October 19, 1990

Officials at the US Postal Service’s Hartford area office have identified a site on Commerce Road as the preferred site for a Newtown Post Office that would replace the present one on Queen Street. Russ Clark, manager of support services at the Hartford office, said October 18 that the Postal Service’s finance officers now are reviewing the proposal for the purchase of this site.

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For the past two weeks, the Police Department has been operating without any radar units, according to Police Chief Michael DeJoseph. He said he told residents if they thought the department should have radar, they should call members of the Legislative Council or the Board of Selectmen. Earlier this year, the Board of Selectmen approved funding for the purchase of three radar units. But after voters rejected its original proposed budget for 1990-91, the Legislative Council eliminated this funding.

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Three weeks into his new job, Dr Lewis Lippner greeted mental health professionals and town officials with a promise to be a responsive superintendent and “demystify” Fairfield Hills Hospital. As an example, he cited the hospital’s gym, tennis courts, soccer and baseball fields. All are available on the grounds of the state hospital, but not actively used by patients. “We’re going to start using those things for patient care again,” Dr Lippner said. Besides dealing with the changing hospital structure, Dr Lippner will be responsible for improving the quality of clinical and social programs and integrating the hospital with the expanding community mental health system.

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Cassio Kennels, at 173 Mt Pleasant Road, has enhanced its facilities with the addition of a 100- by 70-foot, two-story, state-of-the-art building that boasts 48 individual dog guest rooms and a separate area that accommodates 18 cats. Each guest room, which was specifically planned to let pets stretch and not feel confined, was designed for the security, comfort, safety, and well-being of pets, according to Joy S. Brewster, owner of Cassio Kennels.

October 22, 1965

Witches and hobgoblins will ride a night early in Newtown this Halloween. First Selectman Carl M. Schutz has issued a statement making Saturday, October 30, the official date for celebration, mindful of the fact that Sabbath laws prohibit these celebrations on Sunday. He has also proclaimed it UNICEF Day, since the young trick-or-treaters will be collecting for this fund to help the world’s children.

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The Mary Kelly Hayes Library was dedicated Tuesday afternoon at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in memory of a teacher who served the Newtown schools from 1911 to 1963. The library was a gift of her sister, Miss Louise J. Kelly.

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The Newtown Parks and Recreation Commission, following a special meeting on Wednesday evening, has announced that it is continuing its drive for funds to build a pavilion in the Dickinson Memorial Park. According to William A. Honan, chairman of the commission, a little over $6,000 has been received to date. Mr Honan has stated that the commission is hopeful of at least getting in footings for the pavilion before bad weather sets in. The commission is reviewing a number of estimates received from construction contractors and is hopeful that a contract will shortly be signed.

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The lopsided score of 34-8 does not give a true picture of the football game last Saturday morning which saw the Newtown High School football team meet the St Joseph’s Squad from Trumbull. The event attracted a good crowd to the Hawley School field, giving the team fine support for the second venture into football this year. The visitors totaled only about 40 more yards than the Indians on the ground, and fell behind about 25 in the air. A few bad breaks, and ones which St Joseph’s made the most of, caused the one-sided score.

October 18, 1940

The local Chapter of Bundles for Britain has been requested to make known to Newtown residents that there is great need in England for children’s equipped cots, which headquarters state cost $25 apiece. Need is also stressed for warm blankets, due to people being obliged to sleep in deep, cold subways; and the committee also begs for seaboot stockings, navy blue pullovers, grey socks — the wools for which can be had by calling at Hawley Manor. Directions for knitting can be got there as well.

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Friends of the Red Cross and those who have a liking for sweet cider, apple jelly and apple butter will be interested to know that Mrs Gale Ross on Saturdays and Sundays is selling cider, jelly, etc, at a roadside stand which she has set up at her place in Berkshire district, on Route 34. All proceeds will be give to the Red Cross. Her place is known as j. appleseed farm and the cider and other items are all made from apples grown on the trees in her own orchard.

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Newtown’s young men of draft age cheerfully responded to the government’s call on Wednesday, when 430 of them were registered in accordance with the Selective Service Act. 366 of these were signed up in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. The other 64 draftees were employees at the Fairfield State Hospital and were registered there. In about at week, numbers will be assigned each man and will be drawn in the national lottery in Washington. Men whose numbers are drawn must then appear before the local draft board, which has been appointed by Governor Baldwin.

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The Scout Football team of Newtown, made up of Scouts and former Scouts, turned in an excellent game against Canterbury School Juniors on Wednesday, taking advantage of the holiday from school. The final score was Canterbury 6, Newtown 0, but it was a close game all the way. The team could use more substitutes. All boys are eligible.

October 22, 1915

Edgar F. Hawley, for about 30 years a merchant in Newtown, first with Henry Sanford under the firm name of Sanford & Hawley, and later in business alone in the present stand of R.H. Beers & Co., and Morris & Shepard in Newtown and in New Milford in the store now occupied by B.S. Thomas, is ill and confined to his bed at Mrs George Anthony’s in New Milford.

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An accident of highly sensational and unusual type took place in Newtown Street, Saturday morning, when a lighted match dropped into the well near Town hall threw Herman N. Tiemann, Jr and Edward Bradley into the air, burning them severely about the face and eyes. How the gasoline got into the well was a mystery at first. The damage wrought by the explosion was very extensive, tearing up the heavy cement curb about the well. The hat of Edward Bradley was thrown about 25 feet into a maple tree. After digging down by the gasoline tank of Frank A. Blackman, a leak was found in the pipe, from which the gasoline was escaping into the well. The escape of Messrs Tiemann and Bradley from possible death was almost miraculous. Henry Carlson, who was with them at the time, went back when the match was dropped into the well, and was simply thrown to the ground.

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It is not often that one hears of a person picking low-vine blackberries in October, yet Miss Julia Kilbride performed this feat and showed her friends the luscious berries she had gathered.

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A deep sense of grief rested on the hearts of the citizens of the Borough and town, when the sad news became known of the death of that sterling and beloved citizen, Austin Beers Blakeman, who passed away, Tuesday evening, about 10:30, after convulsions, the result of uremic poisoning. Dr Frank J. Gale was summoned from the meeting of the Men’s club at the Newtown Inn and hastened to his bedside, but the was beyond the aid of the human physician, and soon passed away. News of his death was telephoned to the Newtown Inn and was announced to club members by Rev James H. George. The gentlemen were shocked at the news of the death of their beloved associate, and at the suggestion of a member, all present arose and stood in silence in memory of their friend.