The Way We Were

 

November 23, 1990

Voters defeated a $4 million proposal to design sewers Tuesday night — an act that may result in one of two things within the next week: a referendum or a state recommendation to sue the town. Mrs McMahon explained earlier to a packed audience at the Middle School that voters would have an opportunity following design to vote on real, potentially lower costs for the whole project. The $4 million design phase would have enabled the town to obtain those numbers by seeking contract specifications and bidding the project in the current economic climate. The total sewer plan is now estimated at a cost of $113 million, financed over 20 years. Critics outnumbered supporters among speakers, as well as in the final vote.

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The recent closing of the local A&P might seem to make it a good candidate for relocation of the nearby Queen Street Post Office. But Postal Service officials say the likely site is on Commerce Road. About five years ago, the former A&P site was considered as a relocation site for the Newtown Post Office. But “the needs of the Postal Service started changing as technology came along.” Officials with the Postal Service have said they want a property big enough for a 20,000- to 24,000-square-foot office.

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It looks like the Enhanced-911 equipment will be installed in the Edmond Town Hall dispatch center within a matter of weeks. The town’s primary E-911 system has been in place for about a year, at the police station in Town Hall South. But there have been delays in installing similar equipment at the Town Hall dispatch center, which is in charge of fire calls and ambulance calls.

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Boys’ Soccer Team Beats Guilford, 1-0, To Bring Home State Crown: It was one of those games that will be etched in people’s memories for years to come. Not simply because it was decided in overtime, but because it was between two high-powered teams, which like to play ball control, switch the ball to the weak side of the field frequently, and play the long ball on occasion. The state Class L Championship Boys’ soccer game between top-seeded Gulford and third-seeded Newtown seemed, more or less, to alternate. One team controlled the tempo, then the other. This game, for the most part, was cleanly played, between two teams who take pride in their character.

November 26, 1965

The Newtown Jaycees have launched Operation Sign Up for Freedom, and have designated Saturday, November 27, as Sign UP for Freedom Day. On that day they will be asking people to take a moment to send a few words of encouragement and season’s cheer to some of the men serving in Viet Nam. The Jaycees have obtained the names of 100 men currently on duty there. The Jaycees have Christmas cards ready to mail to these men, and would like to see each one contain some personal message from a Newtown resident.

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On Saturday, December 4, in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, Rotarians will be serving an Aunt Jemima Pancake Jamboree. Along with the famous pancakes will be sausage patties a la Warner, maple syrup, butter, coffee, and milk. Tickets may be purchased in advance from any member of Rotary or at the door for only $1 per person or $3 per family. Final arrangements have been made with Art Smith of the Town Hall to run one for the best of Walt Disney’s entertainment features, “Old Yeller.”

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The Newtown Choral Society, under the direction of Joseph P. Grasso, cordially invites the public to its holiday concert on Sunday afternoon, December 12, at 3 pm, at Edmond Town Hall. A varied selection of music comprises the program. Among the more familiar numbers are those included in a Fred Waring medley entitled “Song of Christmas.” A brass ensemble directed by Sandor Kasten will also present several selections, and at the conclusion of the program, the audience will be invited to join in the singing of traditional carols.

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“Where were you that night?” was the informal discussion in Yankee Drover Inn Monday evening, following the illuminating program on the November 9 blackout. Emil Gross and John Boh, of Connecticut Light and Power Company, addressed the Newtown Rotary Club Monday evening, and supplied some behind-the-scenes insight into the freak power failure that blackened the Northeast on November 9.

 

November 22, 1940

With freezing weather but a short way off, it will be good news to both adults and children to know that the Newtown Athletic Club is taking definite measures to assure the construction of a skating rink. On last Friday evening, the Board of Governors of the Newtown Country Club gave the A.C. permission to use the large level practice fairway on the club grounds for the rink site. For those persons unfamiliar with such a skating rink, it is well to explain that it will be approximately 180 feet in length and 85 feet in width, with siding about 3 or 4 feet high. The water will be only six inches deep at all times, thus removing the possibility of fatal accidents from thin ice.

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Neighbors and friends of Mr and Mrs Frederick Reiner regret the death of their dog, Laddie, from pneumonia. He was an exceptionally fine and gentle dog.

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Final action on the establishment of paid police in Newtown received another delay on Friday evening, when the adjourned town meeting held in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall was recessed until Monday evening, December 2, at 8 o’clock. The purpose of the recess was to give the townspeople a chance to study the plan and the members of the Board of Selectmen time to look into the legality of the report presented by the five-man committee named at the meeting of September 13th.

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The attendance of 400, many from surrounding towns, found the rally held last Thursday evening at the Edmond Theater, a very worthwhile occasion. The affair was sponsored by the Newtown Chapter of William Allen White’s Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies. Pierre de Lanux, principal speaker of the evening, who has spent 20 years in work for peace, ten years of which were with the League of Nations, delivered a highly informative talk on war and peace, outlining the present position of America as regards the struggle in Europe today. He stated that the cause of war lies in the fact that war still pays and that the cure lies in the ability of nations to create conditions so that war does not pay.

 

November 26, 1915

Gentlemen: At the last meeting of the Men’s Literary and Social Club a resolution was adopted and the secretary instructed to write you that the Men’s club does not approve of the practice of the placing of posters or advertisements on the Town hall as it tends to make it look common and damage it. And that the selectmen be requested to order the janitor to remove any that may now be on it and not to allow anymore to be placed thereon. That, if the display of such posters or advertisements be necessary, the selectmen either require the parties using such posters to furnish bill-boards which may be leaned against the hall, or furnish them themselves on behalf of the town. Yours respectfully — [The Men’s Literary and Social Club] H.N. Tiemann, Sr, secretary

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Hawley School: It has been decreed that the names of those who fail to receive a passing mark in their studies shall be posted on the bulletin board on the first of the month following their failure. If they pass during the month, their names will be removed. It is expected that the removing of names will be an incentive and that a higher average in studies will result.

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Without question, William E. Schafer, aged 22, chef at the Newtown Inn, owes his life to heroic Master John Vincent Carey, 14 year old son of Mr and Mrs Carey of Ga Street, Sandy Hook. Young Carey had been to visit his friend and Mr Schafer, better known in sporting circles as “Battling Elwell,” and was on his way home in company with Mr Schafer. Mr Schafer, after leaving Mr Carey, was returning to the Inn when he was called by a fellow who had lost his ring near the station. Mr Schafer, after helping him to find the ring started back toward the depot, when he was accosted by two more. They whistled to the one who had lost his ring, and started a fight. Mr Schafer was beaten down but rose and went at them. He finally succeeded in giving them a severe beating, and exhausted, sat down on the track, half-dazed. The Federal Express was closing in and death was sure, but John Carey had followed him back heard the whistle, and hurried to his friend. He had no time to wait, and he pulled his husky friend from the tracks just as the express shot by, leaving them both within three feet of the track.

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P.H. McCarthy and W.A. Honan have bought out the moving picture business of Mr Collins at the Town Hall and will take hold of the business, December 1. Mr McCarthy tells The Bee that Mr Honan hired the hall for a year more than two weeks ago for moving picture purposes. He says Mr Honan made propositions to Mr Collins in regard to taking hold of the business as early as August last.