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The furnace which exploded at the Charles Batchelder Company on April 1 is being dismantled, piece by piece, as investigators search for the cause of the explosion, which killed one furnace operator and started a fire which resulted in an estimated $500,000 in damage.

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Kathleen McKinney officially comes on board as Newtown’s youth coordinator on Monday, April 16, assuming her duties in a brand new location arranged by Youth Services of Newtown. This weekend YSIN is officially moving its headquarters from Queen Street to the Newtown Congregational Church house at 41A Main Street. The new coordinator will be responsible for the coordination, policy, planning and programs for youth in Newtown.

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Sandy Hook has “tremendous potential” but it has been “totally unrealized” landscape architect Erwin Potter told the Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) on April 9. Mr Potter, who lives on Washington Avenue, described Sandy Hook as “a countrified urban area” with its density of old buildings and the magnificent Pootatuck River. The historical aspects of many of the century-old buildings have not been emphasized, he said.

April 17, 1959

At the annual stockholders’ meeting of S. Curtis and Son, Inc, Sandy Hook, on Thursday, April 9, Donald R. McCain, Jr was newly elected a director of the company. McCain has been sales manager since 1953 and during this period the company’s sales have doubled. Nelson Curtis, president, reported that sales for 1958 increased 19.6 percent over 1957 and profits increased by 13.5 percent.

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More than 250 years ago Newtown started to earn the reputation for meeting its civic and humanitarian obligations with speed and precision. Right now the 1959 quota for the Red Cross is only 75 percent paid up. We must make that full quota or lose that enviable reputation it has taken two and a half centuries to build. Go to the Newtown Savings Bank and give them your contribution or increase the one you have already made.

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Information was received Wednesday from the Real Estate Division of the Post Office at Boston, Mass. that the department has accepted an option on a plot of land on Queen Street, adjacent to the Wheeler Shopping Center, where a new post office for Newtown will be erected. Normal procedure would now be for the department to prepare plans and advertise for the bids, the successful bidder to build the Post Office and then lease it back to the department.

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A unique occasion will take place on Sunday afternoon, April 19, at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library at three o’clock, when a portrait of Governor Abraham Ribicoff will be unveiled. The portrait has been painted by Harry Schnakenberg of Taunton District, well-known artist, who was commissioned to do the painting which will hang with portraits of other governors of Connecticut in the State Library at Hartford.

April 13, 1934

For many months the Orchestral Society of Newtown has been rehearsing for its first concert to be given in the Edmond Town hall on the night of May 3. Several years ago Rev Paul A. Cullens gathered a small group of music lovers, more to spend an evening with a common thought than to form an orchestra. This group of 12 today are part of a symphony orchestra of 30 members, which under the direction of Mario DeCecco of Waterbury will make its debut, next month, and present a concert of music by outstanding composers.

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Beginning next Tuesday, officers of the town will be instructed by the court to arrest all motor violators, who violate motor laws in the Borough. Numerous complaints have been filed concerning the utter disregard of pedestrians as well as motorists, both local and out of town, who are making the Main street a speedway.

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The most disastrous fire that has taken place in town in some time occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning, about 12:30 am, when the barn on the John R. Peck place, now owned by the Newtown Savings Bank, was burned to the ground, with a loss of between $5,000 and $6,000. The buildings destroyed were the large dairy barn, ice house, and two silos. The fires was a spectacular one and could be seen for miles.

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The Sea Scouts, accompanied by the Skipper, 1st Mate Ship’s Doctor Rosco Hilborn, who has recently taken on office in the late Charles Beardsley’s house on Main street, E.L. Grossman, and committeeman Charles Coon, took a sail around the Sound in a 38-foot fishing boats. All the boys took a “trick at the wheel” and came home with the good taste of salt air in their lungs.

April 16, 1909

On Monday the Charles Wakeley place in Huntingtown was sold to Frank Gilbert for $205. Charles F. Beardsley officiated as auctioneer. The place comprises a house and a small garden plot. The household effects were also sold.

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Last Thursday morning, James Keane’s house, which was located on the lane on the hill back of Josiah Tillson’s place in Sandy Hook, was burned to the ground. Mr Keane saved only a part of his furniture. It is thought the house took fire from the chimney and had gained such headway when discovered that it was impossible to save the house.

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Saturday’s special town meeting was lightly attended, only 25 voters being present. John J. Northrop offered the resolution whereas William N. Northrop, as bondsman for Charles H. Northrop, gave certain securities to the town of Newtown to protect said town against loss from shortages of said Charles H. Northrop as town treasurer, whereas there is still outstanding and unpaid a claim thereon amounting to $1,702.15, whereas William N. Northrop has made arrangements to secure the necessary cash. Now it is voted that the town of Newtown does hereby accept the offer…and the selectmen are hereby instructed to release and discharge all securities upon receipt of said sum. A vote was taken on Mr Northrop’s original resolution which was lost by a vote of 12 to 11.

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The newly appointed minister for the Sandy Hook Methodist church arrived last Saturday and preached on Sunday morning and evening and was very well liked. Rev and Mrs Laine are expected to arrive on Saturday the 17th, to take possession of the parsonage and he will preach on Sunday morning and evening.