by the D.M. Read Company of Bridgeport, within the next 30 days.

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Selectman Blackman has made a fine record the past year in cutting down town expenses. A close friend of Mr Blackman informs The Bee he has effected a saving of nearly $1,200 the last year on the single item of paupers, and also of $1,200 on ordinary expenses.

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The population of Newtown, according to the last census, was over 3,200. Out of this number there ought to be at least 2,500 able to attend the fair. Will they do it? The managers have worked hard to make the fair a success and now it is up to the people to show whether their efforts are appreciated.