March 14, 1997

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: Newtown has a pretty sorry history of letting opportunities slip through its fingers. It has had the chance to purchase a number of properties in town that would have been ideal for public use. Over the years the town has considered and rejected opportunities to purchase vast tracts of contiguous property on Queen Street, the large house and property across Main Street from Edmond Town Hall (once known as The Budd House), the Italian Community Center property (now the Long Oak Meadows subdivision) on Route 34, and the spectacular Gretsch property on Castle Hill. In retrospect, these land acquisitions would have been good moves for the town, but they must go down in history as opportunities lost. Now Newtown has another chance to acquire a key piece of property. The Amaral family has indicated that it will sell a 13-acre tract of land adjacent to Dickinson Town Park … The purchase would be an opportunity for the town’s current elected leaders to do something for generations of townspeople to come. We urge them to pursue this opportunity and not to let it become just another one that got away.

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The state is offering to give the town 22.6 acres and two buildings at Fairfield Hills for municipal use as part of a 1991 agreement, which settles a lawsuit the town brought against the state over the construction of Garner Correctional Institution, State Rep Julia Wassermann said Thursday. In a letter to First Selectman Robert Cascella, Michael Kozlowski, head of the state Office of Policy and Management, offers the town the land, Watertown Hall, and a garage that formerly was used as a firehouse.

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When longtime Newtown resident and philanthropist Josephine H. Holcombe died this past January, she left several thousands of dollars to local, state, and national organizations, as well as millions to family and friends. Mrs Holcombe lived off Great Hill Road at Newtown’s highest point, 830 feet above sea level. From her house, Mrs Holcombe had a picturesque 360-degree view of the countryside. Mrs Holcombe was the wife of the late William Holcombe, Newtown’s first selectman during the 1940s. She died leaving a $23 million estate behind.

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Probate Judge Margot Hall wants to make sure the public records of Newtown are preserved forever. The vault in the probate office at Edmond Town Hall stores 119 volumes dating back to the 1920s, some of which have no backup copies. In this year’s town budget, Mrs Hall is requesting funds to assure the availability of these records should there be a “breach on integrity,” mainly theft or fire and/or water damage of the records on file.

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A Family Photohistory Workshop for adults and children was held at Newtown Youth and Family Services last Saturday to capture and record family histories. Professional freelance photographer Steven Bamberg, who is a member of the NYFS board of directors, took informal black-and-white portraits of family groups. He was assisted by his daughter, Maggie. Participants had been invited to bring as many generations of their families as possible for the photo along with old family photos, journals, and memorabilia. Karen Pierce, a Newtown resident and representative for Creative Memories, gave a workshop on how to create a family story in photographs and how to store and display photographs safely.

March 17, 1972

Town officials and the Newtown Chamber of Commerce have long been aware of the problems caused by construction of I-84, which diverted traffic through Sandy Hook Center. The noise, the parking difficulty with consequent loss of business by merchants have both been of great concern. An even more urgent problem was brought to the fore in recent weeks, which has compelled the Chamber to take a more active role in trying to find a solution. That problem is one of health and safety, and the difficulties of getting fire equipment, police, and ambulances through Sandy Hook traffic to the point where they are needed.

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ZONING REGS UNDER FIRE AT HEARING: “We are over-regulated, over-taxed and over-governed to the point of harassment,” so said Howard Steck at the public hearing on the proposed revision of the zoning regulations Friday evening, March 10, to the loudest applause heard during the four-hour meeting. He might have added “under-chaired” to his complaint, for the hearing started with the all-too-familiar call for volunteers to carry more chairs from the lower-floor meeting room to the gym of Edmond Town Hall. Close to 150 people attended the hearing concerning proposed regulation changes that fill more than 70 typewriter-sized pages.

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The Hawley Manor Inn and Restaurant has a new manager. Just one month ago, Joseph Keller, who now lives in the Hawley Manor, took over the management of this old Newtown landmark, leaving the Hartford Hilton to take over his own restaurant. Mr Keller, a US Navy veteran and Manchester Community College graduate with a degree in food service and restaurant and hotel-motel management, says he doesn’t plan to make any changes in the Hawley Manor unless he hears from customers that they do not like a particular thing or would like to see something different.

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The Younger players in Boys SAC Basketball closed out their season on Saturday, March 11, with a foul-shooting contest. In the play-down, prizes were won by Rick Andrews, first; Rob Knapp, second; David Eddy, third. Jack Matern was high scorer of the four squads and Bobby Miles was named most valuable player. The SACs wish to thank the staff of the Middle School for the help extended to the boys during the past season. The SAC Seniors ended the season on Sunday, March 12, in a burst of glory by turning back the Danbury All-Stars, 127-74. Sackers George Mattson, Chas Tilson, Tom Platt, Bill Carey, Jack Shpunt, and Jack Thrall all hit in double figures for the club.

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On Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12, the Newtown Belvederes competed in two color guard competitions in Maine. In Rockland, the Belvederes placed first in Class A over five other guards in that class. Also, their captain, Mary Ann Kayfus, received a medal for being the best captain of the evening. On Sunday, the Belvederes placed first in Class A, competing this time with seven other Class A guards. And once again, Captain Kayfus received the best captain’s medal in Class A.

March 14, 1947

Back Bay Boston after the turn of the century came into focus Wednesday night in “The Late George Apley,” presented by Town Players at Edmond Town Hall. Adapted from the novel by John P. Marquand and dramatized by the author with the canny collaboration of George S. Kaufman, it emerged as a delightful satire on a way of American life now passed.

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The annual meeting of the Newtown Country Club was held Tuesday evening at the clubhouse, with President Allen Northey Jones presiding. Reports of officers and committee showed a successful year and plans appear bright for the coming season. The following slate of officers was elected: President, Allen Northey Jones; vice-president, Edmund M. Foster; secretary, George Trull; treasurer, Warren Yard; governors to serve for three years, Harry Kirby, James Purcell, Joseph F. Hellauer and Henry C. Ferrier; governor to fill the unexpired term of Edmond M. Foster, Nelson Curtis; governor to fill the unexpired term of George Trull, Frederic Duncombe. It was voted to increase the annual dues for single memberships to $30, and for man and wife memberships to $42, both plus government tax.

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The condition of Charles Steck, a patient at the Danbury Hospital, is greatly improved, a fact his many friends will be glad to learn.

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Mr and Mrs House Jameson have opened their home on Main street and plan to spend more time here, especially over week-ends, in the future. Their presence will be welcomed by their many friends.

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Mr and Mrs John Hubbard of Norfolk moved last week into their new home on Wendover Road, recently purchased from William Strong of Main Street.

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Mr and Mrs Raymond Peck of Botsford are the parents of a son, born on March 11 at the Danbury Hospital.

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Following the public hearing on March 3 by the Zoning Board of the Borough of Newtown on the application of George Wheeler to change the classification of his property on Queen street from residential to business, the Board met in executive session of this week at the Edmond Town Hall. The Board announces that it has reserved its decision until March 21st when the Board has arranged to meet with Mr Wheeler to determine his building plans in exact detail and his program for actual construction. Announcement will be made at that time of the Board’s final decision.

March 10, 1922

The Board of Trustees of the Newtown Savings Bank has declared a series of dividends for the past six months. The bank has gained over $35,000 in deposits since October 1. Deposits made on or before April 5 will draw interest from April 1.

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F.H. Duncombe was confined to his residence by illness, Sunday.

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Cornelius B. Taylor, H. Carlton Hubbell and Mrs W.H. Hubbell return on Wednesday, March 15, after a winter’s sojourn at Rock Ledge, Florida.

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Patrick Roach of Hawleyville has a handsome pair of black horses, bought of R.H. Thomas of New Milford.

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Paul Feli of Lake George is driving a nice pair of sorrel colored horses, also bought of R.H. Thomas of New Milford.

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The Newtown High school girls’ basketball team invited the Bridgeport girls’ basketball team to play with them at the Town hall on last Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock. All went well during the first half of the game for Newtown was ahead by a score of 7 to 4. The second half of the game told a different story. Bridgeport secured 12 to Newtown’s 1, making 16 for Bridgeport and 8 for Newtown when the game ended. Miss Coger made all the baskets for the home team, while Misses Oliver and Watters did the truck for Bridgeport. In the line-up for Newtown were the Misses Ferris, Coger, Wheeler, Peck, Tarbox, Stowe and Keane, while for Bridgeport were the Misses Oliver, Walters, Luck, Roach, Pullman and Frede.

March 19, 1897

THE EDITOR’S FAMILIAR CHAT: The railroad commissionership plum has fallen into the lap of Orasmus R. Fyler of Torrington. | Gov Cooke has again honored our townsman, Theron E. Platt, by a renomination as a member of the Stater Board of Agriculture. | Slum journalism is receiving a deserved rebuke from all sides. The motto of the New York Times is a good one for any newspaper to follow: “All the news that’s fit to print.”

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L.C. Morris, trustee of the estate of L.B. Booth, has sold the property in South Center district advertised in last week’s Bee to John B. Peck. It brought a trifle over $1300 under the auctioneer’s hammer.

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The proposed new chapel at Hawleyville will soon be an assured fact. A part of the timber for the frame has been drawn to the ground by those who contributed to it.

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Earle Stevens, one of the assistants of Agent James at the Hawleyville depot, has resigned his position. He goes to Hotchkissville to take a position in the shop of the American Shear Co. Mr Stevens is well liked at Hawleyville and his departure is regretted.

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Miss Henrietta Lipscomb, a domestic in the family of Agent James at Hawleyville, is ill with inflammatory rheumatism.

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Lizzie Tomkin and Rose Miles, girls of about 14 years, while skating on Warner’s pond, ran into an airhole and broke through the ice where the water was up to their chins. But for the timely assistance received from Elmer Spencer, Samuel Miles, Daniel Roach and George Miles, the girls would probably have been drowned.

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.