September 26, 1997

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — A BETTER VIEW OF NEWTOWN: It is hard to know Newtown. The town is so big, 60 square miles, that it is possible to live here for years and never see some of the outlying tracts. With new people moving in all the time, even old-timers who think they know the town like the backs of their hands sometimes don’t even know their own neighbors. Trying to maintain a clear view of the town, as we do here at The Bee week to week, requires somehow looking beyond the familiar and the routine — seeing the forest and not just the trees. This week, all of Newtown got a little help in this regard from the local forest experts, the Newtown Forest Association. The association formally marked the acquisition of 86 acres from the estate of Josephine Holcombe. The property … rises above all of Newtown. At 830 feet above sea level, it is the highest point in town and affords spectacular views of three counties …. it offers a perspective on Newtown that quickly revives our positive view of the town — a view that is often obscured by the thicket of everyday distractions, like traffic, the incessant hum of lawn mowers, and long checkout lines at the grocery store. Thanks to Newtown Forest Association, our town still has peaceful places where the eye can look out and see the forest and beyond. It helps us know our town — and ourselves — a little better.

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Behind closed doors at the newly renovated Cyrenius H. Booth Library, several Newtown artists and a cabinetmaker are hard at work applying their unique skills and decorative know-how. One flat surface that seemed to be crying for a little color and creativity was the 14-foot-long sheet-rocked wall at one end of the addition’s large public meeting room. Claudia Coopersmith and Linda Pickwick, co-owners of the decorating business they call Claude-Lewis, which specializes in the creation of decorative paintings and murals, are creating a mural for that new space. Since both women have children who enjoy using the library, they were glad to be given the chance to do the mural as a special “Thank You” gift from their families to the town, Mrs Coopersmith said.

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At 7:40 last Thursday morning, Jim Bayles, 45, jumped into the Hudson River near the Tappan Zee Bridge for his 22-mile charity swim into Manhattan. The Newtown resident, whose passion for swimming has helped him raise over $40,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation over the past few years, got off to a smooth start, covering two miles in the first hour. He ran into some trouble around Dobbs Ferry as the strong tides prevented him from gaining any ground, but support from his wife Trina and their three daughters gave him support from a nearby boat. The Iron Man athlete waited patiently for the tide to subside, which it did around noon, and he picked up his pace, making it to the George Washington Bridge by 1 pm and then covering the final 8 miles of the swim in two hours. He finally reached Chelsea Pier around 4 pm, well ahead of schedule, even beating the welcoming committee by about 20 minutes.

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For a few minutes last Friday afternoon, it seemed like someone had turned back the hands of time, as a long line of cars from early in the century stopped at the intersection of Main Street and Church Hill Road. Before the vintage cars started on their way again, one of the classic motor car enthusiasts explained they were making a road trip to New Jersey.

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After their worship service on Sunday, September 21, members of Newtown Congregational Church unanimously voted to authorize the sale of church property at 41 Main Street to Newtown Savings Bank for $550,000. Also, church members approved transferring about three acres at the rear of the lot to the Borough of Newtown Land Trust for $1. The three acres will be preserved as open space land.

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Members of the United Fire Company of Botsford manned the grills last Sunday at a flea market sponsored by the auxiliary at the firehouse. They took turns at the grill preparing hot dogs and hamburgers for the hungry crowd. Paul Jacobs, 83, the oldest member of the company; company president Jay Nezvesky; Russ Picerno, chairman of the ways and means committee; and Mark Ouellette, company vice president, were among those manning the grill. Botsford will hold its annual Pumpkin Festival next month.

September 29, 1972

Robert Popovitch was honored for over 50 years of service with the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company at a meeting at the fire house on Tuesday evening. Among those joining him for the celebration were Chief John Tremblay, George Maser, Michael Krause, John Kocet, Henry Wachsmuth, Jim Wheeler, and Felix Paproski. Mr Popovitch is still very much an active fireman and is president of the Fairfield County Fire Chief’s Association.

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Saturday morning, September 23, fathers, mothers and members of the Pop Warner football teams put in a lot of hard work cleaning out the brush around the perimeter of Taylor Field behind Hawley School. Chain saws were used along with a great deal of muscle and determination, but the job isn’t completed by any means, and the drainage ditches are still clogged. There are plans for another workout on Saturday, September 30, beginning at 9 am, so anyone who is willing to help is welcome.

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Following the formal opening of the last September meeting of The Sixty Plus Club, First Selectman Frank DeLucia was introduced as the speaker. He first thanked the members for inviting him and his wife to the club’s picnic in the Town Park in August. He then covered a number of topics of interest to the members in the Connecticut Active Plan Report, including housing, education, roads, health, rising costs of living, taxes, etc. The subject of the proposed race track was also brought up. Mr DeLucia has been in other towns with race tracks and feels there are too many problems Connecticut has with them. He suggested Newtowners come to the meetings and express their opinions — let the Planning and Zoning Commission know how they feel.

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The parking lot at the Grand Union had its usual Saturday morning traffic on September 23, plus some more. However, as a result of that extra traffic, the store’s parking lot and the surrounding area was a much better looking place by the end of the day. All those extra people were members of Cub Scout Pack 170, who spent the better part of their Saturday raking and cleaning up. To all the boys — Congratulations on a job well done!

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The last valve for a pressure reducing valve was installed at the flagpole on September 27. This is the last of three to be installed in Newtown. The other two are at Wendover and School House Hill Roads and Roosevelt Drive and West Street. Nick Negria, superintendent of the Newtown Water Company, announced that this will mean that Newtown will have three pressure reducing zones. Static pressure across the board will be reduced, as a result, by 50 to 70 psi (pounds per square inch). Mr Negria emphasized that this project will not in any way reduce the fire flow; in other words, hydrants will have the same water pressure as before. The new pressure reducing valves will be put into use some time during October after the hydrants have been flushed.

September 26, 1947

The most surprised couple in Newtown last Thursday evening was Mr and Mrs William Hanlon of Berkshire, who came to a “regular” meeting of the Charles Howard Peck, Sr and Jr Post 308, VFW Auxiliary, only to find that it was a surprise party honoring their 59th wedding anniversary. The party was held in the social rooms of St John’s church, Sandy Hook, with 35 members of the Auxiliary present. As the unsuspecting couple came through the doorway, they received their first presentations from first vice president Mrs Lauvisa Lane. For the occasion, she had prepared a boutonniere for Mr Hanlon, which she proffered with a deck of gold edged playing cards, and for Mrs Hanlon, an old-fashioned bridal bouquet from which were suspended 59 ribbons, each ribbon holding at its end a new bright penny.

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Scudder Smith, son of Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith, followed in the recent footsteps of his father and younger brother, when he entered the Danbury hospital on Monday to receive treatment for a virus pneumonia infection.

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Newell Tiemann resumed his studies this week as a senior at the University of Connecticut, after spending a week as the guest of his grandfather, George B. Beers, and Mrs Sarah B. Mitchell.

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Mr and Mrs James Cavanaugh have returned from their wedding trip which took them on a tour of the New England states. Mrs Cavanaugh is the former Dorothy Quinn, whose absence from her accustomed place on The Bee staff has not gone without notice.

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The first Member-Guest golf tournament at the Newtown Country club was held two days this past week-end with the low gross event going to Walter Klinger of Bridgeport and Ed Deegan of Mill River over Walter Collet of Newtown and Bruno Pardee of New Haven. Pardee, by the way, is the former New England public links champ, New Haven city champ and the winner of many invitation tournaments.

September 22, 1922

HATTERTOWN PERSONAL NOTES: Miss Gladys Peck has been spending a week in Danbury, the guest of Mr and Mrs John Loucks. | Mrs Charles S. Barrett and son, Montgomery, of Elkins Park, Philadelphia, have been visiting with Mr and Mrs J.H. Jackson. | Mr Barrett, Mr Cook and another gentleman who were enjoying a motor trip through New England, spent one night with Mr and Mrs Jackson. | Stephen Hall has been sick for a week or more. | The persistent efforts of the parents and others interested, to have the eighth grade taught in our school has met with success, and quite a number of the pupils will enter that grade. It should not have been taken out of our school.

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The Carlson Brothers of the Liberty Garage have installed a Utica high pressure air pump and tank for the use of their customers.

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The adjourned annual meeting of the Parent-Teachers’ association was held, Thursday evening, September 14, in the auditorium of the Hawley school, and the following officers elected: Mrs P.H. McCarthy, president; L.B. Badger, vice president; Mrs Anna Sheehan, treasurer; Mrs H.N. Tiemann, secretary. Dr William J. McLaughlin gave an interesting and instructive talk on the care of children’s teeth, and the great benefit to be derived from dental clinics in the schools. Only about 30 persons were present, which was a very small audience for such a large room, and we feel very sorry that so few availed themselves of the opportunity to hear Dr McLaughlin, who not only stands at the head of his profession but is a speaker of wide experience.

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While calling on Peter Favereau in Redding on Friday last, The Bee scribe picked apple blossoms from one of the apple trees in Mr Favereau’s orchard. Mr Favereau is trying to figure out if the tree is six months late or six months early.

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The Men’s club held its opening meeting for the fall and winter season, Tuesday night, at the Parker house, with Charles F. Beardsley as host and D.C. Peck as essayist. Mr Peck presented Walter Glover, wireless expert, who had a radio installed. Baseball scores and instrumental music, broadcasted from Pittsburgh, Pa., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. radio stations were heard. Mr Glover also gave an informal talk on the radio business. William Johnson did the honors as chairman in the absence of the president and vice president. Host Parker served one of his fine dinners.

October 1, 1897

HATTERTOWN: Miss Edith Fairchild of New York has visited her aunt, Mrs G.R. Parmelee. | Miss Mattie C. Fischer is at home for a few days’ visit. | David Parmelee and wife attended the New Milford fair, last Wednesday. | Mrs C.D. Stillson and Miss Flora Nichols attended the Baptist Association at Northville, last week. | The Christian Endeavor society held a sociable at J.H. Summer’s, Wednesday evening.

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Ambrose Taylor has had Carpenter Wordin of Southville put up a big tobacco barn on his Hanover farm and has filled it with a fine crop of the weed. Mr Taylor is constantly adding improvements and has John Dahlquist looking after the place.

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Eilas Gilbert, a former resident of Newtown, but who has been in the West for the past 40 years, is visiting his mother, Mrs Julia Gilbert, in Huntingtown.

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Mrs Edward Ballard from New Milford has visited her sister-in-law, Mrs Ira Wildman.

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George Knapp’s mother from Danbury has visited him for a few days.

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Hiram Barlow was arrested on Monday by Sheriff Rodgers, on the complaint of Edward Booth, charged with an assault on the latter’s son, Louis. He was brought before Judge Cavanaugh, who continued the case to Wednesday, October 6, on the motion of Mr Barlow’s attorney, Mr Northrop.

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Another more than notable victory has been scored by the Newtown Agricultural Fair Co., which closed its gates on Thursday evening, after the successful fair of 1897. The success of the fair cannot be attributed to one cause alone for there are several excellent reasons that have placed it in its present prosperous and popular position. First of all was the weather, three days of as good fair weather as could be made was made. Second reason for success must be due to position … here in Newtown, on one of the best sites for a fair ground that could be found … convenient to the railway station, on the Berkshire division, and Newtown Street and Sandy Hook lying half way between the two. Another important item is the untiring work of the directors. … The last reason named here is that everybody for miles around seemed to take a [illegible] in the fair and came and brought cousins and aunts with them. The [illegible] attendance would safely be for Tuesday 2000, for Wednesday 5500, for Thursday 5500, a grand total of 13,000.

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.