October 6, 1989

The search on Block Island, Rhode Island, for a missing 35-year-old Newtown woman, Regina Brown, has been suspended. The search on Block Island began after police discovered a piece of evidence linking the Brown case to Block Island. A major part of that evidence was a map found among the things of Regina Brown’s stepmother-in-law, Margaret Brown… The map was interpreted by police to show the location of where Regina Brown’s body was buried. The author of the drawing, however, still remains unknown.. Mrs Brown, an American Airline stewardess, was reported missing in late March 1987 and was last seen at LaGuardia Airport, putting her three children aboard an airplane to visit their grandparents in Texas… Her car was found a few days later parked on a New York City street with the keys still in the ignition.

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A small crowd of residents, mostly from the proposed sewer district, expressed doubt at public hearings about the need for a $105 million limited sewer plan, and unequivocally opposed the cost. Comments from the 135 people attending the September 28 public hearing have sent the Water Pollution Control Authority back to the drawing board… which in turn could reduce the plan’s total cost by about $10 million. An official with the Department of Environmental Protection described problems Newtown could face if residents fail to solve the groundwater pollution problem here. Following the public hearing, the Authority unanimously adopted the plan, despite local opposition. On Monday, the board rescinded its vote after learning the state would allow delays incurred as a result of responding to that opposition.

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State police divers testified last week that they found a chain saw on the bottom of Lake Zoar in Southbury, near the site of a pile of wood chips that authorities say contain ground up bits of Helle Crafts’ body. Mrs Crafts’ husband Richard Crafts is being tried a second time for his wife’s murder. Authorities say Richard Crafts murdered his wife and disposed of body parts by feeding them through a woodchipper.

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Smoke Signals, Newtown High School’s newspaper, has earned second place in the George H. Gallup Award for the 1988-89 school year. The award, dated September 15, was given by Quill and Scroll, an international honor society for high school journalists. The paper received superior scores in coverage, business practices, design, and graphic policies.

October 9, 1964

On Sunday, October 11, the Newtown Congregational Church will, as part of its 250th anniversary celebration, reenact a service typical of those held in 1714. It is anticipated that many people attending this Colonial Sunday service will come in costume, thus enhancing a colonial atmosphere. On this Sunday, one will listen in vain for the church bell calling the faithful to service. In those long ago days, the church had not yet acquired its bell.

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In Monday’s annual town meeting, which appropriated funds for town government and schools for a nine-month fiscal 1964-65, First Selectman Charles W. Terrell, Jr saved the best news for last. Those townspeople who left earlier did not hear the board of selectmen’s annual report in which it was disclosed that Ivan Sorvall, Inc, of Norwalk, will be constructing a factory to be located on Peck’s Lane in Newtown.

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It was 14 degrees on the thermometer at 7 o’clock this Thursday morning at Judge Edward E. Knapp’s residence in Sandy Hook. The judge has found over the years that if the air is still, it is usually about six to ten degrees warmer at the flagpole and town hall area than in the valley. If it’s windy, the temperature readings are more nearly similar.

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All the fire companies of the town of Newtown participated in a fire prevention program on Tuesday, conducted for all the students in the public schools and St Rose School, kindergarten through grade 6. Trucks were stationed and manned at the schools, during which time the students inspected the equipment and received a short talk on fire prevention.

 

October 6, 1939

Although by a somewhat slimmer margin than last year, Newtown voters returned a Republican to office in Monday’s town election. By a margin of 73 votes, Stanley J. Blackman was reelected to the office of first selectman for his ninth consecutive term. Miss May E. Sullivan, Democrat, was uncontested for the office of town clerk as was Republican Robert N. Camp for the office of tax collector. Frederick J. Crouch regained the position of constable by a four-vote-majority. The 1,057 voters cast 597 straight Republican ballots, 534 straight Democratic, 8 Socialist, spoiled 11, and placed two blanks in the ballot box.

The staff of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library entertained the teachers of the district schools at tea on Wednesday afternoon at the library. Plans were discussed for the work of supplying the district school children with the books needed in their school work.

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Local gardeners who frequently boast of their “early spring crops” now have a competitor in the field who boasts of “late crops.” During the past week, Miss Juanita Smith of Mt  Pleasant district, enjoyed fresh peas from her garden. The growing of peas during the heat of late summer is especially difficult, and Miss Smith’s feat of harvesting a crop at this time of year should make local gardeners look to their laurels.

***

An audience of nearly 100 greeted Mortimer B. Smith at the meeting of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall on Friday evening, to hear his talk on his summer’s trip to Europe. First, Mr Smith recounted the early part of the summer which he and his family spent in Norway. Mr and Mrs Smith decided to travel afield, into Germany to gain a glimpse of affairs at first hand. In Germany, Mr Smith found the people in general, amiable, quite well fed and going about their regular routine of living. However, he did notice a definite restraint of free expression in the arts, particularly music, writing and even painting. There was a sense of regimentation and very much of a subtle influence over the people on the part of the Nazi government. As to persecution of the Jews and others who dared to oppose the scheme of National Socialism there could be no doubt; and yet it seemed certain that that form of government must lead ultimately into trouble.

 

October 9, 1914

Arthur W. Reynolds showed seven specimens of his Currituck Hill herd of Aberdeen-Angus Cattle at the Danbury Fair, this week, taking first prize on the herd, first on aged bull, first on junior bull calf, first and second on cows, first and second on heifers and first on yearling heifer. T.H. Bolmer’s yearling Aberdeen-Angus bull took first in his class.

***

Newtown was the scene of a horrible automobile accident, Wednesday evening, about 10:10 o’clock, when a large Packard touring car, the property of R.C. Seeley of Bridgeport, ran into the ditch and turned turtle. In the car were Mr and Mrs R.C. Seely and Mr and Mrs F.C. Genert. Mr Seeley was thrown clear. Mr and Mrs Genert and Mrs Seeley were pinned under the car. The accident took place a short distance below the small cottage formerly occupied by the late Capt Qualey, on the State road, a quarter mile south of the Borough limits. The Packard passed a Ford car, driven by Harold Blakeman of Monroe. In the Ford were Mr and Mrs Myron S. Clark, Albert M. Burt and Miss Adaline Clark. Messrs Blakeman, Burt and Clark went to the assistance of those in trouble. Dr Frank J. Gale and Dr W. Clement Kennedy were on the scene in a few minutes and did everything possible for the injured ladies, who were taken to the Danbury hospital. Mrs Seeley died soon after. F.C. Genert was crushed to death beneath the car. His second wife, Miss Katherine Lavender, was one of the victim’s of Wednesday night’s fatality.

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The second serious automobile accident in Newtown within 24 hours took place on Thursday, about 10.30 o’clock, near the residence of James B. Nichols of Mt Pleasant, when a car owned by Ex-Representative Jacob Beisiegel struck the end of a sluice near Mr Nichols’ residence and turned turtle. Jacob Beisiegel was thrown free, but Miss Ruth Carrington and Alling Beisiegel and Clarence Beisiegel were pinned beneath it. Help soon arrived. Alling Beisiegel tells The Bee reporter the driver of a Ford car tried to pass and repass Mr Beisiegel. The Ford suddenly tried to shoot in front and in order not to strike it, Mr Beisiegel brought his car sharply to the left. The driver of the Ford car drove on without stopping those who were in serious condition.

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Mr Sanders and Mr Jones of the Danbury & Bethel Street Railway Co were in town a few days ago in consultation with some of the local citizens. They agreed to go forward with the electric lighting proposition, and already have a force of men on the job. They expect to have the juice in Newtown by October 15. Citizens who have not wired their house of electricity would do well to make arrangements speedily.