November 20, 1987

On November 16, some members of the Newtown High School cross-country team were running on the grounds at Fairfield Hills Hospital when they noticed a body hanging from a tree in a wooded section off a path on Mile Hill Road. The male patient had been committed to the hospital in 1984. The medical examiner has ruled the incident as a suicide. The patient, a resident of Canaan House, had access to the wooded area because he had “grounds privileges.” FHH Superintendent Dennis Angelini said, “The incident is a tragedy and everyone feels badly about it, both the staff and the patients.”

 

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Newtown police, with the aid of state police tracking dogs, searched an approximately 100-acre area on November 18 looking for possible clues in the missing person case of Regina Brown. Mrs Brown was reported missing in late March earlier this year and her husband, Willis Brown, is currently seeking a divorce and custody  of their three children in Danbury Superior Court. Newtown police have been actively investigating the whereabouts of Mrs Brown since her disappearance on March 26 in New York.

 

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Part of the special Board of Education workshop November 14 was a presentation by James Lawler, of C.J. Lawler Associates architectural firm, of some preliminary study plans for making changes in the high school to accommodate shifts in educational criteria since the school opened in 1970.

 

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One of the nicest new traditions of our town is the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Ram Pasture, scheduled this year for Friday, December 4. This is only the third year for the event, which is sponsored jointly by the Chamber of Commerce and the Parks and Recreation Commission. This year, we suggest that the police close off Elm Drive for the duration of the ceremony and the stroll to the park. The added measure of safety would be well worth it for the temporary and minor inconvenience to motorists.

 

November 23, 1962

A “sell out” was reported by Mrs Harold Porter, chairman of the rummage sale conducted by the Jaycee Wives last Saturday, with proceeds being used to buy turkeys for Thanksgiving baskets in conjunction with the Newtown Fund and the Boy Scouts. The few remaining things were given to the Salvation Army.

 

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Local Boy Scout troops are uniting for a door-to-door sale of first aid kits, this Saturday. The boys have been commended on their project by Newtown Civil Defense director Ross Phillips. Mr Phillips has urged residents to be prepared in case of an emergency and have a first aid kit in their home or auto.

 

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The Queen Street Journal, monthly publication of the students of the Newtown High School, came out this Monday with Volume X, No 1, the first of this year’s issues, in a bright, new format, and it contains many bright, new stories. Among the many interesting articles in the Journal is one on Newtown’s present AFS student, Tadahito Kawai. Two of Tad’s observations, “Trees are smaller  here, but very beautiful,” and “I was surprised at American kids: their dress and attitudes are so grown up.”

 

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Two local hunters, Ed Guenzel and Francis Kilbride, returned from Vermont Sunday with a 10-point buck. The men got the deer 100 yards from where they entered the woods. The two hunters approached the buck, which lay motionless. Hunter Guenzel took the necessary steps to make sure the animal was dead. Then, as he was leaning over its antlers, the buck suddenly jumped to its feet and raced through the woods, carrying hunter Guenzel for about 40 yards, before it stopped abruptly and threw him bodily into the air. Once deer and hunter were separated, Fran Kilbride was able to fire again and this was the final shot for the deer.

November 19, 1937

While returning to his home on Friday evening, Earl Collins of Sandy Hook, had the misfortune to have his car skid on the wet pavement near the Laborde residence and turn over. Fortunately, Mr Collins, while severely shaken up, did not receive serious injuries.

 

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Attractions at Edmond Theater: “Double Wedding” is a smart modern comedy with a background of exciting New York locales. It was based on the internationally successful play, “Great Love,” by Ferenc Molnar. You will see William Powell, the inimitable comedian, as an itinerant penniless artist who travels by trailer. Miss Loy is seen as the owner of an ultra-fashionable gown shop who thinks she is too busy for love. “Double Wedding” will redouble your laugher in every succeeding action.

 

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The severe storm on Saturday wrought havoc with local telephone service. Fallen limbs were the cause of many broken wires and a leaky cable added to the troubles of the repairmen from Danbury and Bridgeport, who worked from Saturday until Monday clearing up the trouble.

 

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Townspeople were unexpectedly surprised in Southbury on Saturday to learn that one of the largest pro-Nazi camps in the United States is soon to be established in their town. The camp is to be in the Kettletown section and will be on a 175-acre tract of land, which is expected to accommodate over 1,000 persons daily and serve the bund units in Westchester county, the Bronx, and all of Connecticut. Most of the Southbury residents resent the establishment of a camp in their town. The American Legion Post of Fairfield and New Haven counties have already gone on record as being opposed to the establishment of the Nazi camp.

 

November 22, 1912

Mrs Hazel Banks Pierce Northrop is gaining an enviable reputation as a writer of fiction. In the November 15 issue of Top-Notch, she has a bright and attractive story under the title of “From the Stars.” Mrs Northrop has had a number of stories printed in the Chicago Advance and in Life and Light, the publication of the Women’s Board of Missions.

 

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Allen Joyce of the Newtown Inn Garage has improved his garage by adding on a room 25 feet square. Both rooms he will heat by steam, giving an up-to-date plant. Mr Joyce has a plant installed for compressed air service and is in good shape to handle his growing business.

 

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Miss Mary McInerny, who has lived in the Canfield tenant house on the Boulevard, was so unfortunate as to fall and break a leg, one day this week. Dr Kennedy was called and set the broken limb and Miss Lulu Canfield is caring for her.

 

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The Bee reporter while at the garage of W.W. Wakelee, Wednesday, saw one of the handsome 1913 Overlands at $985, completely equipped, self-starter, 30-horsepower, 5-passenger, touring car, 110-inch wheelbase, Timken bearings, center control, Remy magnets, Warner speedometer, mohair top and boot, clear vision windshield prestolite tank.