December 31, 1999

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THIS MILLENNIAL MOMENT: This week we feel like we are teetering on the edge of time as we put out a paper dated the last day of the millennium. Yes, we have been instructed by our priggish friends that the millennium doesn’t really debut for another year, but we don’t care. All those zeroes make the year 2000 the big one for us. Time is a baffling thing to think about. We apply the tape measure of time to our lives every day, counting out the seconds, minutes, and hours of our routine. Yet only rarely do we look up from what we are doing to watch the sweep of time spill out beyond the days, weeks, months, and years of our lifetime into generations, epochs, and eras. This is one of those rare moments when people all around the world will be interrupting the normal routine to reflect on the passing of time.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Lucille LaPerch.

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First Selectman Herb Rosenthal met with other area town and state leaders last week to continue discussions on how to address the pending sale of Bridgeport Hydraulic and its 20,000 acres of land in Connecticut. The talk centered on the possibility of the town and state taking over the water company and then turning it into a separate public water authority. According to Mr Rosenthal, this could be done by an act of the state legislature and would effectively block the sale of the company to Yorkshire, PLC, a subsidiary of Kelda Group of Great Britain.

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It happened almost 11 months ago, but a 36-31 loss to Pomperaug in the finale of the 1998-99 regular season was still fresh in the minds of the Nighthawks as they made their ride up to Southbury Tuesday morning. Back 11 months ago, the ‘Hawks had expected to finish the season strong with a victory over the Panthers but somehow — with a couple of unexpected losses and an injury default — suffered a loss instead to fall 7-3. … Tuesday morning the Nighthawks whipped the Panthers, 49-28, in the first stage of a quad-meet with Platt Tech of Meriden and Staples of Westport. The win over the Panthers — coupled with a win over Platt and a loss to Staples — pushed Newtown’s record to 4-1 overall, 3-0 in the South-West Conference.

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Third-grader Thomas James got his Christmas wish this year: a letter of response from Roboband, a robot-manufacturing company in Monroe. For some time now Thomas has been in love with robots. The eight-year-old found an old robot of his under his bed one day and through that he could design a way to make it programmable, just like the ones that captivate him in movies. He did some thinking and drawings, and decided to send his plans, along with a letter, to the Monroe firm. Though he wanted nothing else for Christmas but to hear from Roboband, he did not hold his breath. When a letter from Roboband arrived in Thomas’ mailbox, addressed to him, the excitement was almost too much. The letter, from Roboband’s National Sales Manager Daniel Peretz, thanked Thomas for his drawings and interest in robotics, and offered him a guided tour of Roboband’s facilities.

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Firefighters, policemen and ambulance corps volunteers gathered at The Pleasance December 23 to celebrate the engagement of Newtown residents Marcus Sharpe and Jennifer Oliver. Marcus, down on one knee, proposed to Jennifer inside the gazebo and then, after she said Yes, motioned to the emergency personnel to put on their lights and sirens.

December 27, 1974

Students in Miss Mary Thomas’ child development and home furnishings classes at Newtown High gave a party for toddlers on December 18. The children received presents from their hostesses, refreshments were served, and Santa Claus — a/k/a assistant principal Earl Smith — gave out gifts to the little ones.

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Vivian Mayer of the Newtown Assessor’s office has been officially designated as a Certified Connecticut Municipal Assessor.

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On December 20 two members of The Bee staff learned a very interesting fact. There are very few people who obey the speed limit signs, in fact most drivers manage to do between 5 and 15 miles over the posted speeds, and some don’t even bother to slow down when they see a police patrol car. This education came about through a demonstration given by two members of the Newtown Police Department, Sgt Raymond Tompkins and Officer Robert Braatz, along a stretch of Route 302. Feeding them speed rates of vehicles with a deadly accuracy was a little instrument which resembled a clock radio which was perched on the dashboard of their patrol car.

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On Thursday, December 12, the town crew started improving the sight lines at the intersection of The Boulevard and Route 6. A special crew from Connecticut Light & Power came in to grind down an old tree stump which was then dug up and removed by the road crew. The crew also moved back a stone wall and leveled some ground areas. With a wall bent back, it’s possible to see further down Church Hill Road, which was the whole idea.

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News has reached The Bee of the death of Mrs Edith Parker, widow of William D. Parker, who passed away on December 11 at the Eastern Star Home, Orange, Mass., where she had been a resident since December of 1960. She was 92 years of age. Mrs Parker will be well remembered by the older residents of the town because of the years she spent here running the Parker House, now well known as the Yankee Drover Inn … During the years Mr and Mrs Parker operated the Parker House, the hotel clung to its heritage of hospitality and service, retaining the flavor of a bygone era and yet subscribing to the present day. Following Mr Parker’s death, Mrs Parker continued as proprietress for a number of years, taking pride in the historic inn and the many antiques which adorned the walls and display places in every room. A very public spirited person, Mrs Parker supported in her quiet way many local projects and organizations. She was particularly interested in the Sandy Hook Boys Social and Athletic Club and collected hundreds of pairs of eye glasses which were brought to the hotel and sent to various organization where they were needed. … Mrs Parker is survived by one daughter, Mrs Arlene Dolby.

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Newtown has two players on the Class “A” All Star second team line-up selected by the Bridgeport Post in its December 13 issues. Five other varsity grid men received honorable mention in the review of area athletes which the Post conducts after each season. Tackle Jim Jossick and back Pat Coyne were the second team defense picks. Winning honorable mention in offense were tackle Don Whittle, guard Paul Wagner and back Wally Randall. Defensemen honored were Gordon Scott and punter Paul Meier. The Newtown varsity team ended its season with a record of five wins and three losses.

December 23, 1949

Friends and interested townspeople left Edmond Town Hall last Thursday evening filled with the holiday spirit and a great deal of praise for Hawley Chorus. The second pre-Christmas concert was an unqualified success. Presented as a gift from the chorus to local residents, the musical event was well received and its Christmas message of good will is one that will be remembered far into the New Year. One hundred and twenty mixed voices were under the direction of William Jones, music supervisor in Newtown and Southbury.

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Many have been impressed by the architectural beauty of Trinity Episcopal church as revealed by the floodlights which are playing on the front of the building during the Christmas season. The work of installing and operating the lights has been in charge of Frank Johnson and John Hansen.

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A prettily decorated Community Christmas tree shines forth, this year, from the War Memorial triangle at the head of Newtown’s Main street. The tree has been donated by the public spirited citizens and was set in place by “Clif” Beardsley and fellow workers of the town’s road crew. Ted Braun strung the lights and Charles Kittle did the wiring. The electricity is being donated by the Danbury & Bethel Gas & Electric Light Company. This community tree was a project of the Chamber of Commerce before the war, and it is good to see it resumed under impetus of the Town Development Committee.

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Mr and Mrs Hugh Quinn are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this Thursday, December 22nd. The occasion is being observed quietly at their home, with friends and relatives calling during the day to extend best wishes and congratulations. The Bee adds its hearty felicitations to this well-known and popular couple.

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More than 100 children, with their parents, enjoyed the children’s Christmas party of the Newtown Rotary Club held at the Parker House from 5 to 7 Monday evening. There were movies and games, singing and refreshments, with Santa Claus contributing fun to the program. There were candies and oranges for every child, with other gifts to take home. Albert Nichols, Frank Strasburger, Joseph Hellauer, John Hansen, other members and wives and daughters of members helped out on the program.

December 19, 1924

Philo T. Platt, of Newtown, senator from the 25th district, probably will be the president pro tempore of the Senate, and as such will become acting lieutenant governor when John H. Trumbull succeeds Senator elect Hiram Blugham as governor. This was the indication Wednesday night, on the eve of a conference of Republican organization leaders, to perfect plans for the opening of the General Assembly session, which will get under way with count caucuses at the capitol on the night of January 6. Senator Platt probably will be unopposed following the reported agreement of Senator H.S. Challenge of Bridgeport to be county commissioner for Fairfield county to succeed Henry Crawford of Greenwich, who has been for some time acting in the dual capacity of county officer and town clerk.

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C.F. Cavanaugh has bought of Mrs Hazel P. Northrop the attractive bungalow on Hanover avenue, which has been occupied for several years by William Downes of Bridgeport. Mr Cavanaugh expects to take possession about March 1.

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Miss Mary Hawley, in addition to giving the beautiful Mausoleum to the Newtown Village Cemetery association, has generously given a tract of land west of the present cemetery grounds to the association. This will provide for future needs of the association for at least 100 years.

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On Wednesday, a Hudson coach that had been stolen from Harry Tolls of Derby was found abandoned on the Walnut Tree Hill road by Mr Barrett of the SNET Co. Mr Barrett reported the matter to Miss Clara Sheehan at the local office, who notified Constable Thomas Carlson, who had it brought to the Liberty garage. On Thursday, Mr Tolls recovered his property. Considerable credit is due the local exchange for the promptness in which the matter was handled.

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Services were begun at Hawleyville chapel on December 6, Rev G. Herbert Ekins, pastor of the First Congregational church officiating. On the following Sunday, Rev Dr Richmond H. Gesner, rector of Trinity church, Newtown, officiated. Both the services were well attended, the chapel being nearly full. The two clergymen will continue the services alternately through the winter months. Rev Mr Ekins will preach, December 21, at 3 pm.

December 29, 1899

Henry Barnum and family, who have occupied the George French place in Huntington, the past summer, is now nicely settled in the Keane place, recently vacated by Frank Coger.

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Miss Lila Warner has resumed her duties as bookkeeper with the Bridgeport Public Market, after being confined for some time with sickness at the home of her parents, Mr and Mrs Russell Warner.

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Mrs Lena Gardner of New Haven has visited her cousin, Mrs E.D. Briscoe. Mrs Briscoe is in poor health and receives many little tokens of friendship, as well as much sympathy from her numerous friends.

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The miscreants on Botsford Hill, who some time ago thought to have a little fun by ruining gates, etc, had better have stopped and thought just one moment, before they disturbed anything belonging to an old person, living alone, as Mrs Briscoe does.

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William Carl of Waterbury is passing a few weeks with Mr and Mrs Owen Burns, near the Depot.

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Will Minor, employed by Chaffee, a Bridgeport grocer, ate his Christmas dinner with his parents, Mr and Mrs Charles Minor of Berkshire.

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Miss Lillian Fairman, the capable stenographer at the Plumb Hardware Co’s establishment in Bridgeport, passed Christmas day with her parents, Mr and Mrs George P. Sanford.

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.