October 18, 1985

The Legislative Council voted October 16 to approve the Pension Committee’s proposal to establish a special pension plan for full-time salaried elected officials. Elected officials could decide to participate in the plan by contributing 2 percent of their salary to the plan. The town would then contribute 6 percent of an official’s pay towards his pension plan. Unlike other town employees, there would be no time requirement for the full vesting of elected officials.

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On a perfect autumn afternoon, the Newtown High School football team treated a big crowd to a come-from-behind, homecoming victory over New Fairfield last Saturday, at Bruce Jenner Stadium. Newtown overcame a six-point deficit by scoring twice in the second quarter and then played an outstanding second half of defense to notch this Western Connecticut Conference Briggs Division tussle by a 15-6 score.

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The students at Newtown Middle School, under the guidance of Cynthia Abate, computer skills teacher, have prepared a videotape demonstrating the world processing and keyboarding program currently in progress. Addressing future potential, students explain how IBM and other corporations are developing word processing capabilities with voice recognition.

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At one-twentieth of an acre, it may not be the biggest piece of land in town, but the triangular parcel at the corner of Church Hill Road and Washington Avenue, next to the Sandy Hook Post Office, has become the symbol of the efforts to spruce up the center of Sandy Hook. Recently, Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) members spread fill on the site now being called The Sandy Hook Glen. And on Saturday, October 12, donations from local nurseries started arriving and the planting began.

 

October 21, 1960

As a convenience to the local public, the Board of Selectmen has arranged to resume keeping the town dump open on Sundays. Starting this coming Sunday, the hours will be 9 am to 2 pm. The dump was open on Sundays throughout the summer, but has been closed on Sundays since Labor Day.

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John Angel, 78, of Old Mill Road, Sandy Hook, internationally famous sculptor, died on Sunday, at his home. Mr Angel’s genius as a sculptor was responsible for all of the sculpture for the North Tower Portal of the Cathedral of St John the Divine, for the baldachin and the new bronze doors of St Patrick’s Cathedral, and the Last Supper Group in the Presbyterian Church in East Liberty, Penna.

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Two pumpkins, the gift of Brendon Jones of the Misty Vale Garden Center, decorated the front steps of The Bee office — until the other night. They then disappeared, for reasons best known to the person who stole them. It is that sort of vandalism which we particularly disdain. Not as bad as shoplifting, perhaps, but evidence of low character.

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The Board of Selectmen at its meeting last Friday voted to set up a “no parking area” on the west side of Queen Street, between the new post office and Glover Avenue, the same to be in effect between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm. This decision was arrived at following complaints of traffic congestion in front of the high school entrance.

October 18, 1935

A most interesting discovery has been made by Ernest G. Fenn in excavating a cellar for his new home in the south end of the Borough. He has found what was evidently the cornerstone of the old St James’ church in Gray’s Plain district. The stone is about two feet square and bears the inscription “St James Ch., 1831.” It was evidently used as a back door-step for the house that originally stood on the site. St James was torn down around 1875.

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The Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Department will present a movie this Thursday evening at the Edmond Town Hall, with two shows at 7 and 9 pm, starring ZaSu Pitts in “She Gets Her Man.” The proceeds will go toward the building fund of the new Hawleyville Firehouse, which is already under construction.

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The Newtown Fire apparatus was called to extinguish a blaze at the Quinn Ice House on Foundry Pond about 10 o’clock Saturday morning. Some children playing with matches had set some sawdust on fire. Fortunately, the arrival of the firemen extinguished the blaze before any great damage was done.

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The local state road forces under the supervision of Foreman William Corbett have been replacing the state road fence opposite Lovell’s Garage on lower Main Street with modern safety cable type fencing.

 

October 21, 1910

Owen Meehan, a former Newtown boy who was laid off at the time of the accident to the excursion train at Sandy Hook, is not back on the road again as a freight conductor, a fact his friends will be glad to learn. Mr Meehan was conductor of the train which figured in the costly wrecking of the Danbury train some seven years ago and shortly after the wreck was reduced from his position of conductor.

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The Bee is indebted to C.F. Beardsley for a postcard containing a view of the Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg, Pa. The popular real estate agent is reported to be having the time of his life.

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There was a serious runaway accident at Botsford, Sunday, about 2:30 pm. Miss Daisy Belle Morrow was driving a horse attached to a buggy. When near Hobart Fairchild’s corner, the horse began to run. In some way, the girl got one leg caught in the wheel and was dragged quite a distance. The little miss is about 10 years of age and there is general sympathy for her in this unfortunate accident.

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The drought is being felt seriously by dairymen about town. The wells and springs are in many cases dried up, or nearly so. J.B. Fairchild, Cornelius Sturges, F.W. Andrews  have been obliged to drive their stock or cart water from Taunton Lake. R.D. Smith of Dodgingtown has been obliged to car water for use at his house. S.B. Camp has also been troubled by a failing water supply.