December 18, 1998

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of John Taaffe.

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Town Clerk Cindy Simon announced this week that her office broke a record for the number of documents recorded in one year. “We hit 10,000 this morning,” she said Tuesday. The previous record for documents recorded came in 1986-87, when the town clerk recorded 8,661.

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Rich Rauner’s seven-month wait for a new heart ended at 3:30 am on Thursday, December 17, when the 58-year-old Newtown former postal worker went into surgery at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. The operation was expected to take about nine hours, a little longer than the average heart transplant because Mr Rauner had undergone previous heart surgeries. The operation was still underway as The Bee went to press this week. … Fellow Temple patient Bill Booth told The Newtown Bee that reports are that Rich is doing well in surgery. “We had a birthday party for him before he went in. It’s a tradition. We have a prayer circle and then we sing Happy Birthday because it is a new life.”

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On December 12, Steven Kellogg offered a storytelling and autograph program at C.H. Booth Library. After he illustrated his 1973 story The Island of Skog, Nicole Cornelio of Ridgefield was the first person in line to meet the Newtown author and illustrator. Nicole was also one of the lucky audience members who won one of Mr Kellogg’s drawings during a raffle Saturday afternoon.

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By the time Newtown Rotary wound up its 38th annual Pancake Day at Edmond Town Hall on December 12, the crowd had consumed 100 pounds of sausages, 120 pounds of pancake mix, 12 gallons of maple syrup, 24 gallons of orange juice, and 8 gallons of milk. More than 400 people showed up between 8 am and 2 pm for a meal and a visit with Santa Claus. Because of the warm weather, attendance was down a bit from last year, but the Rotary Club still raised more than $2,000 for its charitable activities, according to event organizer Jake Danziger.

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Sarah Mannix has a sign hanging in her greenhouse that reads “bloom where you are planted.” Indeed, her life reflects that statement. The lifelong Newtown resident celebrated her 90th birthday last week and was honored by the Democratic Town Committee at a surprise party. Mrs Mannix still lives on the property along South Main Street where her father, James Farrell, was born. She has spent the past nine decades working to help children, plants, and the community bloom.

December 14, 1973

Newtown voters decided in an all-day referendum on Tuesday, December 11, that there would be no elementary school built on the Boyle site on Boggs Hill Road. The site, which had been under condemnation proceedings, will now be returned to the former owners, Mr and Mrs Lyman D. Rogers, Mr and Mrs Albert Goodrich, Mrs Raymond Fosdick, and Mrs Joseph Chase. The $68,000 for the purchase of the land which had been on deposit in the court in Bridgeport will be returned to the town, and the search for a new elementary school in town will have to begin again.

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Fire completely gutted a barber shop in Sandy Hook and caused extensive smoke damage to other businesses located in the same building complex. The fire, which was reported at 4:50 am on Saturday, December 8, is believed to have been started to cover up a robbery which had occurred in the barber shop. The case is being investigated by the Fire Marshal and the detective squad of the Newtown Police. Two companies, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company and Newtown Hook & Ladder Company No. 1, fought the fire with an estimated total of 80 men.

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Tom Worthington of the Holcomb Oil Company announced on Monday, December 10, that he has been named coordinator of a new committee set up by First Selectman Frank DeLucia to study the problems of providing gas for the school buses as well as oil for the homes of the elderly. The committee will consist of representatives of the police and fire departments and the utilities as well as Mary Bray, the town social worker. Mr Worthington said that he was especially concerned with developing plans to deal with the critical months of January and February.

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Park and Recreation Commission Chairman William Honan Jr, in a letter dated November 29, has informed First Selectman Frank DeLucia that he does not wish to be reappointed to the Park and Recreation Commission when his current term expires December 31. The letter was read to the Commission at its December 11 meeting. … The letter said in part that Mr Honan had “given this matter serious thought and consideration and must admit that I take this action reluctantly because I have enjoyed my 13 years on the board and nine years as chairman … [and] feel that it is essential that others be given the opportunity, as I was, to serve the town.”

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Vincent Keenan of Dodgingtown Road has been elected as the new president of Newtown Country Club for the 1973-74 year. Mr Keenan has been a member of the Club for the past six years and last year was one of its vice-presidents.

December 10, 1948

On Tuesday evening, November 30, an organizational meeting was held at the Hawley Manor for the purpose of establishing a Lions Club chapter in Newtown. D. Blair DeWare, special representative of Lions International, assisted in the organization meeting and other guests included District Governor Roy L. Heck, President Louis Unger of the Danbury Lions Club, and Secretary John Lownds of the Danbury Club. The following officers were elected to serve the Newtown Lions Club: president, George W. Trull; first vice president, Raymond J. Trimpert; second vice president, Dr George B. Kyle; third vice president, Harry F. Greenman; secretary, Henry L. McCarthy; treasurer, Louis Oetjen; lion tamer, William A. Bowen; tail twister, Paul V. Cavanaugh; directors, one year, Arthur W. Carmody and Willis R. Tomlinson; directors, two years, Dwight W. Carlson and Edward G. Egan. It was decided that meetings would be held twice monthly at the Hawley Manor at 7 p.m., on the second and fourth Wednesdays.

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Members of the Newtown Parent-Teacher Association and their friends enjoyed their December party which was held in Hawley school on Tuesday evening. The major entertainment of the affair was made up of songs given by members of the boys and girls Glee Club plus members of the Hawley Chorus. Jean Taylor and Vincent Mihalek furnished the piano accompaniment. The soloist was Dolores Suarez who sang “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” and “Why Do I Love You,” accompanied by Mrs Charles Goodsell. Miss Suarez not only has a lovely voice but a charming personality and she completely captivated her audience.

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The many friends of Dr and Mrs Henry Roger of Walnut Tree Hill will be pleased to know that Mrs Roger is recovering nicely in New Haven from an operation performed on Thursday of last week.

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Friends will be pleased to know of the return of Col. C. Sidney Haight from the Army hospital at Hot Springs, Ark., where he has been receiving the benefits of treatment for arthritis.

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Mr and Mrs John F. Miles, Jr., of Riverside, Lake Zoar, announce the birth of a daughter, Jerilyn Ann, December 6, at the Bridgeport Hospital.

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Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh of Newtown will again head the infantile paralysis campaign in Fairfield county. Judge John T. Cullinan of Bridgeport, state chairman of the 1949 March of Dimes, the annual fund raising drive of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, has announced the reappointment of Judge Cavanaugh as Fairfield County director. “Judge Cavanaugh has served in this capacity almost since the inauguration of the infantile paralysis program,” Judge Cullinan said. “He has established an enviable record, both in fund raising and as chairman of the Fairfield county chapter, which has the responsibility for the disbursement of the funds among sufferers from this disease.”

December 7, 1923

The annual meeting of the Newtown Library Association was held on Tuesday night at the Beach Memorial Library. The officers elected were: President, Judge P.H. McCarthy; Vice-President, Charles F. Beardsley; Secretary, Mrs A.B. Blakeman; Treasurer, Charles F. Cavanaugh; Librarian, Miss Abbie Peck; Member of the Board of Trustees for three years, Dr E.L. Kingman; Book Committee: Miss Abbie Peck, Mrs A.B. Blakeman, Miss S.J. Scudder, Rev G.H. Ekins, Curtis Glover, Mrs W.O. Pardee; Finance Committee: Judge McCarthy, Mrs C.F. Cavanaugh, Mrs P.H. McCarthy, Miss Lamport, W.O. Pardee, Mrs Jennie Marshall, Mrs Stoddard. It was voted to make the library free to all pupils of the public schools in Newtown. This is a forward movement, and brings the free use of the library to every family where in town there are children of school age. The report of the treasurer showed the amount on hand at the beginning of the year as $1822.93.

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At the beginning of last month the Parent-Teachers’ Association began to serve cocoa to the children of the school. The results of their efforts appear to be most gratifying. During the month, 2,724 cups of cocoa were served. The expense to the association for this service was $78, and the amount received by it was $62.47. The Association also gave a blanket and a pillow to the school to be placed in the teachers’ rest room and to be used by the pupils in case of illness.

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Dexter Cole of Bristol was brought before Justice P.H. McCarthy, charged with reckless driving and driving while intoxicated. He was fined $25 on the reckless driving charge with costs which footed up $16 additional. On the charge of Intoxication he was acquitted.

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Mrs Charles W. Dayton has returned to her home on Dayton street after a month’s visit in Virginia.

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Donald G. Meeker of New York passed the Thanksgiving holidays with his parents, Mr and Mrs Charles G. Meeker.

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Miss Helen Keane of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., Thomas Keane of New York, and Miss Mary Keane of Watertown, returned, Sunday evening, after spending the Holidays with their parents, Mr and Mrs Thomas C. Keane.

December 16, 1898

Harry B. Curtis of Berkshire, who has been attending the Bridgeport high school, has left that institution of learning and accepted a position with the well known banking firm of Burr & Knapp of Bridgeport. His Newtown friends will wish him success in his new work.

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HOLIDAY GOODS —AT— REDUCED PRICES! On account of proposed changes we have decided on a Special Mark Down Sale. For the next 30 days we will sell our stock, now much larger than usual, at a reduction. Some articles at cost, many at less than cost, all at less than usual prices for same quality goods. —Call and examine them. — Wm. B. Sniffen, Sandy Hook, Conn.

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D.J. Shelton, the Grand Union Tea man, was snow bound at H.C. Beers for two weeks. He resumed his peregrinations, last Friday.

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The Men’s club was very pleasantly entertained at the Grand Central hotel, Tuesday night, Hon M.J. Houlihan being the host. An Exceedingly able paper was presented by Rev George T. Linsley on “The United States Supreme court.” M.A. Todd and George P. Sanford were guests of the club.

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W.C. Johnson is preparing to harvest ice next Monday. About 30 men are employed on the job, and it is a busy time for three or four days.

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A.W. and A.D. Fairchild began harvesting their ice crop on Wednesday.

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One of the Grand Central teams indulged in a runaway at the Depot on Monday night. It was driven by Eugene Bulkley and in turning around the buggy overturned and the horse ran away and put for home. He soon left the buggy beside the road badly wrecked, but the horse was not injured except by fright. Mr Bulkley fortunately escaped injury.

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.