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THE WAY WE WERE

AUGUST 16, 1974

At 3:30 pm, August 12, a lot of people in Newtown suddenly found themselves

without electricity due to an accident at the intersection of Routes 302 and

25. It all happened when Anthony Sega of New Milford was driving his

tractor-trailer truck with crane eastbound on Route 302 and attempted to make

a left hand turn at the light. When he did so, he struck a Connecticut Light

and Power pole, breaking it and also taking down quite a few of the overhead

wires, which ended up being strewn across Routes 25 and 302. Squads 1 and 11

of Newtown Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 had to be called to the scene because a

tree and a small area of grass caught fire when the pole started to burn

following the accident. No injuries were reported, and Mr Sega was issued a

summons for making an improper left turn. Investigating were Officers George

Stowe, John Kotch and Martin Pytko.

The first selectman and road superintendent returned to their work after a

week of vacation. Taking note of the demonstration by the highway department's

employees last week, both officials presented their defense to the press about

the gripes which were aired in the local papers. Mr DeLucia said he had had

discussions with some of the union leaders on Friday, August 2, before he left

on vacation. Though the negotiations between the town and the union had broken

off about two weeks before, and state arbitration was threatened, the union

had delayed the move and talked further with the first selectman on the wage

scale to be included in the first-ever contract for the highway department

employees.

Eagle Hill, the treatment center for alcoholics proposed for land off Alberts

Hill Road, Sandy Hook, comes before the Planning & Zoning Commission for a

public hearing on Friday, August 23, at 8 pm at Edmond Town Hall. An emotional

issue when it was presented to P&Z two years ago, Eagle Hill appears likely to

create another hearing with a number of sharply different views this time

around as well. The plan, proposed for the 11-acre property of William H.

Johnson, who is the applicant for the special exception which would allow the

center to become a reality, was passed two years ago by a two to one vote by

the commission. However, opponents brought it to court, where the judge

subsequently overturned the decision based on the fact that only three of the

five commission members had voted, and that two did not constitute a majority

of five.

Sharply at 9 am Sunday, August 11, Sven Tilly and Lou Iasiello teed off on the

first hole at Newtown Country Club to begin the 36 holes of match play which

would determine who the 1974 Club Champion would be. When play was finished on

the 35th hole, the winner was Sven Tilly, two and one. The match was a closely

contested one with the lead going back and forth several times.

A first for Newtown! The Board of Registrars of Voters will be in session on

Sunday evening, September 1, from 6 to 8 pm in the lower meeting room of

Edmond Town Hall for the purpose of receiving applications for admission as an

elector. This will be the first Sunday session called by the Registrars in the

town -- and possibly in the state.

Mrs Susan Rajcok has been appointed by the Democratic Women's Club to serve as

liaison with the Democratic Town Committee in plans to support William

Ratchford's primary bid for a Congressional nomination. Shirley Kates, Susan

Fernandes and Lianne Migiano are on the club's committee planning a float for

the Labor Day Parade.

The "Pay Now -- Play Later" drive to raise funds for a new tennis court at the

Town Park is now in full gear. This campaign seeks to raise the $3,500

necessary to begin work on the court by September 1, which is also finals day

for the First Annual Bertram A. Stroock Labor Day Tennis Tournament.

The pavilion at Dickinson Town Park was filled with family groups on

Wednesday, August 14, for the Talent Show of the second group of day campers

in the Summer Recreation Program. Sixteen acts met with enthusiastic applause.

The theme was "The Wonderful World of Disney." Diana Greene, Helen Szigeti,

Karen Jossick and Jennifer Dahlstrom did a catty pantomime of "Don Gotto,"

with rhythmic meows, to take first prize in the individual acts. Robin LaCava

placed second with her solo dance to "The Night Chicago Died," and little

Kathy Ballwig took third with a solo performance of "Sing A Song." Kelly

Nichols and Marcia Launder sang "Happy Birthday" to Marcia's father and the

audience added their voices to the greeting. Mrs Edna Marks was master of

ceremonies. Judges for the individual acts were Mr and Mrs Brian Gibney and

for the groups, Barbara O'Connor of the Recreation Commission and Phyllis

Hodsdon from The Newtown Bee.

AUGUST 19, 1949

The trustees of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library have in the past few days sent

an appeal to all friends of the library to make contributions to the annual

drive for funds needed to augment its regular income. Townspeople who have

long enjoyed the free services of this vital local institution are urged to

contribute generously according to their ability, but the appeal emphasizes

that gifts in any amount are welcome. This annual drive was inaugurated in

1948 when the library found that the funds so generously donated to the town

by Miss Mary Hawley were no longer sufficient to cover the increased costs of

maintaining the building and services.

Visitors to town offices on the first floor of Edmond Town Hall during the

past two weeks have been curious as to the activities of a scholarly looking

gentleman operating a microfilm camera on a table just outside the office of

Town Clerk May Sullivan. The setup appears rather formidable. A tripod

supports camera, reflectors, photo floodlamps and two large wings that protect

wandering eyes from the lights. On the table beneath the camera's point of

focus lies an open book of deeds or of wills. The films are gathering on their

35-millimeter surfaces, two pages at a time, vital records of Newtown. The

operator is Lloyd Hughes, an elder of the Mormon church, who is doing the work

for the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, a part of that church.

A major contribution to the advance sale for the Berkshire String Quartet

concert of next Thursday night in the Edmond Town Hall has been made by five

Newtown artists, who created posters advertising the event. The concert is

being sponsored by the Newtown Orchestral Society. Eberhard von Jarochowski,

Henry Schnakenberg, Jan Mayer, John Angel and Harrie Wood designed a series of

posters now being exhibited in Roxbury, Westport, Danbury, New Milford and

Norwalk, an impressive contribution for this outstanding musical event.

Raymond J. Trimpert of Sugar Street was elected president of the Newtown Lions

Club by its board of directors at a meeting held in Mr Trimpert's home Monday

evening. The action was taken to elect a successor to the late George W.

Trull, whose death occurred in Newtown August 8. Mr Trull had been the first

president of the club and was recently reelected to the office for the full

year.

Plans for Armistice Day exercises in Newtown and the reconditioning of the

town's famous flagpole so that it can be in constant use were subjects brought

up at the meeting of the Raymond L. Pease Post, 163, American Legion, held in

the Sandy Hook Hotel, Tuesday night. Commander George L. May presided and

George Trolland, Third district chaplain, spoke briefly on Legion affairs.

Newtown's Armistice Day exercises this year will be in charge of the Legion

Post. All organizations in the town will be invited to take part.

On Tuesday evening of this week the Auxiliary of the Raymond L. Pease Post,

163, American Legion, elected Mrs Florence May president for the ensuing year.

Other officers elected at the annual meeting held in Sandy Hook Hotel were as

follows: Mrs Lauvisa Lane, vice president; Mrs Elsie Harris, secretary; Mrs

Esther Liskin, treasurer; Mrs Belle Lockwood, chaplain; Mrs Louise Mularcik,

historian, and Mrs Joan Tani, sergeant-at-arms. Mrs Ellen Trolland of Nichols,

past third district president, was present and obligated the incoming

officers.

AUGUST 15, 1924

The All Stars played the Watertowns at baseball Sunday afternoon, defeating

them by the score of 17 to 4. Bill Conger and Bill Brenner were the battery

for Newtown.

Deacon Arthur D. Fairchild, who has been incapacitated from labor and the

privilege of attending church services since his shock 16 months ago, on

Sunday through the kindness of Rev G.H. Ekins was brought in the latter's

comfortable sedan, and listened to the service at the Congregational Church,

the car being stationed just outside one of the open windows. At the close of

the service Deacon Fairchild held an impromptu reception from his car seat to

the members of the congregation, who flocked about the car to greet him.