* * *

Kenneth Munson still watches over the former Fabric Fire Hose Company on Glen Road, Sandy Hook, where he came to work in 1962 as a worker in the lining room, joining rubber hoses with fabric covers to make fabric fire hoses. Although the company ceased operations here in 1977, he remained as the caretaker and maintenance man.

 

* * *

The Legislative Council has prepared a proposed ordinance establishing itself as the town’s Flood and Erosion Control Board, giving it the authority to make flood and erosion control improvements and assess property owners for the cost.

* * *

Students at Newtown High School will have to observe strict rules if they intend to drive to school this year. No more can they use staff parking places or park on grass or other restricted areas. Assistant Principal Earl Smith said, “Those who park in this area or are found there will be punished.” A driving or parking permit must be filled out in the main office by each student who drives a car or other vehicle to school.

* * *

School officials had hoped to install two 10,000-gallon tanks on the old town garage property by September 1 so that school bus drivers could begin filling up there rather than at various local service stations. But they are holding back on this work after recently learning there is insufficient room at the Church Hill Road site for school buses to turn around, unless an easement is secured from an owner of adjacent property.

* * *

After ten months and nearly 2000 man hours of intensive effort on the part of local scouts, their advisors, and other youth-oriented community members, an expanded Cullens Memorial Inc facility dedicated to the outdoor recreation needs of Newtown’s youth has been completed. The site, which sits off Taunton Lake Road, contains several small buildings, a swimming pool site, an abundance of trees and wild life and a seven-acre pond.

 

September 5, 1958

Following establishment of a Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission, residents of the Hanover District have set up an advisory group for home owners along Hanover Road. One of the purposes of the organization is the wish to help preserve the rural beauty of Newtown, and especially the Hanover District.

* * *

Newtown schools opened this Wednesday and for the first time in several years the public school system’s opening day enrollment was less than the previous September. However, the decrease was relatively slight. There are about 50 fewer students in public school than in September 1957, due to the fact that the newly constructed St Rose School has drawn 215 pupils from the public schools.

* * *

Newtown voters adopted the plan proposed by the Board of Education for revising and enlarging Newtown High School by a margin of three votes in Wednesday’s referendum. The vote authorizes the start of the $1,120,000 project to add some 40 classrooms to the school. A victory for the Board of Education, the vote followed an intensive campaign both for and against the board’s plan.

* * *

More standing room only nights were chalked up by the Town Players’ “The Yellow Jacket” which closed last weekend than by any production since the Little Theatre’s opening production, “Mister Roberts,” three years ago, according to the Town Players’ president Ford Cordial.

* * *

Three pieces of property within the town of Newtown were sold at public auction last Thursday morning, August 29, by George H. Jackson, tax collector. The properties were sold for unpaid taxes, together with interest, liens and lawful fees, the minimum amount required by the town being indicated in each case by Mr Jackson.

* * *

The cornerstone for the new Danbury Hospital wing will be laid October 27, it was decided at the hospital’s board of managers meeting August 25. Lockwood J. Towne, chairman of the building committee, reported that construction of the new wing was well on schedule.

 

September 1, 1933

The outing and sheep roast arranged by the local democrats on Botsford hill, Sunday afternoon, was a big success, with about 100 in attendance. The bake was supervised by Mine Host Parker of the Parker House. At noon, delicious roast beef sandwiches with clam chowder was served, which was followed at 2 by the roasted lamb, corn and other delicacies. The lamb was cooked to a turn and tender as chicken.

* * *

A large crowd is expected from out of town to attend the 4-H SOS Club Kiddie Party and dance which takes place on Monday evening, September 4, in the Edmond Town hall gymnasium. Folks, young and old are planning to wear various kiddie costumes and join in the grand march  and compete for prizes. Funds realized from this affair will be used to improve conditions in the club meeting room in the old Brick Building.

* * *

The benefit performance of John Ray’s “Resurrection Minstrels” given before a capacity house at the Edmond Town Hall Theater, last Thursday evening, netted more than $650 for the firemen burned at the Hawleyville fire and their families. The people of Newtown and surrounding towns supported this benefit performance most generously accounting for the large amount of money raised and at the same time showing most definitely the real sympathy of the people for the hardships, physical and otherwise, which have been worked upon the firemen.

* * *

Fall term for the schools of Newtown begins on Wednesday morning, September 6, preceded by the Teachers’ meetings for the grade and high school teachers on Tuesday, September 5. October 12 and February 12 are days of school. A program at school suitable for the occasion is recommended.

* * *

The driver of the Pembroke Laundry truck from Bridgeport had the tough luck to get his truck stuck fast in the mud on the reconstructed dirt road south of Dea A.D. Fairchild’s place, Thursday afternoon. He worked for several hours trying to block it up and get out, when he had to call on D.N. Popovitch, who obligingly brought a team of horses and drew him out.

* * *

The town school committee are completing an extensive job in the rear of the Hawley High school, where Contractor Luke Sweeny of Danbury has removed the soft earth and filled it with crushed rock and gravel. In wintertime, this was a sea of mud and a constant menace to those driving pupils to the school. In the building, Ezra J. Hall has installed 12 urinals, and made numerous changes and repairs to the piping about the boiler.

 

September 4, 1908

One of the fastest games of baseball that has been played for years in the old town was played, last Saturday, when the local aggregation of ball players crossed bats with the gymnasium team from Danbury. The Danbury team came to win and certainly had a strong bunch. Having just won the silver cup in the city league they didn’t expect they were to be downed by a bunch of farmers.

* * *

John Loughran of Zoar fell and tore his ankle quite severely the other day, requiring the attendance of Dr Kiernan. Miss Marguerite Beecher is suffering with a septic finger under Dr Kiernan’s care. O.F. Terrill is suffering from nervous trouble, under Dr Kiernan’s care.

* * *

Mrs Guinness and two children of New York, who are boarding at Sanford Underhill’s, were the victims of a runaway accident, Wednesday. While riding with Mr Underhill behind a pair of horses, the horses ran. Mrs Guinness jumped, spraining an ankle. The wagon went over one of the children, bruising the youngster badly. Dr Kiernan attended to their wounds.

* * *

The auto of Miss Blake broke down, Saturday evening, near Mr Weed’s on Stony Hill, leaving the party stranded. A team from a nearby residence was secured to carry the party to the Castle in Newtown.

* * *

Henry G. Curtis, with his fine Stevens Duryes auto, took Rev J.H. George, H.G. Warner and H.H. Curtis, Saturday, on a tour to Danbury, thence through Ridgefield to South Norwalk, Bridgeport, and home. The weather was cool, an ideal day for an automobile ride, and was enjoyed by all the gentlemen.