December 3, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Ginny Lathrop.

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EDITORIAL INK DROPS — MESSAGES FOR THE MILLENNIUM: We have been told that time proceeds at a steady pace, but from personal observation we can say for a fact that time is speeding up. It seems we just took down the Christmas lights from last year, and here we are putting them up again. When life is such a blur, it is hard to bring any particular date into focus, especially since we tack a new number on the end of the year. … In four weeks, we will be changing every single number in the year, and the result — 2000 — demands that we stand at attention. It just so happens this year that we will publish a paper on the last day of the 20th Century, December 31, 1999. We thought it would be the perfect occasion, since everyone will be standing at attention, to give all our readers the opportunity to go on record one last time in this great sprawling century with a message for the new millennium. And why, given the auspicious date, limit everyone to their two-cents worth? Why not make it 2000 cents? … Consequently we invite our readers to submit their message for the millennium by filling out the coupon on page A9. Send it along with a $20 check made out to a local organization of your choice, and we will publish your message in our December 31, 1999 issue. The deadline for submitting messages is 5 pm December 22, which should come along in about 20 minutes, so don’t put it off.

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Borough officials Joan Crick and Jay Maher had an impromptu ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to celebrate the completion of a small sidewalk project along Main Street. The Connecticut Bomanite Company put the 100 feet of new sidewalk down after pulling up a section of old, worn-out sidewalk on November 10. Although the project touched just the tip of the iceberg (there is still plenty more to do), both Mrs Crick and Mr Maher felt it was cause for excitement. They hope it is the beginning of something big. The sidewalk area, located in front of 48 Main Street (across the street from the General Store), was considered to be in the worst shape of any within the Borough.

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In a special meeting Monday night at Middle Gate Elementary School, the Newtown Board of Education voted unanimously to appoint Lisa Schwartz to fill the vacancy left when Chairperson Amy Dent retired in early November. The special meeting centered on interviewing Mrs Schwartz for the position. Board members took turns asking the 39-year-old former Legislative Council representative questions concerning her qualifications and views about issues facing the district. … Mrs Schwartz brings to the board four years experience on the Legislative Council end of the budget development process, and she said she hoped having insight from that perspective would help the school board during the upcoming budget-drafting meetings in January.

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The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has approved the Newtown Montessori School’s request to use the former Gordon Fraser Gallery at 173 South Main Street as the new home of the Newtown Montessori School. After reviewing plans for converting the former store, office and warehouse complex into a private school, P&Z members unanimously approved the conversion project. The school is now located in cramped quarters in Dodgingtown.

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Every five minutes, 67 children around the world die from drinking contaminated water. According to the United Nations, four million children die each year due to a lack of clean water. The shortage of clean, safe water for drinking, bathing and washing ranks as one of the world’s worst problems. Newtown resident and Rotarian Harvey Sellner, now retired, wants to help stop this worldwide epidemic and has chosen one tiny corner of the world on which to focus his efforts. These days, he is preparing to ship dozens of water purifiers to the African nation of Ghana. With the help of his fellow members of the Newtown Rotary Club, the effort is becoming a reality.

November 29, 1974

Cub Scout Pack 370 met in the Dodgingtown Fire House for the annual uniform inspection Monday, November 25. After Den 2 presented the opening ceremonies, the Pack received a Unit Award for proper uniforming and good personal appearance. Uniformed officers who made the inspection included Newtown Police Sgt Ray Tompkins, Officer George Stowe, Gunners’ Mate 2c Tony Costa of the U.S. Navy, Raul Camejo, Scoutmaster, Eagle Scout Richard Camejo, and Mrs Shirley Camejo, Assistant District Commissioner, Scatacook District.

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A group of businessmen in Newtown have what is admittedly a stinker of a problem, and, for them and perhaps those in town who need their services, quite a serious one. The problem is that those engaged in the business of pumping septic tanks in this sewer-less community have no place within the town’s border where they can dump the material pumped out of tanks. A number of the men in the septic tank cleaning field are dissatisfied with the situation and this week one of them, Fred Lajoie, owner of Fred’s Construction, told The Bee about the problems.

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The New Milford Touch Football League came to a dramatic conclusion on Sunday, November 24, when Bull’s Bridge Inn of Kent defeated the local Newtown team in sudden death overtime, 25-19, for its third consecutive championship.

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It was a very cold and blustery November 25 morning when the groundbreaking ceremonies took place for the new clubhouse at Newtown Country Club, and a pick axe would have been more effective than a shovel. But the thoughts of a new clubhouse warmed the hearts of those present as they looked into the future and saw visions of the 1975 golf season opening up with members enjoying a new clubhouse instead of the temporary trailers which stood as replacements this summer for the burnt out facility. Attending the groundbreaking were Tony Portunato, stewart; Joseph Hellauer, Board of Governors member and president of Newtown Country Club Realty Corporation; Al Hofmeister, club president; Margaret Hellauer, club treasurer; Karl Heinonen, club member and general contractor for the new building; and Ron Hodge, club pro who will be looking forward to having his pro shop in the clubhouse next year.

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The Town of Newtown has cleared one hurdle in its request for location of a new town garage and maintenance facility, as the Zoning Board of Appeals has approved use of a 7.35 acre parcel of industrial land near the landfill with variances to the street setback requirements. The Town sought the variances at a public hearing on November 6, stating that adherence to the 150 foot setback from two roads would necessitate expensive excavation. The parcel of land is on the corner of South Main Street (Route 25) and Ethan Allen Road, which leads into the landfill.

November 25, 1949

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — REALISTIC THANKSGIVING: The Thanksgiving season calls forth many an editorial, many a sermon, many a conversation on the virtues of our Pilgrim fathers. We take great pride in the blessings of life as those hardy immigrants to these distant shores purposed that it should be lived in this great free land. Indeed, from the start, freedom has been the cornerstone upon which these United States have been built. … In the abstract, Thanksgiving Day is one of the most idealistic of this nation’s legal holidays. In reality, it has become a day of feasting, and little else. There is real cause to make of it, once more, an occasion for appreciation of the free way of living which is ours. It must be a day for dedication of ourselves to the task of preserving America’s freedom for generations yet unborn. They will bless us for it.

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About 55 boys of the SAC enjoyed a pre-holiday dinner at the Parker House last Saturday evening as guests of Mrs Edith C. Parker, one of the group’s senior vice-presidents. This makes the third consecutive year the group has enjoyed Mrs Parker’s hospitality at the Thanksgiving season.

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An occasion long to be remembered in the 235-year history of the Newtown Congregational church occurred last Friday evening with the dedication of the new Church House, with more than 300 members of the church and congregation and their families taking part. Activities began when a fellowship supper was served between 6 and 7:30 under the direction of Mrs William Hunter and a committee of women of the parish.

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The Hawley Chapter of Future Homemakers of America installed officers for the 1949-1950 school year on Thursday, November 17, in ceremonies at 3:30 in the homemaking room. Following the service refreshments were served the guests, mothers of the members and Mrs Carl A. LeGrow. … The following girls were elected to office for the coming year: president, Lorraine Keating; vice president, Margaret Sherman; secretary, Joan McLennon; treasurer, Phyllis O’Dell; leader of recreation, Caroline Nash; parliamentarian, Sandra Johnson; historian, Jane Slocum; reporter, Sally Jones. Mrs Katherine Schneider, homemaking instructor at Hawley school, is advisor to the group and Mrs Thomas Keating and Mrs W. McLennon have been chosen chapter mothers.

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At a special parish meeting held Tuesday night in the Guild room of Trinity church, those present voted to approve a recommendation made by the committee that has been working for some months past to locate and secure the services of a Rector to succeed the Rev John W. Mutton, recently resigned, and to extend to the Rev Gordon D. Pierce, D.D., now of St. John’s Parish, Brooklyn, a call to come to Newtown and assume control of the affairs of Trinity church in this parish.

November 21, 1924

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: As Thanksgiving day occurs next Thursday, The Bee will go to press one day earlier than usual, Wednesday afternoon. In order that the members of The Bee staff may enjoy the day with their families unfettered by the duties of the daily round, will our correspondents send their communications a day earlier than is their usual custom? This effort will be appreciated by every member of The Bee staff.

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James M. Blackman, for many years a resident of Sandy Hook, died on Monday at Passaic, N.J., aged about 87 years. He is survived by two daughters, Miss Lulu Blackman and Mrs Maude Bennett of Passaic, N.J., and one brother, I. Percy Blackman. Mr Blackman, at the time of his death, was the oldest member of Hiram Lodge, F. & A.M., in length of membership. He had been a Mason 57 years. He was also a member of Hiram Chapter, R.A.M., and had served as high priest and held other offices in the chapter. He was a past master of Hiram lodge. The burial took place at the Berkshire cemetery on Thursday at 11 am. Rev Dr R.H. Gesner conducted a brief service, after which the Masonic burial service followed.

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Mrs Sarah Beardsley, widow of the late Cicero Beardsley of Gray’s Plain district, died suddenly on Friday, aged 68 years. Mrs Beardsley was a most excellent and kindly neighbor and the news of her death was received with regret. Surviving her are two sons, Charles R. Beardsley and Harry Bolmer. The funeral was held on Sunday afternoon, Rev R.H. Gesner officiating. The pallbearers were Stanley Nichols, Howard Nichols, Ernest Ott and Martin Winton. The burial was in the Berkshire cemetery.

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The annual Thanks-offering meeting of the Congregational Women’s Missionary Society was held on Tuesday last in the church parlors. The offering amounted to over $28, bringing the society almost to their goal of $200 in Benevolence for the year. Mrs F.R. Bunker was the speaker and told of her long residence in South Africa, where she was the valued helper of her husband in church and school and Natal and Rhodesia.

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The Men’s Club held an interesting meeting at the Parker House, Tuesday night, Dr E.L. Kingman being the host. Judge P.H. McCarthy, in charge of the program, introduced Mr Finch of the Danbury Normal school, who gave a very interesting talk on governing conservation.

December 1, 1899

Patrick Reardon returned, last Saturday, from the Railroad Chatham Business College of Chatham, N.Y., and is now ready to take a position.

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A READER MAKES A SUGGESTION: Would like to inquire why the clergy ignored the west half of the town in choosing places in which to deliver their lectures. There is a large section of the town comprising Huntingtown, Palestine, Hattertown and Dodgingtown, filled with many intelligent people who would enjoy the opportunity of listening to an instructive lecture without having to travel four or five miles in order to satisfy their desires. The citizens in the “Street” and “Hook” enjoy many opportunities of a literary nature which those outside the center cannot enjoy on account of the distance, bad traveling, inability to attend, etc. Omit the meetings in the Center and give the good people in the western part of the town the chance to listen to the reverend gentlemen. They would meet with a hearty welcome and a full house in Hattertown.(A Reader.

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Walter S. Hine, the popular cattle buyer, has been around town buying some fine oxen. There were some extra good ones among the number, some that took the blue ribbon at the Newtown fair. He is buying them for New Haven markets.

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Among the Newtown people who saw Princeton defeat Yale at football on Saturday were Dr and Mrs Harry Nichols, Arthur T. Nettleton, Sheriff M. Carlton Rodgers, M.J. Houlihan and son, John F. McDermott and Dr J.W. Gordon.

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It was a real treat to those who were present at the two services in the Congregational church, last Sunday, to hear Mrs Harriet S. Caswell run in rapid narration over incidents in home missionary work that she had witnessed in various parts of the United States. It was a treat, and it was more too. It was a genuine inspiration, for anyone who listened attentively to Mrs Caswell (and who at those services did not listen attentively?) can hardly help in the future being more of an enthusiast for missions and doing more for missions than ever before.

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.