* * *

Parks and Recreation Commissioners were delighted Tuesday night to learn that the estimate for phase 2 of Timothy B. Treadwell Memorial Park was $150,000 under the allowed cost. The amount includes electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilating, four tennis courts and a basketball court, maintenance road and building site, maintenance building and public bathrooms, illumination for the tennis courts and security lighting.

* * *

Northeast Utilities is joining with thousands of other companies, organizations, schools, and individuals in observing the second annual American Energy Week, May 1–8. Special programs and activities are planned throughout the country to give a better understanding of the nature of the energy problem and the effect it may have on the social, economic and national security. American Energy Week, Inc is an informational, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to stimulating the development of America’s energy resources and technologies and energy conservation to offset the nation’s overdependence on foreign supplies.

* * *

Three Republican members of the Legislative Council said they are pondering how to interpret the town meeting vote to reject the town budget because more funding was wanted for the school budget — in light of their own efforts to hold down tax growth as much as possible. Richard Haas, a member of the council’s Education Committee, and a fiscal conservative, expressed frustration about how council members can accurately assess what Newtown taxpayers really want, with a small turnout at town meetings. Because the people who did attend called for restoring the $42,944 to the school board, Mr Hass said he will support that next Wednesday — unless he hears to the contrary from his District I constituents.

* * *

Louis Panigutti, of Hanover Road, has purchased a two-story colonial he hopes will save him fuel money by using passive and active solar techniques and geothermal energy from the earth. The house, being built atop a hill on Huntingtown Road, sports only three active solar panels on its southern roof. Otherwise, the house will be heated by the sun penetrating glass windows around the base of the house near the foundation and a few glass panes on the roof. The house is called an envelope house because it’s a house built inside a house.

* * *

The Town and Country Garden Club is beginning a plant exchange program, according to its president, Cordalie Benoit. “The purpose of the exchange is to help gardeners. New gardeners need material, while an established gardener has an abundance of material.” Also, new gardeners do not necessarily have to exchange plants, since obviously they may not have much to exchange.

* * *

The newly formed Newtown Peace Coalition hopes to present several signatures on an American Friends Service Committee petition calling for an end to the nuclear arms race and negotiations between the United States and Soviet Union at the town meeting May 6. Approximately a dozen people met for the first time Wednesday night at the Congregational Church House to set purposes for the group.

 

May 3, 1957

One of the largest week-day gatherings on Main Street in many months collected Thursday, April 25, in front of the Yankee Drover Inn as word got around that the Anglo-American Vintage Car competition paused to refuel in Newtown. The gathering of collectors’ cars provided a showcase of the best cars out of the past. While the venerable vehicles were parked on Main Street in front of the Yankee Drover Inn as the drivers dined, crowds of curious Newtowners looked over the cars, exclaimed at their good condition, and snapped roll after roll of pictures.

* * *

Persons who donated and assisted with the planting of daffodil bulbs last fall in the Dickinson Memorial Park would find it worthwhile to drive through the park these days and see how prettily they are blooming, according to the Newtown Park Commission. The dogwood trees will also be out in full bloom shortly and should make an attractive display.

* * *

The Granite Ledge Archery Club Inc of Newtown will act as host to the Federated Archery Clubs of New York and Connecticut on May 5, when an all day tournament will be staged. The local club has just completed a standard field course of twenty-eight (28) targets located on the properties of Byron Tomlinson and Timothy Reardon of Currituck Road. Archer shooting in tournaments are classified so that even the novice has equal opportunity in taking home a trophy.

* * *

A record attendance of young people is expected at the first birthday party for the Teen Canteen which will be held this Saturday evening, May 4, at 8 o’clock in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. Members of the Canteen are making every effort to promote the sale of tickets for their benefit movie, “Roman Holiday,” starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.

* * *

The Town Baseball Team opens its 1957 Pomperaug Valley League schedule this Sunday at the Newtown High School field, when the local nine will meet Bethany. Because of the addition of two teams to the league, play begins a week earlier than usual. This put a great deal of pressure on the team in its efforts to get organized and ready for the season’s start.

* * *

It is a widely held opinion among townspeople in Newtown that the town is woefully lacking in police protection. As things stand, the town has the services of one paid constable and the protection which the State Police Department affords all towns to the best of its ability with limited personnel. Surely, safety and protection are mighty important to all of us — their lack can be more so.

 

April 29, 1932

FOR SALE: Am going out of the milk business and am offering my herd of cattle for sale, consisting of 1 young bull, fresh cows, some to freshen soon, others to freshen in late summer. L. Goldstein, Hattertown District, Newtown, Conn.

FOR SALE: Four-year-old Fresh Cow with calf. Arthur E. Beardsley, Sr, Tel. Newtown 28-14.

* * *

Those who failed to see the Little Marionettes, last Friday, at Edmond Town Hall, missed one of the cleverest and most delightful performances ever given in the hall. The Alexandria room was very comfortably filled by an appreciative audience, largely children, who applauded loudly each successive scene in which the puppet actors performed with wonderful grace and agility. The operetta, “The Princess of Gensel” was a fine piece of acting. 

* * *

The executive committee for the George Washington Bicentennial celebration met on Monday evening at the residence of Miss Kate Reynolds, with every member in attendance. Richard Carmody, chairman of the music committee, reported in favor of engaging the band of 21 pieces of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Post No 45 of Bridgeport, and the American Legion drum corps of Post No 6 of Danbury, for the parade on the morning of July 1.

* * *

Ronald Colman is going straight. After having been various kinds of crooks in three out of his last four pictures, the police-ridden hero of “Condemned” and Raffles” and “The Unholy Garden” has forgotten all about Scotland Yard and become a crusading doctor in “Arrowsmith,” the Samuel Goldwyn production of Sinclair Lewis’ novel which comes to the Edmond Theater on Saturday, April 30. Instead of a pistol, he now carries a hypodermic needle.

* * *

Work on the buildings at the Fairfield State hospital is going steadily forward. The H. Wales Lines Co of Meriden have now about 200 men at work on the 11 buildings comprised in their contract. On building No 2, the reception hospital, the second story floors are now about 40 percent completed. On Wednesday they began pouring cement on the third floors. The roof is on the north end. Building No 19, the staff dining hall, the brick work is up to the second floor ready to pour the cement.

* * *

Harry E. Batten, the popular owner of the Eden Hill Golf Club, is just completing the alterations on the course and at the club house. This course consists of 9 holes with a total yardage of 2,900 yards, and is considered one of the sportiest courses in western Connecticut. The club house has been entirely redecorated and players and guests may be served with luncheons and dinners.

 

May 3, 1907

Work has been commenced for the season at Daniel W. McNamara’s stone crushing plant on Brushy Hill road, with 22 men steadily employed, and a large amount of stone of the various sizes is being turned out every day in anticipation of a generous demand. Already Mr McNamara has supplied considerable stone for private roadways and walks. The Danbury trolley company has used a considerable amount in repairing the roadway on West street and at the factory of the American Hatters’ and Furriers’ Corporation a stone roadway has been built about the grounds. (From Danbury News)

* * *

Joseph Edwards of Taunton had the misfortune, last week, to lose his horse. Mrs Edwards was driving to Newtown Street when the horse started up and ran very swiftly for a short distance and then fell to the ground, dead. The horse stopped so suddenly that Mrs Edwards was thrown out, but fortunately escaped with only a few bruises.

* * *

Three big furniture vans owned by C. Rickard of Bridgeport came to Newtown, Thursday afternoon, to transport the furniture belonging to Mrs A.J. Cable. Two of the vans were drawn by three pair of horses each. One of the teams started to run, Friday morning, at Sunset Cottage, colliding with a tree, wrecking the top of the van and injuring one of the horses.

* * *

Foreman Patrick Gannon of the fire department has arranged a public drill for Saturday night at 6:30. A large number of people outside the borough have asked to have a chance to see what the water can do, and Mr Gannon has made this appointment to oblige them and give the members of the company a little drill. On Monday night the hose cart was taken to Jeanville, the residence of L.B. Harris, and there the firemen displayed the efficiency of the service by drenching the barns and trees thoroughly in a few seconds. A bonfire on the Boulevard at W.A. Canfield’s next received their attention and was promptly extinguished.

* * *

Sandy Hook Library: The library will be open, next Saturday, for the circulation of books. A considerable number of volumes have been withdrawn for repairs; and some are still out. Persons against whom books are charged should account for them at once. No volumes will be given out to those who have not returned, or made good the books with which they are charged; or to any with fines not paid. All takers of books must settle for volumes lost, or injured, or be denied the use of the library.