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About 30 mental health advocates were left to their own resources in an emotionally charged meeting, Tuesday night, after state officials said they would not urge the Governor to reevaluate the “mistake” of locating a new jail on mental health property. If built as planned, the jail would occupy four acres in the center of the 65-acre parcel owned by the state and located on 800 acres of Fairfield Hills property. Mental health spokesmen maintained that while the state may have considered the impact on the hospital from a practical point of view, they did not consider the human side.

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On the evening of Wednesday, September 2, firemen from the Sandy Hook and Newtown Hook and Ladder Volunteer Fire Companies responded to the Archard house at 30 Zoar Road, where a small fire in the clapboards was reported by the homeowners at 7:03 pm, after they smelled smoke in the house. Sandy Hook Chief Bill Halstead said the fire was started from heat applied by a torch used to strip paint from the house.

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The Woman’s Club will be hosting a gala celebration of the 200th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution at the Community Center, September 16, at 12:30 pm, with Diane Meyers of the Forum for World Affairs acting as moderator. First Selectman Jack Rosenthal, a history buff, with a keen interest in constitutional law will speak and members of the town’s Constitution Bicentennial Committee will be present.

September 7, 1962

Newtown Progress Days last week end promise to become the harbinger of many similar Labor Day events, from the high praise heard all over town for the most successful events which took place. The conspicuously successful program began with the block dance in the Newtown Shopping Center Saturday evening and ended with an immense parade on Monday, followed by multifarious athletic events in Dickinson Memorial Park Monday afternoon and evening.

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The Bible Baptist Church of Newtown is rejoicing in its successful beginning, reports Pastor Ronald A. Bantle. Having just concluded the first three weeks of services, the congregation of this new church now numbers in the 60s, with much interest and enthusiasm evident. In addition to the present services, it is expected that young people’s meetings will soon be added. The Sunday services of the Bible Baptist Church are being held in the Newtown High School.

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Newtown schools opened on Wednesday with a total of 2,343 students distributed among the various schools as follows: Newtown High School, 758; Hawley School, 756; Sandy Hook Elementary School, 468; and St Rose School, 361. This is an increase of 168 pupils over opening day a year ago.

***

The contracting firm of Tomlinson a & Hawley of Trumbull has the contract for repairing the damage to the junior high school caused when a school bus crashed into the side of the building on June 12. The work has been delayed, however, because the galvanized sash has not yet arrived. When the building was constructed, a number of special items were used for reasons of economy. One of these items was galvanized sash, and sash of no other material will fit. The radiators and floor tile are on the site, but cannot be installed until the windows arrive. The job will be completed as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the damaged wall will serve as a reminder for safety.

 

September 3, 1937

In spite of a rainy evening, fully 70 members and friends of Newtown Chamber of Commerce gathered at the Country Club last Thursday evening to enjoy the clambake prepared by Walter Eichner of Trumbull. The weather was too wet to serve the bake on the grounds, so tables were set up on the screened-in porch at the clubhouse. Mr Eichner proved himself a very capable caterer and was most generous serving seconds to some of the more hungry guests who were not ashamed to show the proportion of their appetites.

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Robert Fairchild had the misfortune to fall off the running board of a truck driven by his father at his home Monday morning. He suffered a severe fall and several cuts and bruises. Dr J. Benton Egee was called and dressed his wounds.

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Miss Eleanor Carberry, 24, who cracked up in her plane on the Fairfield State Hospital grounds last Monday morning, returned to her home in Milton, Tuesday afternoon, after remaining at the Newtown institution Monday night for observation. Miss Carberry ran into a fog bank over Newtown and after several attempts to get above or below it, lost her way and decided to come down. She spied an open space on the hospital grounds and in her attempt to land on the roadway, her plane nosed over and burst into flames from a broken gas line. Miss Carberry was treated for a deep scalp wound. The wrecked plane was removed to the Litchfield airport.

***

A bad automobile accident occurred near Lovell’s Garage on Saturday, when Mrs A.D. Vail of Springfield, Mass. was painfully injured, receiving bruises on the chest and arms. Mrs Vail was a passenger in a car operated by J.F. Rowley of Massachusetts. He was struck by a southbound car driven by Joseph Collins of Danbury. Both cars were badly smashed.

 

September 6, 1912

Selectman W.C. Johnson is making a greatly needed improvement in tearing out the old tall iron watering tank opposite the Otis residence, and putting in a large circular iron tank, which will be more acceptable to the thirsty horses and greatly appreciated by all who own horses.

***

Two dead mules, left by the United States army in Zoar, within a quarter mile of the Pratt farm where Hon Arthur T. Hadley summers with his family, became exceedingly offensive to the residents of that section. An appeal was made to Health Officer Kiernan. George F. Taylor arranged for the burial for one carcass, while the other was in such a frightful state, cremation was resorted to.

***

North of the residence of Archibald McArthur there has been every spring an awful slough hole, through which travel in the spring has been impossible and dangerous. Selectman Johnson has had rocks carted in and a good road will be the result in the future.

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Dr W. Clement Kennedy of Waterbury has opened an office for the practice of medicine in the residence of Mrs C.M. Potter, opposite the Newtown Savings Bank. Dr Kennedy is a graduate of Holy Cross college, Worcester, Mass., of the medical school of Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., spent two years in the government hospital at Washington, D.C., and the past year in St Mary’s hospital in Waterbury. Dr Kennedy has fitted up pleasant office rooms in the Potter residence, and has already established himself there.