* * *

Fire officials continue to investigate the origin of a fire at the Hawley Manor Inn in which a man living in an efficiency apartment escaped without injury on October 9. The fire companies responded before the fire was able to spread off the rear exterior wall of the apartment, said Tim Gies, assistant fire chief of Hook and Ladder.

* * *

The Parks and Recreation Commission on October 9 presented the Board of Selectmen with its proposal for a swimming pool and bathhouse at Treadwell Park. The preliminary estimated cost for the project is $671,054. The latest plan calls for a 25-yard eight-lane pool, complete with a 30 foot by 30 foot diving ell, that would be 12 feet deep. The plans also call for a 25 foot by 25 foot wading pool that would be 18 inches deep. The project calls for a solar heating system for the pool.

* * *

After the cause of a baffling gas leak was determined and corrected on October 4, the Newtown Exxon Station on South Main Street resumed normal gas sales on October 5, station owner Anthony Crisci said. Mr Crisci said the problem turned out to be related to an old line left in the ground when new underground piping was installed about five years ago. When one of the gas pumps was “overfilled,” gas blew out a plug in an old abandoned line, allowing a few gallons of gas to escape near the top of the ground.

 

October 14, 1960

A number of persons met at the Hawley Manor Inn on October 10 to explore the formation of a development corporation in Newtown. During the discussion it appeared that although industrial sites have been set aside under the town’s zoning program, no suitable new industry has come to town because almost no land has actually been offered for sale. The purpose of the new corporation is to acquire industrial and commercial land when it is available for sale, improve the properties by bringing in roads and utilities and by subdividing into appropriate tracts.

* * *

The Connecticut Petroleum Council will honor the state’s 30 top service stations on Monday, October 24, at the third annual awards banquet at the Statler Hilton Hotel, Hartford. The Village Texaco Station of Church Hill Road operated by Carl and Richard Oberg is one of the 30 stations singled out.

* * *

The Society of the Hawley Family held its 38th Annual Reunion at the Hawley Manor Inn on Saturday, October 8. Favored by perfect fall weather, the conclave drew a near record attendance of about 60 members and guests. Mrs Charles W. Hawley of Trumbull had set up an exhibition of charts and manuscripts of many branches of the family. The program included a roll call of those present, in which each identified his line of descent.

* * *

Coach Ann Anderson’s field hockey squad started the 1960 season with a 7-1 win over New Milford girls on the Newtown field, Monday afternoon. Newtown’s entire squad of 24 players managed to play part of the game.

October 11, 1935

The nine-year-old son of Ray Fulton of the Boulevard, victim of a prank, was removed from Waterbury hospital to his parents’ home. The accident occurred during a visit to the home of his grandfather, Dr Green, in Southbury. A son of one of Dr Green’s neighbors had an old Springfield rifle shell in a vise. He called young Ray over to watch an experiment of striking the shell with a file and resulted in an explosion. The shell pierced Ray’s abdomen. Curiously, the shell was a souvenir of the sham battle, staged in this vicinity before the war.

* * *

With the World’s Series now over, The Newtown Bowling League of 40 members has gotten down to some real pin busting. On the opening night, Ed Oberstadt, Hawks’ captain, sent them crashing to the tune of 148 and high evening total of 382. Yes, folks, we have some fair bowlers on the Newtown mapleways and with past records in the ascendancy, you will be treated to some spectacular feats of ball rolling this season.

* * *

Charles Allen, son or Mr and Mrs Allen of Mt Pleasant district, was painfully injured on Wednesday afternoon. The accident happened when young Allen stepped from the school bus and walked across the road directly into the side of a car belonging to the Southern New England Telephone Company. His skull was fractured and he had numerous bruises about his body.

* * *

In one of the largest votes ever cast in Newtown, Monday’s town election resulted in a large majority vote for all Republican candidates, with the exception of town clerk and town treasurer. The vote showed a splendid endorsement of the administration of First Selectman Stanley J. Blackman, who was returned to office. A total of 1,473 votes was cast, of which 25 were rejected.

 

October 14, 1910

“NOTICE: This store with the business has this day been transferred to Mr Lawrence Taylor — A. B. Blakeman, October 5, 1910.” This modest notice hanging in the store formerly owned by Austin B. Blakeman of Botsford was the formal notification to the public that the deal already foreshadowed in these columns, had been consummated. Lawrence Taylor in 1891 took a position as operator at the Botsford station, under A.B. Blakeman, their agent. It is rather an interesting coincidence that Mr Taylor succeeded Mr Blakeman as railroad agent, then succeeded him in business, and in all probability will succeed him as postmaster at Botsford.

* * *

William Shea of Berkshire has just completed a well near his house and has piped the water to his house and placed a pump in his sink so he can have the water pumped into his house. William Egan has dug a new well on his place on Walnut Tree Hill, now has a good supply of water for his place.

* * *

H.M. Greenman of Cold Spring farm, has just completed a dairy barn, built on the latest scientific principles. The building is 35 x 50, with no space overhead for hay or grain. There are 24 stanchions of the swinging type. The floors and troughs for the droppings are laid in cement. At the east end of the barn is a large silo, 16 x 24 feet. He also has a silo 10 x 27 feet, on the west end of the barn. The barn is splendidly ventilated, with seven windows on each side.

* * *

A testing stand is being constructed near the Danbury Fair grounds by the State Department of Motor Vehicles for the state inspection of motor cars. Voluntary inspections will start the first of the week and later cards will be sent by the Department to all motor car owners requiring them to appear to have cars tested.