May 24, 1996

A brief spring storm with powerful gusts of wind swept through Newtown Tuesday afternoon, toppling trees, knocking down utility wires and leaving parts of the town without power... At the outset of the storm, a large maple branch fell on the office of The Newtown Bee, poking a hole in the roof and breaking a skylight. Elm Drive was hard hit. The winds roared down the street, knocking down trees and closing the road... A 300-pound table was lifted from the deck at the home of Cheryl Fatse on High Rock Road, thrown over the railing and smashed onto the ground, breaking the table’s glass top.

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It appears that no matter what the outcome is on the soon-to-come vote on the proposed multimillion dollar renovations to Newtown High and Hawley schools, taxpayers will still be paying for them down the road. Currently the school system owes $90,000 for architectural fees for the Hawley project. If the plan passes, there’s no problem because that money has already been figured into the project... if rejected, school officials will have to add the money into the 1997-98 school budget in order to pay architectural firm Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc of New Britain.

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The high cost of moving, renovation, and rent has thwarted plans to move the Cyrenius Booth Library to a temporary location while the addition is being built. The library’s board of trustees voted May 21 to remain on Main Street, because it seems the best possible situation, according to Board President Gordon Williams. “We will have to be closed a little bit longer than we would have, had we moved out,” he said. “But it will save so much money and we really want to stay within budget.”

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[Police] Commission members met Tuesday night in executive session in seeking someone to replace former Chief Michael DeJoseph, said Police Commission chairman Carol Mattegat. Lieutenant Owen Carney, head of the Newtown Police Department’s special investigations unit, has applied for the town’s top enforcement post. Another local man who has applied for the job is Selectman James M. Mooney, the director of campus security at the University of Bridgeport. The town’s top elected official Wednesday urged that the Police Commission expedite its search.

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In view of continuing residential development, the selectmen’s Greenways Committee has started work on creating a townwide network of multiple-use trails for low-intensity recreation on open space land... committee members are reviewing existing open space areas in town, such as the upper and lower sections of the Paugussett State Forest, over which the town’s greenways trail network will be overlaid.

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Kicking into action with a pair of Friday night contests under the lights at Treadwell Park, the Newtown Soccer Club’s Memorial Day Tournament — complete with its largest draw ever — will get an exciting weekend of action underway on May 24. A total of 116 teams from 51 towns in six states will converge upon Newtown to decide ten championships in five male and female brackets.

May 21, 1971

For those who were passing the United Fire Company of Botsford Fire House at 5:30 pm on May 18, they would have noticed a large sign in front of the building, which said, “Welcome To Our New Ward LaFrance,” and a shiny new pumper pulling into the fire house lot. Botsford volunteers were on hand to admire the new 1,000-gallon-per-minute pumper, which was driven in from the Ward LaFrance plant in Elmira, N.Y. The pumper boasts a 750-gallon booster tank, diesel engine, full air brakes and power steering, and is expected to be in service by the week-end.

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The final day of play for the Member-Member Tournament at Newtown Country Club was a wet one, but never let it be said that a little bit of a downpour could stop a golf addict. The finalists donned what raingear they could and played out their matches anyway, and apparently the soggy conditions were just right for some of them.

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Are you looking for that extra something to give your home that final touch, or do you like to browse among fine art work for your viewing pleasure? Whichever, see “The Artists Gather” on the green at the Fenn Dickinson Memorial Park, Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23. Arts and crafts being displayed by the artists will include photography, paintings, sculpture, pottery wheel, decoupage, sterling silver jewelry, collage, ceramics, plastics, knitted handbags, woven belts, animal plaques, felt and fabric flowers, paperweights and macrame. The Newtown Jaycees and Jaycees Wives are sponsoring the two-day outdoor art show.

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At Tuesday evening’s Board of Selectmen meeting... Sixteen or more residents of Webster Place, Shut Road, and Poorhouse Road attended the meeting to protest the placement of sidewalks in that area. Mr Treadwell read a petition signed, those present said, by 100 percent of those who live along those roads. They are, the residents said in no uncertain terms, dead set against the sidewalks. They asked Mr Treadwell to hold a public hearing on this and instead of installing the walks, to pave Shut Road immediately.

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The seventh and eighth grade home economics students at the Middle School displayed their ingenuity with needle and thread when they presented a fashion show, “Picture This,” on May 12th. All of the outfits were well-made and showed that anything goes in fashion for the young, and that with youth on their side, all styles looked attractive.

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Over 600 elementary and middle school students will be participating in spring concerts this year. Enthusiastic performers and their instructors have been rehearsing a varied program of music that ranges from “Hansel and Gretel” to “Hair.”

May 17, 1946

A property that has taken a prominent part in Newtown’s history figured in a recent real estate transaction in which Ervin C. Stickles, Sr, and Reba Stickles sold their home located on the southside of the Newtown-Bethel Road in the Borough to Donald R. and Constance McCain of Westport. Construction of the large house on the property was the work of the late Charles B. Glover, architect and father of Mrs Jennie A. Canfield of South Main Street, and was started in the year of the blizzard, 1888. Isaac B. Harris, engaged in the rubber business, and Mrs Harris were the owners, Mrs Harris being the sister of Architect Glover... Mr Harris is credited with inventing the first rubber-lined linen hose manufactured in this country.

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The VFW asks you to purchase and wear a Poppy, in this Memorial Day season, and thus help some disabled veterans. Poppies may be obtained after May 18th... The VFW also invites you to attend a short ceremony at the Soldiers Monument, Memorial Day morning at 9:30 o’clock. All veterans are invited and urged to come and take part in this ceremony. Come to the Edmond Town Hall by 9 o’clock if possible and march with us to the monument.

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Two teams of young and promising ball players slugged it out in a twelve-inning game played Friday afternoon at Taylor Field, when Scudder Smith’s Newtown nine finally broke through a tie score to earn a 17-15 victory over “Bobby” McMahon’s Sandy Hook team.

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The newly formed club for young men from 13-21 years of age held an organization meeting at the Sandy Hook fire hall last Thursday evening... At the meeting the name of Social and Athletic Club was accepted as the name of the club. Forty-two members have so far been enrolled.

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A very young squirrel, cold and hungry,was found in the woods by James R.K. Carmichael of Easton as he was riding his motorcycle on Route 59. Taking the little fellow home, he warmed him up and fed him with a medicine dropper, and then put him in charge of a mother cat with three small kittens. According to last reports, the cat, kittens, and squirrel were enjoying life as one happy family.

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The Newtown Log Cabin announces the following lucky Nylon winners: April 17, Mrs Oloy Stuart of Bridgewater; April 24, Edith Carlson of Danbury; April 26, Mrs Julie Williams of Vermont; May 1, Mary Mitchell of Danbury.

May 6, 1921

W.D. Parker will open the Grand Central to the public about the 15th. Mr Parker is an experienced hotel man and will give the public good service. He made many friends while in charge at the Inn.

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The annual Borough election was held on Tuesday morning. Thirty-six voters cast their ballots. Two were rejected, one as blank and the other as imperfectly marked. At the business meeting a three mill tax was laid. It was also voted to instruct the warden and burgesses to buy suitable ballot boxes. The warden and burgesses were instructed to secure a proper fire alarm as soon as possible. For Burgess, George E. Hayes received 12 votes, Peter Quinn one for Borough treasurer and H.C. Taylor one for Burgess.

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Nurses’ Monthly Report: Newtown, for month of April 1921. New patients, 29. Number of visits made: Nursing 4, instructive 31, social service 20, office 2, clinic 1. Cases: Medicinal 8, prenatal 1, surgical 3, maternity 1, babies 16, contact 9 (tuberculosis); Cases dismissed, 5, died 1.

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The best news dairymen in League territory have received in many months is the announcement that operations under the Dairymen’s League Cooperative contract will begin May 1, and that the milk for May has been definitely sold to all of the large dealers, including many of the manufacturers. Many of the larger dealers have shown a changed attitude toward the pooling plan.

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Mrs Joseph Webber received 1,200 little chicks, Wednesday, 600 from New Jersey and 600 from Cheshire.

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A good picture is to be presented this week in he production by Allan Dwan, “Soldiers of Fortune.” It is from the story by Richard Davis. It is a thrilling story of love and intrigue. There will also be a comedy with Katherine Spencer, “Shoeing the Horse of Progress,” and an International News reel, No. 24. Good music.

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