***

For the birds, it was a disaster, but for the men of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company, it was just another structure fire. On May 21, a custodian reported that a bird’s nest was aflame atop one of the lights on the school’s rear patio. Fortunately there was no danger of the fire spreading to other nests or to the High School. But, as every fireman knows, a fire must be put out. First the firemen extricated the nest from the top of the light. Then, as best Chief William Halstead can recall, “I think someone stepped on it… it was still smoldering.” Asked whether there were any occupants at home when the fire struck, Chief Halstead did not know.

***

Newtown High School’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America recently garnered 13 awards at its annual State Leadership Conference, which was held on May 8, in East Hartford. Of these 13, nine were first place honors. “Long term involvement is the key to the club’s success,” according to Pat Walsh, advisor.

***

The Reverend Alastair Sellars, senior minister for the Congregational Church for the past 23 years, has announced he will retire this fall. On Sunday he will lead his congregation in a groundbreaking and rededication service at the site of the new church to be built on Castle Hill Road.

June 1, 1962

An informal committee called together by the Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon meeting at the Hawley Manor Inn on Tuesday noon to discuss the proposed tree planting program for Newtown’s Main Street. The Newtown Chamber of Commerce has undertaken leadership in setting up a practical procedure for improving the tree situation on Main Street. At present, several of the stately old elm trees are victims of the Dutch elm disease and must be removed; others are ailing and are in serious need of pruning.

***

Patrons of Woodbury Water Company are advised that effective immediately all lawn sprinkling, car washing, and other unnecessary uses of water are banned during the dry spell to conserve the supply for vital uses.

***

On Wednesday evening, May 23, the Second Annual Father Son Sports dinner was held at the high school. Approximately 120 persons attended and were presented with an excellent evening of food and speakers. Guest speakers were Sal Yvars, catcher for the New York Giants 1951-1957; Alex Konikowski, pitcher for the New York Giants, 1951-1955; and Jerry Davis, sports editor of the Danbury News Times. Keynote speaker was Dan O’Grady, coach of the track, cross country and 1961 Fairfield County champion basketball team at Danbury High School.

***

The League of Women Voters will sell their map of Newtown Saturday, June 2, from 9 to 5 at the following locations: Cashman Drug Store, Connecticut National Bank, Borodenko’s Market, Grand Union, Robins’ Market, Sandy Hook Pharmacy, Thrift Shop. This is the official map of Newtown. The price is $1 plus tax.

 

May 28, 1937

Attended by approximately 200 invited guests, the Junior-Senior reception staged last Friday evening in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, by the class of 1938 of Hawley school, is considered by many to be one of the most brilliant ever put on by a Newtown Junior class. The decoration committee had done a grand job of decorating the room with purple and white lilacs and beautiful sprays of late dogwood blossoms. A large bunch of multicolored balloons was tied to the center window. A more dignified note was added to the scene by the presence of a receiving line composed of Principal and Mrs Carl A. LeGrow, Mr and Mrs Charles Cole, Mr and Mrs Harry Hillhouse, Andrew Lupi, Miss Susan Cloe, and Miss Anne Hillhouse. At a little after eight o’clock, “Buddy” Goodsell and his orchestra arrived on the scene and the dancing commenced.

***

As The Bee office opened on Friday morning, Frank Hubbell paused long enough to display a string of five trout averaging just a pound apiece. We congratulated him, thinking that he had made the prize catch of the day. But before an hour passed, “Ez” Hall drew his car to a halt at the office door and exhibited one of the nicest “speckled beauties” we have seen in a long time. It tipped the scale at just 1¼ pounds. Ez reported right away that his catch was made off of the Sandy Hook bridge and while his line was surrounded by those of others who fairly turned green with envy when he landed the big fellow, “Frankie” hesitated about naming the spot where he had his luck.

***

Dr John L. Bishop, dentist at the Fairfield State Hospital who was recently found criminally responsible in the coroner’s inquest for an auto accident in Brookfield in which two persons were killed, was bound over to the next term of the Superior Court by Judge Thomas A. Keating of Danbury on Tuesday. Bonds were fixed at $2,500.

***

The Little Gallery at Dodgingtown on the Bethel-Newtown road will open Tuesday, June 1st, for the season. There will be a series of exhibitions as last year. For the first week the work of the Vermont Natives Industries will be on display. Two large rooms have been added. One is a Garden Room in which luncheons and dinner will be served, but these must be ordered in advance. There is also a card room for bridge parties.

 

May 31, 1912

A tree on Mile Hill near F.H. Mitchell’s was struck by lightning in the hard shower, Friday evening, badly tearing the bark from one side of the tree. The barn of Charles Sherwood near the Stevenson Depot was struck by lightning in the hard shower of Friday evening. It did quite some little damage to the barn, but fortunately it did not set on fire.

***

Hiram Morgan met with quite a serious accident a few days ago. Mr Morgan was riding in the back of a wagon and leading a horse, when the horse pulled him from the wagon and he landed on one of his knees, quite badly breaking the kneecap. The accident will confine him to his home for some time.

***

Frank Stillson, while in an unsteady condition, Saturday afternoon, in attempting to wield an axe, nearly severed the thumb of his left hand. Wrapping his hand in an old towel he came to A.P. Smith’s, where the latter took him in his carriage and carried him to Dr Kiernan’s. The doctor did a piece of fine surgery, taking 15 or 16 stitches to close the ugly wound. Stillson was engaged in splitting wood when the accident took place.

***

If the boys who have been listening under the windows and knocking on the side of the houses in the evening at houses on Washington Avenue, Sandy Hook, do not stop, they will be very likely to get themselves into trouble.