October 25, 1996

The Newtown Neighborhoods Coalition, a group that has lobbied the town in recent months to slow the rate of residential growth, has proposed some new land use regulations designed to make it more difficult to build homes. In on October 21 letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Kurt Gillis, a Jeremiah Road resident who has headed the coalition’s drive for new land use rules, submitted the proposed changes. Mr Gillis has asked that P&Z members review the proposals and place them on their agenda for public hearings.

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A traffic sign warning motorists of a curve ahead sits about 75 yards to the east of the sharp bend on Route 302 that was the sene of a fiery crash October 7, killing the driver of a tanker truck. But state officials, neighbors, and the developer of a subdivision in the area disagree whether the sign was up the night of the accident. According to an official from the state Department of Transportation, the sign was up at the time of the accident but it was in the wrong spot. DOT Transportation District Services Agent John Bado said someone either moved it or knocked it down.

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REPORTER’S JOURNAL: My husband doesn’t know the name of his guardian angel, but he does have his cellular number. This guardian angel rescued my husband, Jerry, who was stranded on the median between the junction of I-95 and I-695 in the Bronx. It was there that Jerry’s rental car brown down during the height of Saturday’s rainstorm. —KV

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Savvy marketing mixed with a good cause, like fundraising for the Booth Library’s new Children’s Department, can be a winning combination for everyone, especially area businesses. That’s the concept behind Ten Weeks To $10,000, which began October 18. The idea is for area businesses to hold a fund raiser to benefit the library and/or contribute a minimum $200 toward the goal of buying a circulation desk and two computers for children to use in the library.

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Members of the Newtown Business & Professional Women’s Club modeled fashions by Appleseed’s Saturday in the Connecticut Federation of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs Woman of the Year and Fashion Show Luncheon. The event was hosted the Newtown club at The Fireside Inn. Newtown BPW members Kathleen Bournique, Justina Hansen, Dr Della Schmidt, Probate Judge Margot Hall, Shirley Jean Measures, Morgen McLaughlin, Carol Mattegat and Marie Sturdevant were models, and Anne Ragusa was the emcee. Pam Goodman and Mae Schmidle chaired the event.

October 29, 1971

Newtown Police Chief spoke to the Newtown Lions Club at their dinner meeting at the Newtown Inn, Wednesday evening, October 27. Chief Marchese spoke on the Newtown Police Department, telling of his plans for the future of the department. Since taking over, he has organized a Youth Bureau, Detective Bureau and Explorers Post. He said Newtown is below level of crime in surrounding towns and feels that the narcotics program has reached a plateau and is going down. He plans to appoint two police chaplains in the near future and expects to have an Identification Bureau soon.

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In a letter to John L. Bean, general manager of the Newtown Water Company, it is pointed out by Edward R. Sullivan, president of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, that inadequate stored water facilities are a hindrance to the Chamber’s Industrial Committee in attracting desirable industry to Newtown. This fact is enlarged upon by Mr Sullivan in his letter. He requests a meeting with town officials, officers of the Chamber, and representatives of the Water Company in an effort to correct the situation.

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The corporators of the Newtown Savings Bank met at the bank on Tuesday afternoon at 5:30 for the bank’s 116th annual meeting. Richard F. Burdett, president, conducted the meeting and in his report stated that the bank had had a banner year. Deposits increased during the year by over $5 million (from $29,486,811 to $34,338,434) with the main bank in Newtown and the two branches in Bethel and Southbury all sharing in the steady growth. The mortgage portfolio as of September 30 was in excess of $26 million, increasing from $23,267,319 to $26,416,834.

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If some clown, witch, rabbit, or perhaps an Indian carrying a small orange box comes to the door on trick or treat night, drop a few pennies or nickels in that box. These children will be collecting for UNICEF, and the pennies and nickels will go to a good cause — helping children less fortunate than the small trick or treaters. Also, don’t forget the candy bar in the bag!

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The Newtown Jaycees are now selling Christmas cards drawn by two Newtown artists. A Main Street scene was done this year by Nina Wheeler Blake, and a variation done last year by Harrie Wood is still available in a limited amount. The Jaycees will be selling the cards in the shopping centers and they are also available in may area stores. The cards are sold in lots of 25 at $2.50.

October 25, 1946

Captain Lawrence E. Reynolds, formerly of Newtown and son of Mr and Mrs Arthur W. Reynolds of Twist Hill Lane, recently received the Army Commendation Ribbon. Captain Reynolds is assigned to the Aircraft Laboratory, Engineering Division, Air Material Command Headquarters at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. The citation accompanying the award credits Captain Reynolds with outstanding achievement in recording structure flight load data on AAF aircraft during the past four years. At present he makes his home at 1124 Wilmington avenue, Dayton, Ohio.

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Dr William F. Green, Superintendent of the Fairfield State Hospital, Newtown, announces that due to the shortage of nurses and attendants, Fairfield State Hospital has discontinued visiting on Wednesdays until further notice. Visiting will be permitted as usual on Saturdays 2 to 4 pm and Sundays 2 to 4 pm.

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George B. Beers celebrated his 85th birthday on Saturday, when a dinner party was given in his honor, with the following members of the family in attendance from out of town: Mr and Mrs Herman N. Tiemann, Jr, of Manchester, Conn., Miss Marianne Tiemann, Anthony Tiemann, Mrs Gaylord C. Weir, Mrs Jessie B. Wilson of Flushing, N.Y., Mr and Mrs John C. Stratton and daughter, Caryl, and Mr and Mrs Lincoln B. Mitchell. Friends in large number join the members of his family in wishing Mr Beers many happy returns of the day!

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Fred Bresson of Sandy Hook announces the marriage of his daughter, Mary Grace Bresson, to Jacques Maye, son of Mr and Mrs Clement Maye of Botsford, which took place on Monday, October 7, at St Rose church, with Rev John Culliton performing the ceremony. At present, the couple are making their home with Mrs Andre Maye of Botsford.

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Pfc. William F. Lillis, who recently returned from Germany where he served with an Armored Division, U.S. Army, is enjoying a well earned furlough with his family in town.

October 28, 1921

The annual meeting of the Newtown Savings Bank was held at the bank on Wednesday, October 26, at 2 p.m. Treasurer Nettleton read his 23rd annual report, which showed the bank has had a prosperous year and was in a strong condition. The election of trustees was as follows: David C. Peck, John B. Wheeler, Theron E. Platt, Cornelius B. Taylor, Henry G. Curtis, Arthur T. Nettleton, Edward S. Lovell, Robert C. Mitchell, Eli B. Beers, William B. Glover, William T. [illegible], Arthur J. Smith, H. Carlton [illegible], and Thomas M. Holian. The present officers were all re-elected and are as follows: President, David C. Peck; vice presidents, Cornelius B. Taylor, John B. Wheeler, Theron E. Platt; secretary and treasurer, Arthur T. Nettleton; auditors for the state, Levi C. Morris and Hervey W. Wheeler; auditors for the bank, Cornelius B. Taylor and Thomas M. Holian; Leaning committee, David C. Peck, Cornelius B. Taylor, John B. Wheeler and Arthur T. Nettleton.

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Country Club whists are becoming very popular, for on last Monday evening eight tables were filled with merry guests at Newtown Country Club. Mrs William R. Curtis secured the highest place for the evening, and Mrs L.C. Morris was next. For the gentlemen C.A. Peale was first, and O. Howard Hall second. The race for the prizes is close. Mrs L.C. Morris is first for the ladies and Mrs W.R. Curtis second, and for the gentlemen C.A. Peale is first and C. Carlton Hubbell second. The club members will have a supper at 6:30 Monday evening October 31, in honor of Hallowe’en. There is some talk of hot dogs and the usual things that go along with that kind of food. Then, too, the prizes will be given out for the month and a general get-together meeting is expected.

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This will be the last picture this season on this week, Saturday night, at the town hall. The picture is entitled “The Dwelling Place of Light,” and is a Massive production that will appeal to everyone. It has a stirring theme and is crammed with action from start to finish. If ever a picture may truly be said to be possessed of everything, “The Dwelling Place of Light” is that picture. It has an All Star cast, including Robert McKim, Claire Adams, King Bagot. The story is from the great author, Winston Churchill, than whom no more prominent figure exists in the world of literature to-day.

October 30, 1896

THE EDITOR’S FAMILIAR CHAT: It is stated that the Grange numbers are 1,000,000 members in the country at large, and is gaining rapidly in membership. | Does it pay to advertise in The Bee? Well I guess! Ask a neighbor of the editor who advertised a cow. Before the paper was many days old ‘long came a purchaser. A few days after another man came after that cow from Huntington, but he was too late. And best of all, these “ads” don’t cost but a cent a word. Bee “ads” reach the people, and that’s why so many farmers and merchants patronize us. | The new rural mail system will be given an experiment trial in New England, next Monday. Mails in the rural districts will be delivered to residents by a carrier, who will devote certain times of the day to the work. The carrier may engage in any other occupation, but the government restricts that the mail shall be delivered regularly at certain periods of the day. The experiment will continue until about next July. The results will be watched with great interest.

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The harvest service at the Congregational church, on Sunday morning, was attended by an unusually large audience, and the program presented was unusually enjoyable. In connection with the service, Miss Eva L. Sanford of Hawleyville was presented with a handsome Bible, having raised the largest number of pounds of potatoes from a given quantity of seed. Rev Mr Barker gave an address which interested old and young alike.

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On exhibition at The Bee office are two campaign torches which were used in the first Lincoln campaign. They are the property of Frederick Sanford. Mr Sanford was a member of the Wide Awakes, a uniformed organization that took part in that campaign. Mr Sanford also left at the office the hat he wore. It is of the Continental style, and bears the inscription in gold letters “Newtown Wide Awakes.” Mr Sanford also prizes as a memento a photograph of Buckingham, the war governor, which was presented to him by Mr Buckingham himself.

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 shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.