Action on a proposed $1 million addition to NHS has been delayed by the Board of Education because of the necessary expenditures of an estimated $340,000 for the repair of the roof.

***

This week’s sweltering temperatures have put more heat on the town to address the air quality problem at the Newtown Day Care Multi-purpose Center on Riverside Road. Senior Center Director Marvi Fast says that on hot days the seniors who come to the center for their federally-funded lunches are fed by 11:30 and sent home by 1 pm. Mrs Fast says she has not planned any new programs for the summer.

***

The Newtown Summer Festival Labor Day Parade Committee reminds youngsters that the best decorated bicycles, and the best clown costumes in the parade on Monday, September 1, will win certificates entitling them to ice cream.

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Nineteen-year-old Virginia Reichardt of Castle Hill Road, selected Miss Newtown 1980 at the Second Annual Miss Newtown Scholarship Pageant sponsored by the Newtown Lions’ Club in March, left Wednesday to compete in the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Pageant this weekend. All 23 contestants will appear in talent, evening gown and swimsuit competition.

***

For the third year in a row the Newtown area is being tested for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever disease which is carried by ticks and transmitted to humans and some animals. Newtown has been selected as a site for testing because of three human cases reported of RMSF in 1978.

***

When the new members of the Newtown Police Auxiliary have been sworn in by Town Clerk Mae Schmidle, Jackie Stevens, a 36-year-old mother of five, will be the first woman to have ever done so. Mrs Stevens was already somewhat familiar with police work, having worked with the New Haven Police Department as part of an internship program she participated in to receive her associate’s degree in criminalistics from Housatonic Community College.

***

One has only to look at the police reports from time to time to know that our roads are far from accident-free and, in fact, the number of mishaps seems to be on the increase. There is definitely a need for more care on the highways and greater concern for the other drivers as we enter summer.

July 1, 1955

City Children Enjoy Visits In Homes Here: With Newtown one of the 1,500 communities designated as a “Friendly Town” by the New York Herald Tribune Fresh Air Fund, Mrs Albert Shankman, local chairman, states that 13 children have been placed in homes here for the period of July 21 through August 4.

***

In a largely-attended selectmen’s’ hearing of an application for the construction of a concrete batching plant in Botsford, held last Friday afternoon, June 24, in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall, many townspeople went on record as being opposed to the plant.

***

 Plans for the celebration of Newtown’s 250th birthday on August 6 are gathering a full head of steam. Highlights of the anniversary will include the dedication of the town park, with Governor Abraham A. Ribicoff the principal speaker, a parade from Edmond Town Hall down Route 25, tour of historic houses, exhibit of memorabilia of Newtown’s early days and high school essay contest.

***

 A new cement curbing has been installed in front of the residence of Dr Clifford G. Johnson of Main Street. This conforms with the curbing in front of the office of George M. Stuart and adds to the attractiveness of the surroundings.

***

Madeline Hewes (Mrs Eberhard von Jarochowski) well known painter of Newtown, whose small oils are in many museums and private collections, took on a big job this spring when she was commissioned by Paul Mellon of Upperville, Va. to design and paint a series of panels, transforming horse stalls on the Mellon estate into gay party booths.

***

Albert Liska was the victim of an unfortunate accident on Wednesday morning when his dump truck, carrying five yards of dirt, slipped off the road and overturned twice down a steep bank as he was making a delivery…Mr Liska was unhurt as he emerged from the truck, which stood on its wheels again at the end of its fall.

***

The Bee was informed this Thursday morning, as it went to press, that the following telegram had been sent by the president of the Housatonic Public Service Company: “Local Union No 1817, I.B.E.W., representing our operating personnel in the Danbury District, have elected to terminate our contract as of July 1, 1955 at 8 pm. They have also notified us of their intention to strike at that time.”

June 23, 1930

 A five year old son of Mr and Mrs Frank Kaeser of Taunton, who appeared strangely ill, was taken to a New Haven hospital and later to a specialist in Philadelphia, Pa., where a tack was removed from his lung. The boy is recovering.

***

 W.A. Upham, who has just returned from a trip to the west, says that miniature golf is all the rage out there as a popular sport. Mr Upham proposes to establish a miniature golf course on his little island on the beautiful lake at the Upham’s Japanese Tea Garden at Hawleyville, which will be the first miniature golf course in Connecticut.

***

One of the most beautiful old fashion gardens in the Street, and indeed in the whole town, is that of Arthur E. Brinton, which shows the care of his trained eye and hand. Roses in profusion are in bloom and every kind of garden flower that delights the eye.

***

Ephraim D. Briscoe, well-known and esteemed Grand Army man, former first selectman, and justice of the peace, was robbed of $41, Tuesday afternoon, by two members of a caravan of gypsies headed toward Danbury, who stopped off in the Botsford Hill section of Newtown to tell his fortune.

***

The concert held at the Hawleyville Fire House on Wednesday evening, June 25, was a success in every way. Miss Joyce Carol, soloist, under whose directions the concert was given delighted the audience with her unusual volume.

***

The golfing public will be interested in the announcement that Harry T. Batten, formerly of Rye, who recently purchased the Bolmer farm in Hattertown, better known as the Eden Hill Ranch, has opened for the public a nine hole golf course. The course extends over part of 200 acres, which makes up the property. It is over 800 feet above sea level and commands a view of the countryside for miles in every direction.

June 30, 1905

On Monday night word was telephoned to the Street that a brutal murder had been committed in Huntingtown, that Charles Imhoff had killed his wife and daughter. Imhoff was found sitting on the steps of the old Huntingtown store apparently feeling pretty jovial from drinking cider. Constable Johnson, Patrick Gannon, A.P. Smith, Harry Coger and G.F. Duncombe set out to find Imhoff’s cabin. Mr Johnson opened the door and entered. Passing into a side room where there was a bed, he pulled down the bed covering, expecting to see a woman lying dead in a pool of blood. Instead, a little lady rolled out on to the floor, and adjusted her clothing. The sheriff and his assistants then withdrew to Charles H. Hayden’s house, who had sent the message of the supposed murder. He said Mr Imhoff’s boy came running to his house saying his father had killed his mother and sister.

***

At an adjourned school meeting held in Taunton district, June 17, a committee was appointed consisting of Ferris Mead, Arthur D. Fairchild and John Gay, to take in hand substantial repairs to be made on the school building. The money for the work will probably be raised by subscription.

***

Benjamin Smith of Hawleyville met with a bad accident, last week, while riding his wheel down the hill near Clark Blackman’s. He was thrown from his bicycle and struck on his head, cutting a bad gash under his right eye, also one on his scalp, besides badly bruising and laming him.

***

J.A. Turner is now drawing the timber for his new grist, cider and saw mill, which he is to erect on the site of the old milk factory at Hawleyville. The mill is to be 30x60 feet, with 15-foot posts. When it is completed he will have an up-to-date mill in every respect.

***

Just 404 dogs have been registered up to date by Town Clerk Houlihan. Dog Agent Hall reported 90 dogs unregistered, and 37 of which have since been registered. He will be after the delinquents after July 1.