October 21, 1994

At this time each year, it is hard not to notice the changing colors of the … license plates. Ride along I-84 from Exit 9 – 11, and you are likely to see Pennsylvanias, Virginias, Tennessees, Kentuckys and even a New Mexico or California. Run up Route 7 to Kent and you might see a North Carolina, or an Ohio, and possibly a California mixed in with the usual New Yorks. These changing colors on the highway are linked directly to the magnificent turning of the trees here in New England. The draw of this annual spectacle is undeniable, even for those of us who have lived here all our lives. Now, more than any other time of year, we find ourselves stopping in our tracks, and just looking at the beauty of our surroundings. It really is too big a thing to keep all to ourselves; it is good that we have guests to help us appreciate it. We only wish they would stay around for the raking.

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The Newtown Junior Woman’s Club is sponsoring a show called “Quilts at the Meeting House” on Saturday, October 22, at the Newtown Meeting House. About 65 quilts loaned for the day by various individuals and organizations will be hung on the walls and pews. The exhibition will include both new and old quilts. Speakers will be present to share their ideas about aspects of quilting. Vendors will also offer quilting supplies. Brunch will be available. Admission is $4 at the door. Quilts are not for sale but proceeds for tickets and food sales will be donated to the community by the club.

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Looking For The Leak. A Newtown Water Company work crew started digging on Main Street Thursday to look for the source of water that has been leaking into the roadway in the area below the former Hawley Manor Inn and above Town Hall South. The company hoped to find and repair the source of the leak before the end of the day.

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Gary Fetzer, Newtown’s Democratic candidate for the 28th State Senate District, invites the public to meet State Atty Gen Richard Blumenthal, “eat pizza, and talk about the issues,” on Friday, October 28. The event will take place form 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Democratic headquarters in the Queen Street Shopping Center.

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Newtown’s annual flu shot clinic will be held from 8:30 am to 10 am at the Senior Center on Riverside Road on Wednesday, October 26. Residents considered at high risk of developing serious influenza complications and caregivers for at-risk persons are encouraged to attend. People in higher-risk categories include the elderly, those on long-term aspirin therapy and health care personnel.

October 10, 1969

HISTORIC DISTRICT: The Connecticut Historical Commission has approved unanimously and without reservation the report of the Newtown Historic District Study Committee, for the area along Main Street in the Borough. William J. Morris, state commission director, has so informed study committee chairman Ben Blanchard. Next step will be informative meetings with the property owners concerned; then a public hearing and finally a vote at the Borough meeting on the establishment of an Historic District.

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The Bee herewith prints additional letters, received this week, on Newtown’s famous flagpole. Just in case you thought the fame was local, we pass along a “for real” story about a young Newtowner traveling in Europe this summer. She was with a group going through a museum when the guide asked about the home towns of his guests. New York and other well-known places were mentioned. Said the young Newtowner, “I’m from a small town in Connecticut, you wouldn’t have heard of it — Newtown.” “Ah,” said the guide “That’s the town with the flagpole in the middle.” So flabbergasted, she did not find out the source of the guide’s knowledge. Keep It Where It Is. Dear Editor, we are in favor of the flagpole to remain where it is. Surely some kind of protection could be placed around the base. (Newcomers to Newtown), Laura & Fred Simondet.

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The third planted island in town was put into shape on Tuesday by the Gerow Garden Center in New Fairfield, under the direction of the Town and Country Garden Club. The large planting was accomplished by Arthur Wilmot and Jerry Rathjen, with Mrs Mark Hayes holding a blueprint. After the shrubs and trees are in place, the garden club members will take over the bulbs and annuals for the season.

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SUPPORT SCOUTS. The Rev Paul Cullens has been named honorary chairman of the 1969 Newtown sustaining membership drive for the Boy Scouts of America Pomperaug Council. Fundraising begins next week. Over 600 Newtown boys and young men participate in scouting. The funds raised this fall support the four Cub packs, five Scout troops and one Explorer post in town and make the scouting program possible. Thomas L. Owsley will serve as chairman of the drive. A goal of $3,500 has been set.

October 13, 1944

These glorious Autumn days fill everyone with zest for living. At least, that’s the way we feel about it, and perhaps that’s why the young people are so full of energy in the midst of this invigorating weather. All of which is by way of preamble to the prosaic observation that Hallowe’en is just around the corner. Residents will recall, however, that there has been nothing prosaic about recent Hallowe’ens. They have been quite disturbing in violence of observance and attendant property damage. While there is still time to make plans, we suggest a little organized fun in town for the young people. Town parties are held with success in other places and even the oldsters seem to enjoy the chance to forget the war by bobbing for apples or pinning the tail on the donkey.

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A letter to the editor reached Editor Paul Smith at The Bee office last week from Staff Sergeant George Sweet, former Bee staff member, who as been in India and China. He writes: “The Bee just arrived with the account of “A.J.’s” funeral. He certainly was paid a well-deserved tribute. I had received the news some time before and was sorry to hear it. Too bad everyone can’t practice a little more Christianity. I am now in China, for how long, I can’t say, but it is quite a pleasant change from India. It is a relief to see no beggars. Although the Chinese are harder pressed than the Indians, they seem to stand on their own feet. Have been to town once, where I paid $400 for a chicken dinner. This amounts to about two dollars in American money. They say that every one-in-ten persons in the world is a Chinaman, and I can readily believe it, for I never saw a city so crowded in my life. The weather here is also a relief as India is in its monsoon season. It is the first time I have slept in a dry bed in months.

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Roy Everitt of Boxwood Farm, Taunton district, just received word tat his sister, Mrs Elizabeth Ann Everitt, was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal by the King of England in recognition of her conspicuous gallantry in her efforts to rescue the American crew of a burning aircraft which crashed, loaded with bombs, in a field near her home at Saffron Walden, England. In appreciation of her bravery, a fund was raised by American troops to support Mrs Everitt’s four-year-old orphaned son.

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The Misses Endemann of Currituck Road entertained over the weekend Mr and Mrs Walter P. Zschorna of Forest Hills Gardens, Long Island.

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NOTICE! Warning. Hunting and Trespassing is Forbidden on the property of The Hilltop Farm, Bridgewater. Anyone arrested will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

October 10, 1919

Pauline Frederick in one of her greatest photoplays, “Double-Crossed,” will be the attraction at Town hall this week Saturday evening. This play is filled with a series of unexpected and thrilling situations, which carries a tremendous feminine appeal. A laughable clever comedy, “Egged On,” will complete the show.

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Mrs Henry Brazer of Salisbury is visiting her daughter Mrs Admond Conger, at Botsford.

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The whist held at the Newtown Country Club on last Monday night, was attended by only a few of the faithful. Mrs W. R. Curtis was first for the ladies and Arthur J. Smith was first for the gentlemen. At the second whist, new comers will be allowed the lowest score of the previous evening so they will have as good a chance as if they were there for the prize.

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A meeting of the Newtown firemen will be held on Monday night at the Town Hall.

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Ladies between the ages 18 and 30 can get clean, light bench work by applying to T. F. Mullen of the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co. Call at Troy’s hotel, Sandy Hook, and talk it over with Mr Mullen.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.