October 31, 1997

Despite vandalism, the scarecrow contest will go on as planned through Saturday. Most of the 30 dramatic scarecrows created by Newtown Middle School students involved in the eighth grade Discovery and gifted art program were knocked over and broken apart on Tuesday evening. Sally Harris, Discovery Program teacher at the middle school, said some students “were philosophical about the destruction, others were upset. It took them six weeks to make them.”

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“That fountain would look nice at the Lovell corner,” Helen Smith said as she zeroed in on a three-tier cast iron Fiske example at the outdoor Wilton Antiques Marketplace last summer. The next day Don Heller, a dealer from Portland, Maine, was in town unloading the fountain from his truck and suddenly a major project was in the making for The Newtown Bee. This was the start of The Pleasance, the property at 1 Main Street owned by Bee Publishing Company.

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A 33-year-old male from the Bronx, N.Y., was driving a 1993 Hyundai four-door sedan on the Exit 11 off-ramp of Interstate 84 in Sandy Hook about 8 am October 25 when the vehicle ran off the left side of the ramp, struck some construction materials, vaulted nearly 40 feet in the air over some Jersey barriers stored at the site, and rolled over. Two passengers in the vehicle, a 20-year-old and a female, no age given, both of New Britain, experienced neck pain and were transported to the hospital by Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. State police said the driver was traveling unreasonably fast. Boy Scouts from Troop 370 reportedly happened upon the accident shortly after the car rolled over and aided in the rescue efforts.

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State police report a 19-year-old man who was in a treatment program at the Daytop substance abuse treatment center at Greenwich House at Fairfield Hills escaped from the facility on the evening of October 24. State police later arrested the male, of Waterbury, who was located in Middlebury, on a charge of first-degree escape around 2:40 am October 25. The male was being held by Middlebury police in connection with a separate incident when state police learned he was there and charged him with the first-degree escape from Daytop. Police held the male on a $75,000 bond for an October 27 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

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Ashlar residents and fourth graders from Sandy Hook School recently came together for Ashlar’s new Life Long Learning Program. Students at Middle Gate School will be involved in the same program starting October 30. The program spans the school year, and aims to foster friendships and the sharing of experiences between the generations.

October 27, 1972

The Newtown High School was opened for classes in September 1970, and ever since that time there have been problems with the heating and ventilating system in the windowless central core classroom area, noise created by the air cooling system in the auditorium, and condensation and humidity in the pool area. The cause of the problems and their solutions have been of major concerns to the Board of Education for over two years. In February of this year, the Board asked that the consulting engineering firm of Abrams, Moses and Solomon make a study of the problems. On Tuesday, October 24, Manfred Moses, managing partner of the firm, explained to the Board that the problems are serious and many, and the cost, if the work were to be done as the firm suggests, is great.

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The Bee is pleased to report that its editor, Paul S. Smith, is on the mend in Danbury Hospital where he has been for the past week. He was moved there from his home on Currituck Road following complications resulting from a stroke. At this writing, he is looking forward to a quick return home despite the warm hospitality of the hospital, not to mention the good looking nurses he has selected. So far, no visitors are permitted at the hospital, but he is enjoying the sacks of mail which make it through.

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On Sunday evening, October 22, Adath Israel held its monthly meeting at the Synagogue on Huntingtown Road, Newtown. There will be a Friday night service on October 27, at 8 pm. Everyone’s welcome to attend and to participate in the Oneg Shabbot to be sponsored by Mr and Mrs David B. Levy. Plans have been made to have a Chanukah Party on Saturday night, December 2, at the synagogue. The meeting ended at 9:30. Coffee and cake was served by Mr and Mrs Thomas Goosman.

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Marian Wilson would like to swap coats. She has one, light green, which does not belong to her. Mrs Wilson lost her coat, presumably to the owner of the one which she now has, at the Scholarship Ball. Ladies who were wearing light green coats to the ball, check closets to find Mrs Wilson’s and then call her at the Superintendent of Schools’ office between 7:30 am and 3:30 pm or at her home after 4 pm.

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The Newtown Police Explorers Post 559 paid tribute to members of this country’s armed forces by placing a wreath at the War Memorial at the head of Main Street. Participating were Post member George Stowe; Newtown Police Chief Louis D. Marchese; Bill Sennello, Lucy Stowe, Annemarie Murphy, and Maureen Doherty, all Explorers; Officer Robert Taylor, advisor to the Post; Sgt Michael Fekete, Det Sgt Michael DeJoseph, and Sgt Kenneth Shaw.

October 24, 1947

In accordance with a resolution passed at the annual Town Meeting on October 6th, the Permanent Honor Roll Committee met in the Selectmen’s office at the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday evening of last week to begin plans for compiling an official list of names of men and women who served in the Armed Forces during World War II. It is of the utmost importance that a complete and absolutely accurate list of names be compiled before proceeding with the final plans for erecting the honor roll. A questionnaire appears in this newspaper, which should be filled out by every veteran (or family of the veteran if he is deceased or not available to fill out the blank himself) and mailed to the Permanent Honor Roll Committee, Newtown, Conn. Additional blanks may be obtained from Robert Stephens, at The Bee office daily, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or from George Powell at Warner’s Store between 8 and 6.

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Announcement is made of the marriage of Miss Shirley Hanlon, daughter of Mr and Mrs Hiram Hanlon of Sandy Hook, to Dwight Carlson, son of Mr and Mrs Henry Carlson of Newtown. The ceremony took place on July 5th at 10:30 a.m., in the Methodist church at Brewster, N.Y., and was performed by the Rev Mr Schuker. Mr and Mrs Henry Carlson attended the ceremony.

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The Newtown Branch of the Connecticut Children’s Aid, since making its last report of the results of the 1947 drive, has received additional checks amounting to $214.56, making a final total of $1,012. This money has been forwarded to the Hartford headquarters, where it will be used for the placing of children in foster homes. The Newtown Branch again extends its sincere thanks to all who responded so generously to this appeal.

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Mrs William J. Peters left last week to spend the winter at Chevy Chase, Md.

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The little Misses Gay and Marianne Parkers, daughters of Mr and Mrs Herman Parker of the Boulevard, are the latest victims of the measles.

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The Women’s Federation of the Congregational church held its regular monthly meeting in the social rooms of the church last Thursday afternoon. The guest speaker was Rev John M. Deyo of Brookfield Center, who spoke on “Books of Today.” A social hour followed Rev Deyo’s talk, with tea served by Mrs William Hunter, Mrs Newton Curtis and Mrs Renwich Brown.

October 20, 1922

Mrs Jane Eliza Johnson, widow of the late Ezra Levan Johnson, died Monday evening from the effects of an apoplectic shock, from which she suffered a little more than a week previous. Mrs Johnson was born April 6, 1837, the daughter of Beach and Catherine Foote Camp. October 10, 1858, Miss Camp became the wife of Ezra Levan Johnson. Before her marriage Mrs Johnson was a successful teacher, having schools in Newtown and New Milford. When Pootatuck Grange was organized about 31 years ago, Mrs Johnson became a member and was elected lecturer, which position she held to the great satisfaction of the members. She was a communicant of Trinity church, a devout Christian, and interested in all good things. Shortly after Mr Johnson’s death in 1914, Mrs Johnson took up the task of editing the historical manuscripts her late husband had compiled, and two years ago had published the History of Newtown, one of the complete town histories that has been issued. Mrs Johnson prepared much new material for the book and added a very valuable genealogical section of about 1560 pages. Her accomplishment was the more remarkable, as she was about 80 years of age when she entered upon the laborious task. Surviving her are three sons. A son, Levan Merritt Johnson, died in Ohio a few years ago.

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The sum of $21.20 was received by the Parent-Teacher Association from the food sale held, Saturday afternoon, October 14. We wish to heartily thank those interested for their co-operation.—[Louise N. Tiemann, Secretary.

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BEERS BLOCK SOLD: The desirable store property occupied by R.H. Beers, with his stock of goods, has been sold to Hon C.W. Hodge of the First National Bank, New Milford.

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Joe Knowlton, so well known in Newtown, has opened in Danbury a market at 38 White street. He would be pleased to see his friends.

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J.S. Mayhew is now driving a Reo roadster which he recently purchased. This is his 22d year’s experience with autos.

October 29, 1897

LOCAL AFFAIRS — CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH NOTES: The ladies have decided to send their missionary barrel this year to Rev Sandy Paris, who is engaged in work among the colored people at Jonesboro, Tenn. The ladies will meet in the basement of the church, next Tuesday afternoon, October 26, at 2 o’clock, for the purpose of getting the materials ready for this barrel. All the ladies of the church, whether connected with the Ladies Missionary Society or not, are asked to join in this work. All who can contribute clothing that can be made over are asked to bring it to the church on any one of the next four Tuesdays, or it may be left on any day at the parsonage.

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Freight has been increasing of late on the New England road, and many extra trains are now run. At the Sandy Hook coaling station Foreman Thomas Cavanaugh, in charge of the department, has six men, three on duty days and three at night.

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Miss Florence Lake is substituting in Palestine district during the sickness of the regular teacher.

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Thomas McCarty, son of Michael McCarty of Middle district, is very sick and delirious at times. His troubles are the result of a severe cold contracted a month since.

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Amos Camp of Hawleyville is prostrated with an attack of typhoid fever. He has a trained nurse, Mrs Hodge of Danbury, and is attended by Dr Griswold of Brookfield.

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Frederick Chambers of Waterbury was at his former home in Gray’s Plain district on Friday night.

Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.