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A groundbreaking ceremony was held recently for the construction of the Colonial Park Plaza. Construction will begin this winter on the 15,000 square foot commercial building on South Main Street. The two-story, U-shaped building will be located between Cedar Hill Farm and Young Industries and will be comprised of retail condominiums on the first floor and office condominiums on the second floor.

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The Newtown police are still investigating the shooting incident at the home of Bethel Police Sgt Roger Connor on December 19 when a stray bullet was shot through the window in the living room and embedded itself into the wall. Sgt Connor is the Bethel Police Officer who rode in the car during  a high speed pursuit of six Newtown teenagers, four years ago, and was recently cleared in a negligence suit about the chase which killed four teenagers.

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The Sandy Hook Post Office recently completed renovations to create more room for its mail sorting operations and to add more lock boxes. The old glass and brass lock boxes were removed, and replaced by aluminum boxes. There are now 732 boxes where there were 610.

January 5, 1962

The old familiar Route 6 may get a new name this Friday. Following the recent opening of Interstate Route 84, the Yankee Expressway, the new highway also assumed the established Route 6 designation. As a result, there is a lot of concern. A petition signed by proprietors of 13 businesses along the old Route 6 and submitted to First Selectman Charles W. Terrell Jr asked Mr Terrell to confer with state authorities to see what can be done. A meeting with New York state authorities has been set for this Friday to seek agreement on a new route number for the old Route 6. The petition has certainly drawn immediate promise of action and a resolution of the difficulty.

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Newtown Police are investigating the vandalism in the Newtown Shopping Center in the early morning of December 27 when two large stainless steel letters, the “f’s” in “office” at the rear of the Connecticut National Bank, were pried off the bank building and thrown through the two large plate glass windows of the Cashman Drug Store.

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Park commission chairman Edward J. Cole announces the Town Park is not being used for ice skating because the commission feels it is dangerous without supervision, and lacks funds to employ supervision.

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Two puppies, one a Bedlington terrier and the other a Gordon setter, bred by breeders living in Newtown, were chosen by the famous local artist, Robert Lougheed of Eden Hill Road to represent their respective breeds in a educational card game for children. Twenty-five pure breed puppies, each painted by Mr Lougheed, with its breed standards and description on the back of the card, comprise this interesting game.

 

January 1, 1937

Representatives Edward R. Hampton and Newton M. Curtis of Newtown are among those who have been invited to the inaugural ball in honor of Governor Wilbur L. Cross to be given by the First Company, Governor’s Foot Guard, Hartford, on January 6. The governor, who will on that day start his fourth term, will arrive at the armory shortly after 9 o’clock and will be received with the traditional ceremonies accorded the state commander-in-chief. The grand march will be led by Governor Cross and Mrs George R. Sturges.

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The officials of the Fairfield County Planning Association have announced a proposed parkway paralleling the present US Route No 6 for a considerable distance. This parkway would be used for through motor traffic, excluding trucks, between Hartford and New York. It would give residents of Hartford and vicinity a stretch without stop lights or intersection from Hartford to New York City.

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The Play Reading Group will meet at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Wednesday, January 6, at 2:30 pm. With the new year, the group is beginning a series of readings of plays selected by eminent American dramatic critics, as the best examples to illustrate the rise and development of dramatic art in the English language.

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Newtown residents and all who had the pleasure of knowing Miss Susan Augusta Fairchild, were sorry to learn the news of her death which occurred on Tuesday at the home of her cousin, Miss Grace D. Clarke, Bridgeport, following a long illness. Miss Fairchild had reached the remarkable age of 96 years, having been born in Newtown on May 3, 1840, a daughter of Josiah Beach Fairchild and Eliza Dibble Fairchild. As a girl she attended the Newtown Academy. She was appointed teacher in the Middle District school with about 50 pupils. Her school term was from April to September at a salary of $4 per week. One of Miss Fairchild’s characteristics was an exceptionally retentive memory.

 

January 5, 1912

A belfry and bell has been added to the improvements of Taunton District school, through the generosity of S.P. Davis. Much credit and thanks is due to the committee. Miss Aura Baldwin has returned to her duties as teacher in Taunton, after spending her vacation at her home in New Haven.

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As a result of a petition started by the Men’s Club of Newtown, nearly two years ago, backed by the support of local stockholders of the Adams Express Co., Newtown and Sandy Hook villages will enjoy delivery of express matter once each day, after the 7:44 train north in the morning. The accommodation is one that will be appreciated by the public. The Adams Express Co, has arranged with Charles Hawley, the stage driver, to deliver the express matter at present.

The Grand Central Hotel is now open, under the management of C.E. Pomeroy of Westbrook. The interior of the hotel has been handsomely renovated and presents an attractive appearance to all comers. Mr Pomeroy is providing an excellent table and The Bee hopes for him a successful patronage. As Mr Pomeroy says in his announcement, “The hotel offers to both local and transient patronage, pleasant, home-like accommodations at moderate prices.”

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The second annual masquerade subscription dance, which took place at the Town Hall, Newtown, on Friday last, which proved to be a very successful affair, was attended by over 300 people. The gallery was filled to its utmost capacity with spectators. The hall was prettily decorated with streamers of red and green festooning, which radiated from a large bell hung from a chandelier in the center.