November 19, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Kate Ryan.

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A prisoner at Garner Correctional Institution died Wednesday after a fight with another inmate at the high-security prison on Nunnawauk Road, officials said. The inmate, Bryant Wiseman, 28, of Hartford, received emergency medical care at the prison and was transported by ambulance to Danbury Hospital emergency room where he was pronounced dead at 2 am, state police spokesman Sergeant Paul Vance said Thursday night. A fight occurred between Wiseman and the unidentified inmate about 12:40 pm, Sgt Vance said.

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Hawley School PTA Chairman Richard Higgins flew a helicopter supplied by his aviation company, Joseph E. Seagram & Sons of White Plains, above the school’s playing fields Wednesday as the student body crowded together in anticipation of the year 2000 for a special numerical portrait. Fifth grade teacher Jim Roodhuyzen was on board the hovering helicopter videotaping Hawley’s salute to the new millennium.

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Town workmen this week excavated soil near the weak south wall of the former town garage on Church Hill Road. Workers removed about a dozen trees from the site so that the soil could be excavated. Soil adjacent to the building had placed pressure on the wall, causing it to bow inward. The building will be inspected to learn what steps are needed to shore up the wall, according to Public Works Director Fred Hurley.

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As a cannon exploded in the background, members of the Newtown VFW paid homage to those who have given their service to their country outside the VFW Thursday, November 11. The local VFW each year remembers service men and women at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

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Larry Mignone and Anthony Zumpano claimed the Grand Champion awards of the Associated Bridle Trails fall pace series Pleasure Championship following the annual Frost on the Pumpkin Pace sponsored by the Newtown Bridle Lands Association on October 31. This is the seventh year of the series.

November 15, 1974

Dodgingtown Firehouse was the scene of much activity this past weekend, what with a Cub Scout paper drive being conducted in one portion of the back lot, and a group of the volunteer firemen of the company volunteering again, this time donating their carpentry skills. For the past three weekends the firemen have been busy constructing a new 30 x 16 foot second story extension of the firehouse which will serve as kitchen and storage space. It will enable them to tear out some of the partitions now in the firehouse and enlarge their meeting hall, which serves as the meeting place for many community activities in the Dodgingtown area.

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A fire at the Middle School on Wednesday caused moderate to heavy smoke damage in the auditorium and music rooms of the school and kept volunteer firemen on the scene for three hours. According to Chief Kenneth Pelletier of Newtown Hook & Ladder, the fire started in a closet in the auditorium, and the cause of the blaze is being investigated by the Fire Marshal. ... The closet was one which was used for storage, and Chief Pelletier said that damage could have been much more severe had not a fire alarm in the closet gone off as a result of the heat level. The door of the closet was open when the fire was detected, and so flames spread to a small area around it. However, the firemen had the blaze under control within 15 minutes, but their rough job came when they had to eject the heavy smoke and do a lot of mopping up.

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Newtown is one of nine area communities which have been identified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as having one or more areas with flooding and-or mudslide hazards under the provisions of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973. What this means is that the Town must apply by July 1, 1975, to be included under the National Flood Insurance Program. The requirement of the program is that, since March 1 of this year, property owners must purchase flood insurance in communities where it is available to be eligible for any new or additional federal or federally-related financial assistance for any building located in areas identified as flood-prone communities having special flood hazards.

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Thanks to the efforts of some very willing volunteers, the Town of Newtown this past weekend was saved hundreds of dollars in man hours. The work which was entailed was the spreading of top soil all around the perimeter of the new tennis courts at the town park and helping Newtown’s social worker Mary Brey put up storm windows at some of the homes in town. The volunteers were from Edon House, the drug rehabilitation center at Fairfield Hills Hospital, and the idea to help out the town was their own … the residents at Edon House have become very interested in getting involved in the community which surrounds them and want to help out whenever they can.

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The Board of Trustees of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library recently acted upon a motion to organize a “Friends of the Library” group which would work to make Newtowners more aware of the library and help increase its facilities through programs involving the assistance of many residents. The initial response to the idea of a friends group was a good one, and work is now under way towards its organization. Among those at a recent planning session to bring the Friends together were Mrs Elizabeth Downs, head librarian; Mrs Stephen Gushee, member of the Board of Trustees; and Mrs James Hyde and Mrs Sven Tilly, who will co-chair the Friends group. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the “Friends of the Library” is cordially invited to an organizational meeting in the lower meeting room of the library at 3 pm Sunday, November 17.

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In the face of a progressively higher cost of living and unemployment, Newtown residents again responded generously to the annual UNICEF drive sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Close to $950 was collected by Newtown’s school children on Halloween. The money, earmarked for the most desperate needs of the children in developing countries — disease control, education, nourishment — is especially necessary this year because of the spread of famine in so many parts of the world. Bert Edmonds, chairman of the drive, extends thanks to all in Newtown who contributed to its success. UNICEF Christmas Cards and Calendars are now on sale at the Country Book Store at the flagpole at the Four Seasons on Route 25.

November 11, 1949

Lester F. Reynolds, farm manager of the Fairfield State hospital, was elected president of the Fairfield County Farm Bureau at the organization’s annual meeting held in the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday. Howard E. Grupe, of New Canaan, was elected first vice president, Mrs William Shaw, also of New Canaan, second vice president, and Edwin A. Ericson of Danbury was elected treasurer. Some 200 Farm Bureau members attended the sessions, with the business meeting, including elections and reports from the Extension staff taking place during the morning.

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Mr and Mrs Harold Morgan of Sandy Hook are the parents of a son born on Tuesday at the Danbury hospital.

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Friends will be glad to know that the condition of Deputy Sheriff Frank A. Blackman of Mt. Pleasant, who suffered a heart attack Saturday in his home, is much improved. Mr Blackman was taken to the Danbury hospital after treatment by Dr J. Benton Egee.

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The condition of Bert Carey of the Newtown-Sandy Hook road, who is a surgical patient at the Danbury hospital, is reported as being good. Mr Carey is a veteran employee of the Southern New England Telephone Company.

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Trudy Ray, now studying journalism at the University of Long Island, Brooklyn, N.Y., has been appointed a sports writer for the university and has won a place on the freshman basketball team. The university has more than 3,000 students. Miss Ray is a graduate of Hawley High school in the class of 1949.

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First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson and Mrs Dickinson are the parents of a son born at Danbury hospital on Thursday of last week. The new addition to the Dickinson family weighed six pounds, seven ounces at birth and has been named Edwin Fenn. The mother and son are returning to their home this Thursday.

November 7, 1924

The oldest voter in Newtown cast his ballot, Tuesday, was David C. Bacon. Mr Bacon voted the first time at a presidential election in ‘1852, when he cast his vote for Wenfield Scott, the Whig nominee for President. Mr Bacon is an enthusiastic Coolidge supporter.

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On Hallowe’en eve a party of young people dressed in Hallowe’en costumes called at the home of Mr and Mrs George W. Northrop. The young people entertained Mr and Mrs Northrop with several musical selections. They later called at the home of Mr and Mrs Frank Gilbert, where they were joined by others, and later called at the home of Attorney and Mrs Arthur J. Hull of Long Hill.

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Mrs Marietta Field Potter of Middlebury, Vt., lies critically ill at the home of her niece, Mrs David C. Peck. She sustained a shock on October 22.

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Newtown was represented by the following at the Yale-Army football game in New Haven, Saturday, by the following: Miss Gertrude Crowe, Dr and Mrs E.L. Kingman, Mr and Mrs Stephen Budd, Miss Marguerite Beecher, Mr and Mrs Charles Cavanaugh, Mrs S. Grace Glover, Miss Mary Keating, S. Curtis Glover, Mrs Lucy B. Cavanaugh, Miss Millicent Cavanaugh, Paul V. Cavanaugh, Mr and Mrs William P. Downes and son, Thomas Holian, Mr and Mrs John Leavy, Miss Amy Bantle, Harry Bradley, Miss Adaline Hurd, Mrs R.P. Shepard, Miss Ruth Shea, Miss Mary Read, Mrs Fannie Beers Edwards, John Beers, Herbert Beers, Mrs Sarah Beers Mitchell and Robert Beers.

November 17, 1899

There was a hearing on Monday of this week before Referee John W. Banks at 10 am, at his office in Bridgeport upon the final account of Attorney Charles H. Northrop as trustee upon the estate of Edgar F. Hawley, late of Newtown, now of Derby. A number of Bridgeport lawyers appeared in opposition to accepting Mr Northrop’s account, principally because he had charged $200 for his services as receiver in addition to his bill for services as trustee, which amounted to some $75. Mr Northrop claimed $200 was a reasonable sum, but all the attorneys in opposition agreed that he ought not to be allowed no less than $25 or more than $50. The result of the contest was that Judge Banks allowed him $75. A final dividend was declared of three and six-tenths cents on the dollar.

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The Congregational Sunday school is already planning for its Christmas celebration and a committee has been appointed to arrange for the same consisting of Henry M. Smith, Arthur T. Nettleton, Miss Jessie Taylor, Miss Hattie Northrop and Rev O.W. Barker.

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A Warning: Pedestrians had better be careful where they walk in Sleepy Lane after dark as some foot bridges have been removed.—[Taunton

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Mr and Mrs Asa H. Hawley of Hawleyville welcomed a daughter to their home circle on Sunday.

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M.G. Keane, the well known Bridgeport monument man, was in town on Tuesday. His men are doing work in St Rose’s cemetery.

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VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS Are grand, but Skin Eruptions rob life of joy. Bucklen’s Arnica Salve, cures them; also Old Running and Fever Sores, Ulcers, Boils, Felons, Corns, Warts, Cuts, Bruises, Burns, Scalds, Chapped Hands, Chilblains. Best Pile cure on earth. Drives out pain and aches. Only 25¢ a box. Cure guaranteed. Sold by R.H. Beers & Co., Newtown; S.C. Bull & Co., Sandy Hook; W.A. Watts, Washington Depot; A. Joyce, Roxbury Station; A.W. Twiss, Bethel, Druggists.

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.