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Over the years many Newtowners have probably bragged that the game of Scrabble was invented here some 30 years ago. And the Bicentennial sign erected this year at Edmond Town Hall tried to set the record straight by saying it was “developed” here by former Newtowner James Brunot. Last week, however, in a New York Times article about the anniversary of the game, readers learned that the game was instead developed in Queens, N.Y., by Alfred Butts and his wife, Nina. Perhaps a better word to define Mr Brunot’s involvement with the game would be that he “refined” it to its present form.

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Following the announcement of a $3,000 contribution by the Friends group, the Board of Trustees voted Tuesday, November 10, to match the gift and authorize library head Dennis Clarke to go ahead and order a microfiche reader/printer and $5,500 worth of back issues of periodicals on fiche. The system would include a Bell and Howell machine which would temporarily be housed in the reading area and which would allow reading and printing of material.

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American Airlines representative Catherine Hopkins takes visitors on a “computer” trip to anywhere via the American Airlines Sabre system which tells at a glance what flights are available anywhere in the world. The demonstration was given at the two-day open house at Robert M. Guy Travel on South Main Street.

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Members of the Newtown High School Orchestra and Chorus are offering an entertaining evening of music on Tuesday, November 24, for the annual Thanksgiving concert beginning at 8 pm in the school’s auditorium. The varied program will include selections by the Singers, string orchestra, quartet, full orchestra and chorus. A special highlight of the evening will be Buxtehude’s “Rejoice Earth and Heaven” with the chorus and orchestra.

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Voters in District I chose Democrat Edgar W. Beers of Hawleyville over Republican Ted Haynos of Jangling Plain Road in a special run off election Tuesday to break a tie for the 18th seat on the town’s Legislative Council. The win by Mr Beers narrowed the Republican majority on the council which will sit for a two year term starting in January to 11-7.

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After a lengthy and comprehensive process, members of the superintendent search committee have decided to recommend three finalists to the board on Tuesday, November 24. Serving as interim superintendent is A. Winthrop Ballard. The names of the three finalists and personal information have been withheld until the board of ed reaches their final decision.

 

November 23, 1956

The Garden Club of Newtown, in connection with it junior gardening project, has undertaken the project of selecting plant material, supervising the planting and maintenance of the courtyard garden on the bus loading platform of the Sandy Hook School. This undertaking will be done in cooperation with the School Building Committee, the pupils of the school, Leo Garrepy, principal, and Mrs Sarah Mannix, the club’s junior garden chairman, and members of her committee.

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Newtown went over the top last Friday, November 16, with its donation of 160 pints of blood to the Red Cross Blood Bank held at the Fairfield Hills Hospital. For the first time in several years, the town’s quota of 150 pints was not only realized but an additional ten pints was collected. Nine persons reached their gallon mark and received their gold pins on Friday.

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Following the pattern set by the elementary schools in holding open house last Wednesday night for parents and friends, Newtown High School received parents on Thursday night, commemorating American Education Week. Parents were treated to an abbreviated schedule in the individual classrooms, with teachers explaining the curriculum and outlining courses of study their children pursue.

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BREAKING UP HOUSEKEEPING? A few choice accommodations are available with a fine view, private bath, individual room thermostat and all new furniture. Full hotel services, American or European plan. HAWLEY MANOR INN Newtown GArden 6-4427.

 

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THE UNITED Fire Co Presents An Evening of Entertainment by STARS of Radio – Television – Stage – Screen Featuring THE FABULOUS CONTINENTAL MUSICAL FIESTA - A Cast of 12 Beautiful Voices EDMOND TOWN HALL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH 8:00 PM Tickets are available at the Door $1.80 - $2.50

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Between building a cabin, selling Christmas candy (to help finance the cabin) and practicing the singing of Christmas carols in addition to their regular Scout work, the scouts of the Comanche (Webelos) Den of Newtown Cub Pack 70 are truly a very busy group. The cabin site, on the Gretch property, resounds to the tune of busy saws and hammers as Cub Dads and Scouts are working like beavers trying to roof the cabin before the first big snow.

 

November 20, 1931

Connecticut apple grading standards prescribed by the State Department of Agriculture for the 1931 apple season represent the most radical changes in recent years. Growers are advised to bear in mind that the former Connecticut grade terms, namely, AB, are no longer legal as a new set of standards and grade designations have been adopted. The new state apple grades established consist of Conn Extra Fancy, Conn Fancy, Conn No 1, Conn Commercial and Conn Utility.

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The Newtown War Memorial has been placed in position, this week, by the capable contractors, the McGovern Granite Co, of Hartford. The monument was made possible by a beneficence of the late Miss Mary E. Hawley. The Newtown Monument is to commemorate three periods in the history of our development when force of arms inspired by the spirit of righteousness and lofty ideals brought our country into being; protected it through civil strife; and raised it to the position of Champion of World Democracy and Guardian of Peace.

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John W. Leahy, of Danbury, distributor of Cities Service gasoline and oils, has added another new oil truck to his fleet. This truck will be used for fuel oil only. Oil can be pumped in or out of tanks with the special pumping equipment and latest design meter which is accurate and fast. The two-compartment tank carries six hundred gallons and is built low and holds the road well and with the color scheme of white and black makes an attractive appearance.

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Contractor Henry Johnson is pushing the work on the new house of Willard Mitchell on the hill, above Hanover avenue. It is a very attractive house and commands one of the most beautiful views in Newtown, or in the Fairfield County. When he gets his full returns from his share in the Canfield-Mitchell park farm he will be independent as a Broadway millionaire.

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The country home of the late Edward F. Lambert, located on Hanover road, Newtown and consisting of 25 acres of land wit swelling has just been sold to Lee Hyer White, a well-known expert accountant of Yonkers and New York. Mr White plans to make extensive alterations and additions and will occupy the place as his summer residence.

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The annual harvest dinner dance held at the Newtown Country Club on Friday evening proved to be a most enjoyable affair. The ladies were attractively dressed in gingham dresses and pajamas and the men in overalls. One of the features of the evening was the imposing of fines on the men who failed to make their appearance attired in overalls or other costumes. Each man’s waist was measured and a penalty of one cent per inch was exacted.

 

November 23, 1906

On the outside of the new addition to Troy’s hotel will be a chimney constructed of concrete blocks. W.H. Shepard has taken the contract. The dining room is to be enlarged to double the present size, giving a large and commodious room.

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One of the worst freight wrecks that has ever blocked the Danbury division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford road occurred about five o’clock Monday morning at Branchville, where a long string of box and coal cars left the rails at a switch and were piled into a confused mass. One of the worst features of the accident was the tearing up of the track for a long distance. Some of the cars plunged into the river at the right of the track and others crashed through the fence on the left and dropped into the highway. None of the trainmen were on the cars that were in the smash and consequently no one was injured.

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An elderly lady, in great distress of mind, writes the editor as follows: “There has been no dog disease as yet in the neighborhood where I reside, but I will say the dogs are very troublesome here in catching chickens. As we have no dog and no man to protect us, only two elderly women, people take advantage. One party has three bird dogs that will catch a chicken as well as a bird. So it has been going on for some time until I am very tired of it and think something might be done to protect us.” If through thoughtlessness the strong men are allowing their dogs to do damage to the property of elderly ladies, it is certainly to be regretted. Would these men like their mothers and sister treated thus? Bring the question home, brethren, to yourselves.

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The railroad surveyors were at work, last week, near the residence of the Misses Houlihan, north of the Newtown station, surveying for the purpose of straightening out the curve on the railroad just above the Houlihan place. The new survey cuts right across their property.

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Fire destroyed two large barns, Friday night, at the Hill Top Stock Farm, Danbury, belonging to William Beckerle. The barns contained 100 cows, half of which were suffocated. There were several horses in one of the barns but they were saved. The editor of THE BEE was the guest of Amos C. Lake in Bethlehem Friday night, who resides on one of the highest ridges in that town, and with Mr Lake’s family, had a good view of the fire, although more than 27 miles away. A little use of the handy telephone finally located the fire, which at first was believed to be in Roxbury.