January 10, 1992

In comparing the lives we wish for ourselves and our families with the lives we are actually living, we always come to obstacles that have shortchanged us in some way. "If only…" is the refrain of our lives as circumstance, fate, miscalculation, and frailty regularly conspire to keep us from where we are going. Sometimes the frustrations are small, sometimes they overwhelm us, but always they teach that life isn't perfect. So it is that we are sympathetic to other people's frustrations. This week we reported on a small group of physically handicapped people and their lives in Newtown. It is a different view. Small impediments loom large and challenges are encountered in public places. There are new federal laws in place to take effect January 26, that mandate better access for the handicapped to most public places.

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Imagine going to your local post office or restaurant and discovering that the entrances are all six feet off the ground. Would that not make it impossible for you to enter the building with dignity? Such is the case every day for an individual who is disabled and uses a wheelchair. To help us save dignity and maintain freedom of the disabled, the Federal Government passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), mandating that all public buildings except churches and private schools, provide proper handicapped access by January 26. For disabled residents and visitors who use a wheelchair, a simple curb is a nearly impossible obstacle and a set of steps is simply out of the question. "It's very embarrassing to be carried up a set of stair to go to dinner," said Patti Brandt of Sandy Hook. "I hope this ADA will work. I'm not trying to be a complainer," she said. "I'm just trying to have the same freedom as everyone else."

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On the morning of January 7, a 73-year-old man was injured at a fire at his house at 61 Bears Hill Road. The fire extensively damaged the kitchen and dining room and caused heat and smoke damage throughout the house, said Steve Belair, United Fire Company of Botsford chief. Engelbrekt Philipson was taken to Danbury Hospital. Mr Philipson's hands, back, and hair were burned. The fire was accidental and caused by having a combustible too close to a heat source. Neighbor Carol Strong said Mr Philipson told her the handle of his coffee pot caught fire, and that he tried unsuccessfully to put it out.

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On January 13, the Newtown Historical Society starts in the new year with a presentation on the prehistory of Newtown. Society president Dan Cruson will have a slide show and lecture on the panorama of Indian culture developments as revealed by the work of modern archaeologists in New England and New York. Some of the most recent archaeological work has changed many of the former ideas about how natives lived before white men arrived. Included in his talk will be a picture of the Pootatuck Indians from whom the land of the town of Newtown was purchased in the 18th century.

January 6, 1967

Overpopulation peril cited in newsletter. Mankind faces its greatest challenge of survival in the exhaustion of natural resources including food supply, as the population spurts upward all over the earth. This warning by S. Dillon Ripley, secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC, a Litchfield resident, was made public recently by the Friends of the Litchfield Nature Center and Museum and the White Memorial Foundation. In addition to improving the world around us, he calls for the immediate stabilization of the world's population. "The future of environmental improvement depends on the level of which we harmonize our population with our environment," he pointed out.

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Close to 100 people filled the old bowling alley at the Edmond Town Hall for the January 4 hearing scheduled by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Appeals were heard by the board. First, was that of Shirley Conklin for a variance to permit construction of a building on Waterview Drive in Sandy Hook with less than the required rear and sideyard setback. Highway Cleaners and Tailors, with Mr DeAngelo, equipment distributor, represented their request for a special exception to permit the illuminated sign two feet by 16 feet on the roof of the building on Church Hill Road, the former quarters of Berkshire Interiors.

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The annual Holiday Ball, this year at the Knights of Columbus Hall, was host to over 250 young people from Newtown and it was a very gala evening. The girls were beautiful in their very prettiest dresses and gay corsages, the young men very handsome in their party best, all good manners and polish. The hall's décor set the scene for a festive party in the holiday style. Tables were arranged around the dance floor a la night club, very conducive to table-hopping.

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On Sunday evening, January 15, the renowned Farband Troupe of New York City will perform at the New Haven Community Center, 1156 Chapel Street, under the auspices of the Jewish Center Sunday Night Series. Admission will be by series ticket or on payment of a nominal fee at the door.

January 2, 1942

One of Newtown's most disastrous fires in recent months occurred on Christmas Night about 10 o'clock when the large white house of Mr and Mrs William A. Johnston of South Center District was completely destroyed. The blaze was first discovered by Paul Kraiger of Danbury who was driving by and noticed unusually heavy smoke coming from the home. Henry Carson, driving by at the same time, immediately telephoned the alarm while Mr Kraiger tried the doors of the house to make sure no one was home. Newtown firemen, when they arrived, were unable to contain the blaze because of lack of water. An attempt was made to draw water from a well near the home, but to no avail. There was no one at the house during the time of the fire. Mr and Mrs Johnston had been celebrating Christmas at the home of Mr Johnston's father in Bridgeport. They were summoned by telephone.

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The special town meeting held Saturday evening in the Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room came to a sudden and unexpected close when the proposed appropriation of $5,000 recommended by the Board of Finance to provide paid police protection for Newtown, was decisively voted down. A resolution was then presented by George M. Stuart, finance chairman, as follows: Be it resolved that the recommendation by the Board of Finance that an appropriation of $5,000 to pay the cost of full time paid constables and their expenses, is hereby approved. With a call for vote by ballot, one hundred seventy nine votes were cast, seventy six in favor, and one hundred two opposed, and one blank ballot. Judge Cavanaugh stated that the remaining sections of the warning were destitute of argument because provision for the funds had been defeated.

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Gordon Crofut of Oxford Road was 91 on Sunday. Mr Crofut is in excellent health, and drives daily to and from Ansonia, still being employed in the scrap metal department of the American Brass Company's plant there. In leisure time Mr Crofut works around his place. While no party was planned for the occasion, many friends form Oxford and the surrounding towns called at the Crofut home to extend congratulations and best wishes.

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Gems of thought: A prayer in its simplest definition is merely a wish turned Godward. - Phillips Brooks. Practice in life whatever you pray for, and God will give it to you more abundantly. - Pusey. Prayer is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us. - Mary Baker Eddy. In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart. -Bunyan. The simple heart that freely asks in love, obtains. - Whittier

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She (coyly): How old do you think I am?

He (gallantly): Whatever it is, you don't look it.

January 5, 1917

Quite a number of prominent citizens gathered at the Probate Office Wednesday at 10 o'clock when William C. Johnson took the oath as judge of probate. Town Clerk Oscar Pitzschler administered the oath in an impressive manner. Judge Johnson then administered the oath to Oscar Pitzschler as clerk of the court. At the close of the simple ceremony three cheers were given. Congratulations and felicitations followed

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Turn o'er the page once more and as you start the New Year don't carry over old accounts, but keep the new page clear. Let all the blots and blunders on last year's record sheet be a guide and help for this one, to keep it clean and sweet.

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Glover Warner, whose critical illness with pneumonia was mentioned in last week's Bee, is now convalescing rapidly. Mr and Mrs G. F. Taylor, who were with their nephew for a week, returned from Montclair last Thursday. Mr and Mrs Lawrence Warner of Vicksburg, Miss., are now with him.

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Mr and Mrs Frederick F. Andrews of Taunton entertained a large family party Christmas Day, it being the 40th anniversary of their marriage. A bountiful dinner, including a fine turkey, was served. The afternoon was spent in a social way and in the evening a large Christmas tree was enjoyed by all.

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Burton Lee, and employee of Premier Manufacturing, was unfortunate enough to get a little emery in one of his eyes last Thursday, requiring the attendance of Dr Kiernan.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.