The United Fire Company of Botsford can afford to ignore the adage about not looking a gift horse in the mouth, as a Newtown man has donated quite a “horse” to the volunteer company: a 1948 Ahrens-Fox pumper which is still in fine working order. In its day it was one of the finest fire engines made, said its former owner.

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What’s Hot For Christmas 1980: This year it’s Carl Sagan’s Cosmos and The Official Preppie Handbook, electronic games, Star Wars paraphernalia, woks and baking equipment and Things That Will Last. The exception, perhaps, include items such as the Miss Piggy Calendar which still, however, will likely be treasured beyond 1981. Popular toys include Rubik’s Cube and the doll, Strawberry Shortcake.

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The area missed out on the weatherman’s seemingly confident prediction that we were in for 8–12 inches of snow on Tuesday, but a lasting cold spell has led to extremely hazardous conditions at various periods since Sunday afternoon due to that bugaboo of road crews — ice.

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Now in his tenth year as wrestling coach at Newtown High School, Bill Manfredonia has maintained a winning tradition season after season, and this year’s squad should fit into the custom nicely. Once again, the Indians will face a tough schedule, which is the way Manfredonia likes it.

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The Senior Center will host the children of the Adventure Center with a Christmas party featuring Christmas songs by the chorus in costume. The seniors will serve refreshments, and Santa will arrive with a pack full of packages for the little ones.

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The Charter Revision subcommittee studying government heard a plea for governmental recognition of the needs of Newtown’s youth at a meeting at Edmond Town Hall on December 11. As a result of the subcommittee, consisting of Mrs Mary Scherer, Mrs Judy Furlotte, Mrs Joanne Kemmerer and Peter Allen, voted to look into the matter of adding a youth commission as part of the social service department now being proposed.

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Pleasing all the people all of the time is a near impossibility to achieve as officials at Newtown High School have learned. Recently a group of students have joined together to protest the food and the conditions at the high school cafeteria. According to NHS principal Alvah Cramer and Cafeteria Manager Jean Elkins, no complaints were brought to their attention before this.

December 23, 1955

Featured in the 11 o’clock morning worship at the Newtown Congregational Church last Sunday, December 18, was an anthem “Glory” by Florence Mallory Wagner of Taunton District, sung by a women’s choir. Using the story of the Nativity as recorded by St Luke, Mrs Wagner has created an impressive setting for the beautiful account of the first Christmas.

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The annual Sno-Ball Dance of the Young People’s Club will be held this Friday evening, December 23, in the Congregational Church House from 9 to 12:30 o’clock. As in previous years, one of the highlights of the evening will be the choosing of the Sno-Ball Queen by popular vote.

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The last day of fall, Wednesday, December 21, set a mark for the winter to shoot at as thermometers in town dropped below the zero point in the early hours of the morning.

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The annual holiday invitation dance for the young people of high school age will be held next Friday, December 30, in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. Eddie Wittstein’s Orchestra, which has been so popular in former years, will play for dancing from 9 pm to 1 am.

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The Newtown Post Office hit the peak of outgoing mail on Monday, when there were over 19,000 letter cancellations, about 2,500 pieces of metered mail, and 29 sacks of Parcel Post packages, according to Albert H. Nichols, postmaster.

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Miss Andrea McLaughlin, daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles H. McLauglin of Albert’s Hill Road, will demonstrate her skills as an exhibition skater on the TV “Hit Parade,” Channel 4, this Saturday night, December 24 from 10:30 to 11 o’clock.

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The Christmas Tree sale of Boy Scout Troop 70 and Explorer Post 70 being held next to Knapp and Meyers on Main Street is progressing very nicely. Sales have been brisk this past week and the scouts are happy to report that they have given away almost 50 trees to various churches, schools and organizations.

December 19, 1930

THE PARKER HOUSE: Newtown, Conn. Fine Saddle Horses To Rent. Catering To Permanent And Transient Guests. BANQUETS. Chicken Dinners Our Specialty. William D. Parker, Prop.

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There has been submitted for the consideration of the committee appointed to have charge of the erection of a soldiers’ memorial a model of a memorial prepared by A.B. Clanfarani, sculptor for the Gorham Co., of Providence, R.I. It is on exhibition at the memorial room at the Edmond Town hall.

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The other day the editor dropped in for a call at Brookdale Farm, the home of Edward M. Conger, in South Center, an old-time New England house, built about 150 years ago. But it is the poultry venture, in which E.M. Conger, Jr is the main director, that the scribe sat down to write about. Mr Conger, Jr did not start in on his enterprise until July of this year and certainly has made a wonderful beginning and is on the road, we believe, to make a real success.

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Mystery dramas have been many on the screen lately, but never one as tense, gripping, and romantic as “Men of the North,” which takes all of the elements of a mystery play and unfolds them in the French Canadian wilds, in gorgeous settings of snow-clad mountains. The new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, which will be shown at the Edmond Town Hall theater, Wednesday, December 24, is one of the unique entertainments of the season.

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On Thursday evening, December 18, at 8 pm, the people of Newtown and surrounding towns will be given the chance to see one of the leading amateur teams of Bridgeport in action when the crack St John’s five will meet the NAC representatives at the Edmond Town hall.

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E.W. Troy is making some improvements in the old Sandy Hook Market building, putting down new floors. Joseph Collins, local expert carpenter, is doing the work.

December 22, 1905

Much interest is being taken in the dance to be held at the Town hall, Newtown, December 25. An effort is being made by the committee, Clarence L. Beardsley and Arthur I. Platt, to reach all the young people who have drifted away, and it is hoped that a crowd such as used to fill the Town hall in times past may again assemble.

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Miss Agnes Platt, whose beautiful soprano voice has been so much enjoyed by the congregation at Trinity Church for several years, is to leave, having been engaged as a leading singer in St Bartholomew’s church in New York City.

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The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Newtown Agricultural society was held on Tuesday afternoon, December 19, at the Brick building, and only 17 were present. It was a very harmonious meeting.

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A meeting is to be held on January 1 at the Newtown Inn to talk over the matter of water works for the town. Some progress has been made, an option having been obtained of a pond sufficiently high to give a good pressure in Newtown Street.

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The guessing match and butchering of the big hog, whose name is “Maud,” will take place at the Grand Central hotel yards, next Saturday, December 23, at 2 pm. The hog will be full dressed, pluck and intestines removed. As the time grows short, interest is on the increase, on the weight of the hog.

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Daisy Bell Morrow, little daughter of Mr and Mrs Paul Morrow of Botsford, fell from her bed and broke her left arm between the wrist and elbow. Dr Wales set the arm and it is now doing nicely.