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South Main Commons, the $850,000 plaza proposed for South Main Street, was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission on February 21. Set on two acres, the building will house ten stores and five offices. The 13,185-square-foot building with exterior wood siding and divided-light windows will be in the colonial style.

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Northeast Utilities said February 27 it will restore a gate at the Shepaug Sam, Southbury, within a matter of days, to protect bald eagles roosting along the Housatonic River from harassment by the increasing numbers of people drawn there to observe the birds.

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Although it has been an abnormally mild winter, the Highway Department has needed a $48,200 budget transfer for sand, and a $3,000 transfer for salt, and is preparing to seek a third transfer to cover the cost of overtime during winter storms. First Selectman Jack Rosenthal said that the town had made a mistake in not budgeting more money for sand, particularly since the town has started purchasing all of its sand.

 

March 4, 1960

A total of 171 persons, three times the registration four semesters ago, has already indicated positive interest in the Newtown Adult School by registration Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

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Newtown’s Town Players is celebrating its Silver Anniversary Year. 1960 crowns 25 years of hard work and pleasure for hundreds of people who have been associated with this group over the years. What began as an amusing venture for a few has now become one of the most famed amateur theatre groups in the New England area.

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During the month of February there were ten building permits and three septic system permits issued by the office of Building Inspector Earle H. Megin. The estimated cost of construction shown by these permits totaled $4,250. These permits cover miscellaneous additions and alterations.

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The Newtown Board of Finance has recommended a 29 mill rate tax rate on the Grand List of October, 1959, to meet the expenses of the fiscal year. The recommendation would mean an increase of two mills over last year’s 27 mill rate, which in turn was five mills less than the 1958 rate of 32 mills.

March 1, 1935

Much credit is due Newtown’s crews of State highway workers who have been kept busy the past week, sanding the roads during the ice storm of Saturday and Sunday and plowing the roads clear for the snow, which fell Tuesday night. They have been doing splendid work making the State roads clear and safe for traffic.

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Al Bevans of Dodgingtown has moved the large frame building near his home across the street near his “Old Cabin” Lunch Room. The building is over 175 years old and Mr Bevans is restoring it and putting it in condition to be used this summer as a dance hall. Maple floors are being laid, a balcony added and several other features.

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Wide interest is being shown not only in Newtown, but throughout the county and state, in the bill introduced into the Legislature at Hartford by Representative Newton M. Curtis, to establish a state park in the Pohtatuck district of Newtown. The bill calls for an appropriation of $25,000 to acquire the land and establish the park. The land in question comprises in all about 90 acres on both sides of the Pohtatuck, and roughly 40 acres on the east side along the Glen.

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E.J. Botsford, the veteran hunter of Botsford, shot a fox last Monday. Mr Botsford will be 79 next Sunday and still enjoys a day’s hunt with the boys.

 

March 4, 1910

The teachers’ institute held at the Newtown High School building, Friday, under the auspices of the State Board of Education, was one of the best held in recent years, and the teachers and others who attended all felt a real uplift. The meeting was in charge of Secretary Hine of the State Board of Education. Mr Hine paid his compliments to the district system in no uncertain words.

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An accident which might easily have been a very serious one happened to the 10:14 train south, last Saturday morning, at a point just south of the tunnel, when from some unknown cause the tender jumped the track and ran on the ties about 300 feet before coming to a standstill. The train hands were able to jack the trucks on again and the train limped into Newtown station about an hour late.

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The alleys at the Newtown Inn are being patronized considerably of late and while the big pins are popular, the duck pins are the favorites and good scores are being made.

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The other morning a flood of water suddenly began pouring in at the bar room at Troy’s hotel. Ezra J. Hall was hastily called, when it was found that rats had gnawed the water pipe apart.