November 2, 1990

Management of the A&P in the Newtown Shopping Center has confirmed rumors the supermarket will close its doors for good on November 10 — news that surprised center owner Joseph Kasper. “They didn’t tell me that,” said Mr Kasper. Despite the turn of events, the shopping center owner said he’s optimistic about the future of the center, and has just leased 2,000 square feet to Dunkin’ Donuts in the Old Cumberland Farm spot.

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With Halloween over and a library party and séance aborted by public outcry, Librarian Janet Woycik has stopped giving interviews and reading mail, and says she’s gained some perspective on the subject. “Ninety-five percent of the people we talked to thought we should have had the program,” said Ms Woycik. The library scuttled a Halloween Party for Middle School children after 16 parents and clergy complained about the party’s contents, primarily a mock séance that would have resurrected Mary Hawley. “I think we did the right thing because there was so much emotional outpouring at the time,” [Ms Woycik] said.

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Newtown resident Alice Winchester has been named the 1990 recipient of the Henry Francis du Pont Award for distinguished contribution to the American arts. The commendation, one of the art field’s most prestigious, was made at a dinner honoring Miss Winchester at Winterthur Museum in Wilmington, Del., October 27. Chairman Walter J. Laird, Jr noted that Miss Winchester “made antiques come alive for thousands…” Miss Winchester’s achievements were chronicled by Wendall Garret, who succeeded Miss Winchester at Antiques. Under Miss Winchester’s 34-year direction, The Magazine Antiques grew in circulation from 5,000 to 65,000. Her scholarly influence extended to the Antiques Forum.

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When the members of the Newtown Christian Church asked local building officials if they could erect a church building in the late 1960s, they were given an okay — provided the building looked like a house, in case the church failed. This week, that building was filled with joyous people who applauded the burning of the mortgage. The event took place during the 25th anniversary celebration, which ended in a fellowship supper. The Newtown Christian Church is located at the corner of Rock Ridge Road and Route 302.

November 5, 1965

In order to finance its accelerated practice sessions, the Greater Newtown Fife and Drum Corps is seeking old automobile tires. These will be sold to raise necessary funds to improve the corps through additional professional instruction. Commencing Tuesday, November 9, the corps will practice in the high school cafeteria instead of the Sandy Hook fire house as the membership of the 72 marchers has outgrown the old location.

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The Bee regrets to report that John Jernigan of Sandy Hook is still in extremely serious condition in Danbury Hospital, after swallowing a chicken bone. Joseph F. Hallauer of Glover Avenue is recuperating nicely at St Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury from an operation performed on his back, on Tuesday.

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Approximately 1,500 volumes, which the faculty and students at the St Rose School are hopefully considering “just a beginning,” were all in place on the shelves on November 1, when the school officially opened the new library. Included in the collection are works of fiction from five years to adult, a well-balanced biography grouping, and non-fiction of all types and particular emphasis on the sciences.

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The new Junior Girl Scout Troop 46 has already met three times at the Cabin and from the grapevine comes the news of big things being planned by their leader, Mrs Joseph Engelberger. The scouts, almost all fourth graders, are really enthusiastic about upcoming troop activities. They were visited last week by Mrs Edward Wadleigh, who discussed the various ways of earning merit badges by attending special classes, taught by interested and talented adults.

 

November 1, 1940

Evangelistic services will be held in the Chapel at Hawleyville, starting Sunday night, November 3, at 7:30 and continuing through the week each night except Monday and Saturday, at the same hour. These services are undenominational and the public is invited to hear the Gospel set forth in an interesting manner. Group singing will be conducted and it is hoped that there will be a large turnout of those who are interested in the Gospel. Services are conducted by T.H. Tuft and J.R. Miller.

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Mr and Mrs Frederick A. Stoddard were painfully injured last Friday afternoon when, in returning from a few days’ vacation in Boston, their car was struck and almost completely demolished in Bristol The accident occurred on a level stretch of highway near the Bristol fire house. Mrs Stoddard, who was driving at the time, had no time to avoid collision with the other car. Mr Stoddard was severely cut up and was knocked unconscious when his head went through the windshield. Police arrested the driver of the other car and held him on a charge of drunken and reckless driving. The Stoddards… are now recuperating from their unfortunate experience.

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The annual Sunday School Hallowe’en Party at the Congregational church on Wednesday evening, was a great success. From the time the masked children entered the spooky room until the last apple was “ducked” for and all the ice cream was gone, it was fun and laughter on all sides. A vote of thanks goes to the teachers in charge of the affair.

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More than seven hundred people from Newtown and surrounding cities and towns attended the annual Harvest Supper sponsored by the women of St Rose church, which was held in St Rose Hall, last Thursday evening. The menu included cold sliced chicken, ham and chicken salad, potato salad, cranberry jelly, relishes, rolls, pie and coffee. Following the supper, dancing was enjoyed to music furnished by Gillotte’s Concert Orchestra of Danbury.

 

November 5, 1915

F.I. Williams of Sherman, who has two teams at work on the state road, is boarding at Robert Gannon’s. He is housing his horses in J.A. Blackman’s barn at Sunset cottage. Contractor G.W. Northrop and men have been raising up the barn of J.J. Northrop, rebuilding the foundation walls and putting the barn back on the new foundation.

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Henry Hunt, who has a place of about eight acres on the state road, is enthusiastic over his success in the truck garden, this year, and explains the matter as follows: On a place 48x69 feet he raised 70 bushels of mangels, of the largest variety, which he will use as fodder for the cows and chickens. On another piece of the same size, he raised about 400 head of cabbage, some weighing 25 pounds. He has also stocked about 200 chickens which have made a good egg record.

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The Harris Wire Co. of Southport has leased the Niantic Mill property of S.W. Gledhill of Bridgeport and are preparing to move in their machinery at once. It is understood they manufacture fine wire of all kinds and have an established business. It is understood they will employ 20 or more hands and will enlarge the business.

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A jolly bunch of boys are the 28 or 30 men from Schenectady, N.Y., now employed by the Electric Engineering & Storage Battery Co. They tell the editor they are pleased with their work and with the town. Quite a number are finding hospitable entertainment at the Sandy Hook hotel. Others are quartered at the Misses Canahan and other private homes in the village.