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The welcome patter of rain early this week has allayed fears that this area would be seriously affected by drought. Dr Mel Goldstein of the Western Connecticut State University Weather Center, said that rain falling early this week should bring May’s level close to normal.

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The town is advertising for bids for preliminary engineering work for overhauling the bridge over the railroad tracks on The Boulevard Extension. After the improvements, which would not be made until next year, the town hopes to increase the bridge’s posted limits from five to 40 tons.

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On Saturday, May 25, at 11:40 am, The Newtown High School Band, the Color Guard and Markettes, along with the Newtown Middle School Marching Band, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 308, a National Guard rifle squad, and Boy Scouts marched from the parking lot next to the Newtown Congregational Church to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, where noon ceremonies were held. Newtown Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 308, conducted a ceremony and decoration of the monument.

 

June 3, 1960

In a preliminary report Mrs Richard S. Winship, census crew leader for Newtown, Monroe, and Easton, has announced that the total to date for the 1960 Census for Newtown is 10,996. The exact total is still incomplete. According to the Census Bureau figures, the 1950 Census showed 8,047 persons in Newtown.

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The Newtown Babe Ruth League has completed its initial organization for the 1960 season, and for the fourth consecutive year will conduct a baseball program for Newtown boys in the 13 through 15 year age group. With 45 boys responding to the first tryout session, held on Wednesday, June 1, at Taylor Field, league officials were able to compile tentative rosters for a three-team league.

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Newtown’s Ken Smith, a senior, ended his high school home game career with a no-hitter against Southbury at Taylor Field, Tuesday afternoon. A decidedly altered infield backed Smith with an errorless afternoon.

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During the past week two more families have offered to have a Fresh Air child stay with them for a two-week vacation this summer, bringing the total to 14 children. This total compares with 25 invitations extended last year by residents of Newtown and surrounding communities.

May 31, 1935

With everything depending upon the weather and the parade scheduled to be held rain or shine, much interest has been taken to make Newtown’s Parade and Exercises on Memorial Day a real success. Boy and Girl Scouts, and several floats, private cars in decoration, old horse-drawn coaches and other entries are being added to the line of march. It is expected that private houses and commercial and public buildings throughout town will be appropriately decorated.

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Doubtless nearly everyone has already taken notice of the “Welcome” signs of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, which have been redecorated by George Canfield and put back in place at the entrances to Newtown for the summer season. They present a very attractive appearance.

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Dinner service plates, the designs showing many milestones in the State’s history, are being provided by the Tercentenary Commission as a lasting souvenir of the 300th anniversary celebration of the first settlement in Connecticut. The plates are available in four different patterns in two color combinations, black and white and red and white. The plates show the following historic buildings: the old state house at Hartford; the second state hose at New Haven; the Congregational church standing on Litchfield Common; and the Wyllys Mansion of Hartford with the Charter Oak in the foreground.

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R.S. Watkins of Sandy Hook has just completed the building of a new addition to his machine shop at his place in Sandy Hook. Mr Watkins’ shop is complete in every respect with machines capable of repairing and building all types of light machinery.

June 3, 1910

The decorations at the Congregational church, Sunday, were artistic and beautiful. The front of the organ and the choir rail was draped with the Stars and Stripes, while the floral decorations were artistic in the extreme.

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B.N. Beard, of the B.N. Beard Co., contractors on the state road, accompanied by his son, Master Wells Beard, and Frank Baldwin of Shelton, came to Newtown in his auto, Saturday. Mr Beard took a hand in unloading some stone near the four corners and his young son, a boy of five years, jumped in and wrestled with the rocks like a veteran. It was plain to be seen that he was a born contractor.

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The Newtown baseball team played its first game of the season on Decoration Day, Monday. They have some of the neatest suits agoing and this was their first appearance. We are sorry that the score was not in their favor, but this was their first game together and the Bridgeports were onto the game and won easily by a score of 12 to 2.