July 12, 1996

An ad hoc group known as the Newtown Neighborhood Coalition is pressing to have the town stop receiving new residential subdivision applications for the next six months. The drive for a residential subdivision moratorium stems from coalition members’ desire to strengthen the regulations to better protect the town’s environment... In response to coalition calls for a moratorium, Stephen Adams, chairman of the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission said Wednesday P&Z members at a P&Z meeting decided against a moratorium... Mr Adams said he is glad that coalition members are developing proposed new land use rules and would like to see what revisions they come up with... If the coalition presents its changes in the form of proposed amendments to the regulations, P&Z members would consider making those changes, he said.

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A severe thunderstorm with a heavy downpour and winds that gusted up to 100 miles per hour tore through sections of Fairfield and New Haven counties Tuesday evening, knocking down trees, branches and power lines.

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It’s taken the generosity and helping hands of more than a few people, but the old clock on the face of historic Hawley School on Church Hill Road is on its way to repair. The 1927 timepiece, with its hands stuck on half past five, was carefully removed from its home 50 feet above Hawley’s front lawn... a group of parents whose children recently graduated from Hawley’s fifth grade have worked to get it fixed.

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The Board of Selectmen Monday night unanimously approved the expenditure of $840,000 to renovate Town Hall South. Architect John Madzula told the selectmen that the building renovation cost is estimated at $678,000. Another $30,000 will be needed for site development... About $10,000 will be needed to relocate the 911 air conditioning unit and antennas... $105,000 would be set aside for contingencies and $17,000 for architect/engineer fees... The proposed project also includes a new pitched roof to replace the existing flat roof, new single-hung windows...brick siding... and enclosure of the parking ramp area.

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The 14/15-year-old All-Star team from Newtown Babe Ruth took a giant step towards its goal of winning the District 4 championship last week, as it rang up victories in its first two ballgames.

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As its franchise jingle goes, “Subway’s the place, where fresh is the taste.” Now it appears Newtown High School will also be “the place” as America’s number two fast-food establishment will set up shop in the Berkshire Road school’s cafeteria next year. Marriot Food Services, which has provided meals to Newtown’s schools in recent years, managed to swing the deal with the Milford-based sandwich shop chain.

July 9, 1971

The Fourth of July week-end was a busy one for those who decided to stay off the highways and relax at home. There was a carnival, fireworks, a dance, a tennis tournament, swimming and just lounging around the backyard barbeque or catching up on gardening over three days of perfect weather. For those with a stronger stomach there were the twirling, spinning rides at the St Rose Carnival.

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In advance of the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday evening, July 6, a public hearing was conducted in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall on the advisability of Newtown joining the Lake Lillinonah Authority. The Authority has been in existence for about four years. Its members are New Milford, Brookfield, Bridgewater and Roxbury. Neither Southbury nor Newtown, the towns with the longest shorefronts, are yet members.

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As The Bee goes to press this beautifully sunny Thursday noon, it is hard to believe that a week ago this evening brought to Connecticut one of the worst thunderstorms so far this year... One reason it took a little longer to get power back on after this storm is that Connecticut Light & Power crews were still on strike — and they still are. The storm also caused automobile accidents, homes struck by lightning, telephone equipment damage, and fallen trees.

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Patients at Fairfield Hills Hospital started moving in May in preparation for the opening of the new comprehensive treatment service for the elderly. Some... who formerly lived in Fairfield House are on their way to new quarters [in Bridgewater House]. 400 of those 65 or older will be accommodated in Cochrane House.

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Dr Thomas Draper of Newtown has been approved by Danbury’s Common Council as that city’s Health Director. Dr Draper will continue on as Newtown’s Health Director and also keep his private practice as a pediatrician.

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HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD for information leading to the return to us of the heavy iron blacksmith’s anvil and to apprehension of the individual who cut lock and chain and took from our premises the ornamental anvil used by us for years as a horse tie at our gate post. Ernest A. Graupner, Pond Brook Road, Newtown. Tel 426-5205.

July 5, 1946

There have been bright lights shining and the sound of revelry coming every night this week from Taylor Field, which are true indication of the success that is attending the first annual firemen’s carnival, which will continue there through Saturday night.

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A series of public meetings sponsored by the Pentecostal tabernacle opened at the Hawleyville Chapel Tuesday night and will continue nightly at 8 o’clock except Monday and Saturday until July 14. The only service on Sunday will be at 2:30 pm. The Rev Godfrey Berggren has secured as guest speakers for the meetings Evangelist and Mrs Raynolds Kennedy of Austin, Texas.

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The newly organized Raymond L. Pease Post No. 163, American Legion will hold its installation ceremonies at the Fairfield State hospital on Friday, July 12, at 7:30 pm. Preceding the ceremonies there will be a parade on the hospital grounds led by the Danbury American Legion Fife and Drum Corps.

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Rep Clare Boothe Luce will make her “official residence” in Newtown for the remainder of the year. Mrs Luce and her husband, Henry R. Luce, publisher of Time, Life, and Fortune magazines, have leased Miss Grace Moore’s home in Stevenson District for seven months, beginning in July, while Miss Moore is on a concert tour in Europe.

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Mrs Thelma Gray, celebrated English dog judge, says she doesn’t know what she likes best in America — the food or the people. A guest of Mrs H.L. Greene at her home in Palestine District, a breeder of Welsh Corgis, Mrs Gray was honored Tuesday at a luncheon attended by Welsh Corgi enthusiasts.

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Camp Pomperaug, the Boy Scout encampment on Lake Zoar, opened another camping season of eight weeks on Sunday, June 30, when Scouts from various units began a week or more of camp life, which included camping, swimming, canoeing, handicrafts, advancement and many other activities.

June 24, 1921

Arthur M. Morse announces the opening on Friday of Brother Cushman’s House, one of the best known properties on Newtown Street, situated next to the bank, and famous for the wonderful woodbine which covers the entire front of the house during the summer. At Brother Cushman’s House, which will be in charge of two capable young women, afternoon tea and toast, ice cream and cakes and other good things to eat will be served at reasonable prices, in an attractive manner, on small table in rooms fitted up along old colonial lines. Brother Cushman’s House intends to serve only the best.

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The closing exercises of the Palestine school, Miss Annette Sheehan, teacher, took place on Friday, June 17. Themes were written by the pupils on the subject, “Why I Want to be a Farmer,” and several prizes were awarded... A hot dog roast and picnic followed.

Ernest Derling, 14, and Charles Derling, 19, were brought before Justice McCarthy on the charge of assault upon Israel Kellar, 16, at Hawleyville. As the result of the scrap, Kellar went to the Danbury hospital where five stitches were taken in a wound over the eye and cuts over the ear. The case was continues to next Saturday night at 7 pm under bonds of $250 each. W.S. Hawley went bonds for Charles Derling and John Jackson for Ernest Derling. The scrap took place in the open square at Hawleyville last week Tuesday night, it is said.

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Some young men from New York City, staying with friends in Huntingtown, were at the lake fishing, Wednesday, when one of them had a fish hook caught in the lower lid and eye ball, very close to the pupil of the eye. He was taken to the home of C.D. Stillson and Dr Kingman called, who successfully removed the steel hook. The doctor did not think the man would lose the sight of his eye.

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With Europe’s biggest trained animal show as one of many splendid features, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Combined shows will exhibit afternoon and night at Bridgeport, Monday, July 2. The marvel circus of 1921 offers the greatest congress of attractions in history. Without eliminating any of the thousand thrills produced by hundreds of the most skillful men and women performers the Ringling Brothers have added, without additional charge, the most sensational of wild beast displays.

Your memories are the ones we want to share! Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to editor@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.