November 9, 1990

Two Newtown High soccer teams brought home Western Connecticut Conference championships last week. The boy’s team beat Bethel in the semifinals and then Joel Barlow in a fierce title match, Saturday night. The girls’ team ended three years of frustrating title-game losses to Weston by upsetting their rival 2-1 on Thursday of last week.

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“There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel,” exclaimed James Lawler during a telephone interview this week. Mr Lawler is architect for additions to Sandy Hook and Middle Gate Schools. Not only have most approvals been granted, but there is a good chance costs will be lower than originally thought. Mr Lawler said he is hopeful that work will begin on the project by mid-June. It has been estimated that costs for the two additions would be about $9 million, less state reimbursement of 28 percent. The current downturn in construction should push the cost down by about 30 percent, he said.

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Dr Thomas Draper recently made a donation to the Heritage Preservation Trust for the restoration of the Meeting House, the former Congregational Church. The contribution was made to honor five former Newtowners, Ben Blanchard, Paul Cullens, John Knauer, Paul Smith, and Arthur Spector. Dr Draper presented the check at a recent Rotary meeting, because he feels the organization symbolizes community service.

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Newtown police nabbed two 19-year-old Waterbury men with $400 worth of cocaine and drug paraphernalia early Wednesday morning, November 7, during a routine traffic stop for erratic driving. William H. Dancy and Douglas E. Gaston were charged. Reportedly, Newtown Police Officer Lance Carlson saw Mr Dancy operating his vehicle erratically on Route 25, and pulled him over. Officer Carlson discovered that Mr Dancy had no driver’s license. In subsequent searches, he found Mr Dancy in possession of small plastic baggies used for packaging cocaine and Mr Gaston in possession of approximately $400 (street value) worth of a white powder substance field tested positive for cocaine.

November 12, 1965

“Everybody lost their lights and we don’t know the cause,” was the apt report given out by the switchboard operator at Edmond Town Hall late Tuesday afternoon, a few moments after the most extensive power failure in history. She could not have then known that “everyone” included 30 million people, and that the cause might remain a mystery forever. The teeming northeastern section of the nation was plunged into darkness at 5:25 pm. Owners of transistor radios passed along news reports attributing the massive power outage to such diverse causes as a mishap in Canada, a severe electrical storm in upstate New York, and a landslide at Niagara Falls. Civil Defense Director Cliff Maddox monitored a short-wave radio in his home to stay in constant touch with CD headquarters and local workers, but no emergency situations arose during the darkness, which lasted one and one-half hours.

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Many shade trees are going into winter perilously low on water. Soil around tree roots should be soaked to the depth of eight inches or more before the ground freezes. Autumn rains have run off, not soaked in, because the soil in many areas has been dry and packed. Foundation plantings especially should be thoroughly watered before the ground freezes. Applying mulches will help conserve moisture and prevent wide fluctuations of soil temperatures.

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What was once the original barn on the Beers property located next to the Newtown High School on Queen Street, was burned to the ground last Sunday morning during a drill which involved all five of the town’s fire companies. The weatherman completely co-operated, serving up a light rain and no wind. The parking lot at the school was filled with viewers and others wandered closer to the blaze. It took only three minutes from the time the fire was set for it to break through the roof, sending a column of smoke and flames high into the air. One hundred firemen were present, pumping water at the rate of 1,200 gallons per minute from one hydrant to keep the fire under control. The operation was completed by noon.

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The Newtown Fund, Inc is again coordinating the annual Christmas Basket program, acting as a confidential clearing house for the community to prevent duplication or depriving some of those in need. The receiving depot will be in the Chase building, West Street entrance. On December 18, clothing, toys, and canned goods will be welcomed. On December 22 and 23, all perishable good will be received. Deliveries of all baskets will be made on December 23, with the cooperation of the Newtown Rotary Club.

 

November 8, 1940

After reading an account in a New York paper of the work of Mrs Morris G. Frank, chairman of the Newtown Committee for Child Refugees, a gentleman from Tulsa, Okla., wrote to inquire further into the nature of the activities here in Newtown. He was particularly interested because of family connections in France, and after corresponding for some time with Mrs Frank, he decided he was in complete accord with the work of the Newtown committee and sent his check for $25, to be used for the purchase of materials to make clothes for the French refugee children in England. Christmas is not far off. Who is to play Santa Claus to the millions of forlorn refugees in Britain? Mrs Frank has made arrangements with Lady Abingdon, the representative in New York for the British Relief group, and the are reserving space for toys for one hundred boys and girls on a ship that is sailing soon. Won’t you help the committee purchase these gifts by sending your contribution, either to Mrs H.A. Metcalf or Mrs Allen Northey Jones.

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In step with the libraries f the nation, Newtown’s Cyrenius H. Booth Library will observe Book Week from November 12 through November 16th. Miss Alice P. Hancock, librarian, has announced a full program of exhibits, plays, talks and contests at the library in which everyone in Newtown is cordially invited to participate.

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Thanks to the community spirit in Sandy Hook, the first effort of the PTA to help the schools has met with immediate success. The request for a piano for the Sandy Hook school, which appeared in last week’s issue of The Bee, was answered at 6 o’clock last Thursday evening. Mrs Willis Tomlinson of the Sandy Hook Inn called Mrs John Janocsko, chairman of the committee, and very generously offered to donate her piano. The instrument is a Curtis, in excellent condition. This splendid cooperation should be very heartening to the PTA friend of the organization, and friends of the school children in town, particularly those at the Sandy Hook school.

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Friends of Mr and Mrs Frederick Stoddard, who are now living at the Strong home on Wendover Road, will be pleased to know that they are recovering nicely from the injuries received in their recent automobile accident at Bristol, when their car was hit by a drunken driver. Mrs Stoddard is still troubled with broken ribs but is able to get about and went to the polls on Tuesday to vote. When rescued from the wrecked car by Bristol firemen, they found it necessary to pull her hands from the steering wheel where they had frozen in her effort to steer the car and keep it from overturning, which she was successful in doing. They praised her, the steering wheel breaking when the weight of her body was thrown against it. An amusing part of the accident was the flight of Mr Stoddard’s glasses twenty feet from the car and across the street, where they were picked up, unbroken.

 

November 12, 1915

The movement for the proposed Country club appears to be going ahead in a most promising manner, with the good prospect of arriving at the goal aimed at. A meeting of those interested in the project was held on Friday night at the Newtown Inn. It is proposed to form a holding company for the purpose of purchasing the D.C. Bacon property, and additional land for use as a golf course, tennis grounds, club house, etc. Subscriptions to stock issued at $25 per share are now being paid into the treasurer.

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Hobart G. Warner, a member of the firm of Taylor, Curtis & Co, and leader of the Sandy Hook Band, was taken quite seriously ill with pneumonia, last week Tuesday. Dr W.H. Kiernan and two trained nurses have been in attendance. Mr Warner is one of Newtown’s most useful and valuable young men, and all will wish for his speedy recovery. The latest news from his bedside is of a decidedly encouraging nature.

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Two truck loads of machinery for the Harris Wire Co, which is to occupy the Niantic mill, arrived, this week, and the managers are busy installing it. Those interested in the company are Albert Harris, F.A. Harris, T.T. Harris and J.W. Perry. The latter is the financial manager. One of the Messrs Harris told the editor, Wednesday, they hoped to begin business by Monday, and at first would probably employ about 15 hands. All of the gentlemen interested are young men, and have come here to avail themselves of the water power at he Niantic plant and the opportunity to enlarge their plant. It is an industry which seems to have in it much of promise in the way of benefiting the town.

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Mrs O. Howard Hall met with an unfortunate accident at her summer home in South Center. She was stepping off a chair when it tipped and threw her to the ground, badly spraining her knee and ankle. She is under the care of Dr Gale. During the summer months, Mr and Mrs Hall have entertained 177 guests.