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The largest proposed development in Newtown’s history gained the unanimous approval of the Planning & Zoning Commission, which voted December 3 to approve the site development plan for the $50 million, 600,000 square foot Newtown Corporate Park, proposed for Hawleyville by the New York City development firm, Mendik Realty Inc. Four buildings ranging in size from 90,000 to 240,000 square feet are planned. The site is an industrially zoned 47-acre tract at the intersection of Routes 6 and 25, near exit 9 of I-84.

 

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It was a day that will live long in the memory of everyone involved with the 1981 Newtown High School football team. A crisp, cold day, a day on which Newtown played like a state champion and brought home a deserved first state title. By defeating Branford High, 20-7, last Saturday in Shelton to win the CIAC class M-1 crown, the ’81 Indians experienced the exhilaration and joy that eluded the ’78 and ’80 teams in the class L finals.

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Hurricane-force winds hurled large branches and trees across town roads and utility wires Sunday afternoon, December 6, keeping road crews busy and causing power failures to a large segment of Sandy Hook. At 50 mph, the winds “had the energy of a hurricane” said WestConn meteorologist Gary Chacho. He said the high winds, which began blowing early Sunday morning and did not die down until late that night, were on the fringe of the same system that covered the Boston area with snow. The storm knocked out power to over 2,000 Sandy Hook residents during the afternoon.

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Mind boggling puzzles and electronic games are at the top of many Christmas shopping lists this year, with area retailers reporting Atari sales in particular at an all time high. For adults, gifts connected with home entertainment seem to be the most popular. As always, say retailers polled, sporting goods, outerwear, underwear, lingerie, robes, watches and other practical items are much sought after gifts, as well as luxuries like jewelry and perfume.

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Traffic which has been plugged up near the Church Hill Road underpass for the past few weeks is expected to be relieved this week as the Newtown Water Company completes its construction project. The contractor for the company has been replacing the old 6-inch main with a 12-inch pipe in order to increase the water supply, primarily for fire protection, to Church Hill Road businesses and Newtown Business Park customers on Commerce Road.

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Newtowner Janet Woycik started her new career as children’s librarian at the Booth Library on December 1 — her birthday — and as far as she’s concerned it was a pretty good birthday present. The new librarian, who lives on Grand Place with her husband and two children, was selected for the position from 21 applicants. She plans to reorganize and weed the collection and then to add new materials including audio visual materials.

 

December 14, 1956

Throughout the past weeks, townspeople have been placing packages in the holiday boxes which were put in local stores for the purpose of collecting Christmas gifts for patients of Fairfield Hills Hospital. Mrs Charles Tribby of Still Hill Road, chairman of the program, states that since the gifts will be presented to patients at parties which are going on at the hospital during the next ten days, early donations will be much appreciated.

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The Bee has it on good authority from the Chamber of Commerce that Santa Claus will be in Newtown this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, arriving in a gaily colored station wagon to the accompaniment of appropriate Christmas music. He will distribute candy canes to all the children who wish to shake his hand and whisper in his ear, or hand him their letters, listing their particular requests for Christmas.

 

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Over 100 parishioners and former parishioners of St John’s Episcopal Church, Sandy Hook, celebrated the 25th anniversary on Sunday, December 9, of the new church, which replaced the original structure after it was destroyed by fire. Guests of honor were Bishop and Mrs Whittemore, the Rev and Mrs Martin, and Robert Barnes, Berkeley Divinity School student at New Haven, who has often conducted services at the church.

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Plans were made this week for the 1956 Christmas Decorations Contest, which will be held in Newtown, sponsored by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce with the Newtown Garden Club and the Horticulture Club cooperating. With news that the contest is being held, some thirty-six entries have already been received. There are no specific rules to be followed, except that materials on the conservation list must not be used.

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A hearing was held Tuesday evening in the Alexandria Room of the Town Hall by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Borough of Newtown on the request by the Yankee Drover Inn for permission to extend the non-conforming use of its property on Main Street by adding a gift shop on the south side of the existing building. Norman Fedde, speaking as a private citizen, expressed the opinion that with the present shopping center and one gift shop already operating on Main Street, there is not sufficient need for another gift shop in the Borough.

 

* * *

Two resolutions creating a Junior High School Building Committee and providing $10,000 for its operation passed without opposition at a special town meeting held in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium last Friday night, December 7. Sparsely attended at the outset, nearly 200 persons were on hand in time to vote for members of the committee.

 

December 11, 1931

A very large balloon was found by Swan Gustavson on the Eden Hill Golf Club. A card attached explained it was entered by a young man in Spaudling Skyloon Air Derby, and flown from an authorized airport located at Scranton, Penn., November 17.

* * *

On Friday, December 11, the Art Club of the Hawley school will sponsor a fine exhibition of well-known pictures in color. Sherman Smith, representative of the Raymond & Rissling Art Publishing Company, will be present and will give lectures and explanations of the various exhibits.

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Al Bevans, the well-known orchestra leader, is now busy booking winter engagements for his old-time orchestra. Stepney, Sherman, Greenwich and Danbury have already requested his orchestra at various dates. Those who desire this orchestra would do well to get in touch with Mr Bevans at once. He has also been requested to play at several affairs in Newtown, this winter.

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The dedication service for the new St John’s church took place last Saturday, and a very impressive service was conducted by the Rt Rev Campion E. Acheson, who is the Bishop of Connecticut. The new church stands upon the old foundation of the church that was destroyed by fire in December, 1929, and the new church is one which any one might be proud. It resembles somewhat an English village type, as it nestles between twin maples, and it has a Gothic appearance, when looking at its grey stone entrance.

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On Sunday, November 29, several gentlemen of the Cathedral parish called on Father Collins at his home in Newtown. During the repast, Mr BroSmith presented the host with a testimonial prepared for him by the members of the Cathedral parish. It was a substantial gift, amounting to more than two thousand dollars. The pastor of Newtown invited his callers to visit his spacious church. They found it beautiful, clean, in perfect repair, and ample enough to take care of a congregation of six or seven hundred.

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The Newtown Savings Bank is sending out to its friends and patrons the reliable Farmer’s Almanac for 1932. This almanac is almost indispensable in the average family and as a gift it is deeply appreciated.

 

December 14, 1906

The students of the High school will give a Shakespearean recital at the Town hall on Friday evening, December 28. The program will consist of Scene 10 from the play “Julius Caesar,” the “Banishment of Rosalind” from “As You Like It,” and the “Malvolio Scenes” from “Twelfth Night.” The entertainment is given to secure funds for the purchase of reference books.

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Mrs George Dunham, 1127 Broad Street, near Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, respectfully invites the ladies of Newtown and vicinity to call on her for Christmas hats. Smart hats, large hats with plumes, small hats, hats for young ladies and misses, tams, A-1 quality and prices are less than you will pay elsewhere. Custom work a specialty.

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“The Salmagundi Company” is the peculiarly distinctive title of a company that has come into existence in this vicinity within the past few weeks. The company has been formed by Howard Light…who has recently moved into the John Griffin place in Huntingtown. Mr Light intends to convert the old button factory at the Griffin place in Huntingtown, just north of the house, into a pickle and vinegar manufactory. If the farmers in this locality will take hold and assist Mr Light in raising cucumbers and tomatoes, for which he will pay good prices, he will permanently locate here.

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MRS EVELYN S. PINKHAM, LIBRARIAN: I have the pleasure of submitting the following brief report for the library year ending December 1, 1931. The usual very helpful white elephant sale, which has been for many years the chief source for funds for supplying new books to the library, was not held owing to Miss Lamport’s absence. However, George Beers and Mrs Hervey Wheeler gave a bridge party for the purpose of raising funds to meet current running expenses for the library which netted fifty-seven ($57) dollars.

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ATTRACTIONS AT EDMOND TOWN HALL “The Yellow Ticket,” Raoul Walsh’s Fox dramatic production, based on Michael Morton’s stage play, comes to the Edmond Theater Saturday, December 19, bringing the incomparable Elissa Landi to the screen in a role that is said to afford full rein to her great emotional and histrionic capabilities. Wednesday, December 23, Double Feature, Richard Dix in “Secret Service,” also Charles Farrell and Madge Evans in “Heartbreak.”