August 15, 1997

If ever there were a Pied Piper of Newtown, it would be Ginny Lathrop. Generations of children have tried to keep step with her as they bloomed into adulthood, and now all of Newtown is invited to follow the founder of Lathrop School of Dance down Main Street as she presides over the Labor Day parade as grand marshal. Earlier this year Mrs Lathrop received Newtown Youth Services’s Gail Smith Award, an honor presented to those in the community who have worked to improve the quality of life for the youth of Newtown.

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Police are investigating a series of nocturnal incidents during recent weeks in the Riverside section of town. An unknown person, probably a man, has been entering homes in Riverside between 2 and 4 am, according to the police. At least three such incidents have been documented, said Sergeant Henry Stormer, acting head of the police department’s detective division.

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Newtown may be growing too fast for its school system to handle. The Newtown school system’s expansion project at Hawley Elementary School is nearing completion, but it may not be enough. New students are registering at a record pace, especially in Sandy Hook. It’s still too early to tell if the town will need to build another school, but town officials aren’t ruling out the possibility. Nearly two years ago, the Board of Education opted to offset the town’s rapid development by building a $4 million addition to Hawley School. Part of the plan was to enlarge Hawley to make room for some students who were learning under cramped conditions at Sandy Hook School. Despite the transfer of some students to Hawley School, Sandy Hook has filled up just as quickly. The 85 students who were moved to Hawley have already been replaced by about 85 more. The enrollment at Sandy Hook this September will be at or above where it was in June.

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Antique and furniture lovers came far and wide to the John Sanford House last Friday to get a glimpse of what was inside. The home at 105 Church Hill Road, built in 1782, was open to the public on Saturday as well. The house was recently sold by Dorothy Soloway to an unnamed buyer. Mrs Soloway said the new owner has plans to turn the house into a restaurant. Around 8:30 am, the crowd began to assemble outside the house, hoping to be the first inside to see what was for sale. According to Mrs Soloway nearly the entire contents of the house sold, including an American federal sideboard, circa 1800, which went for $4,900.

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For anyone who has lived in Newtown for any length of time, the name Bertram A. Strook shouldn’t be unknown, and not just because his name adorns the Newtown Tennis Association’s 23-year-old summer-long tennis tournament. Bertram A. Strook — for those who may have more recently moved into town, or those who simply did not realize — was one of the most preeminent benefactors and philanthropists this town has ever known.

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In their first year of existence, the Newtown Bulldogs swept a double header on Sunday, August 10, thus clinching a berth in the upcoming Northeast Baseball Association Over-30 League playoffs. Going into the day with an 8-5 record, Newtown went head-to-head with 7-7 Bridgewater, who was also hoping to gain a playoff spot. But when the day was done, Newtown was in and Bridgewater was out.

August 18, 1972

John Anderson was appointed to the Newtown Police Commission at the Selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, evening, August 16. He had been recommended by the Democratic Town Committee to fill the post left vacant by the illness of Walter J. McCarthy but had been unable to attend the Selectmen’s meeting of August 1. First Selectman Frank DeLucia said he wanted to see and talk with Mr Anderson before making the appointment. Mr Anderson is associated with Xerox, his responsibilities being within Fairfield County. He will have, he says, the time to devote to the job of being a Police Commissioner which he believes is of growing importance as the town grows.

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This year the Newtown Country Club has had more junior members than ever in its history, in fact enough of them to have a Junior Club Championship Tournament. The final round of the tourney was played on Sunday, August 13, with Richard (Kip) Bowers defeating Larry Gallo five and four for the title. On his way to the championship he also defeated Joe Fico and Kevin Cragin.

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Sgt James Jacob of Ridgefield Barracks, State Police, reports that the number of trucks using I-84 through Newtown is lower in the week of August 9-15 than the previous week. State Police clocked 2,717 trucks and arrested ten drivers. Of 192 buses clocked, just one was traveling so fast that the driver was arrested; as to passenger cars, 113 drivers were issued summonses.

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Over 200 people have signed petitions asking that more care be taken to prevent patients at Fairfield Hills Hospital from wandering off the grounds to nearby homes. One Nunnawauk Road couple has written to The Bee about this growing problem. The August 4 BEE carried a letter from another couple, of Mile Hill Road, about a patient who entered their home, picked up a knife, and demanded transportation to Bridgeport. Hospital authorities point out that this and other cases involve a small percentage of patients. Neighbors believe that this small percentage should not be permitted to cause even a few incidents. Hence the petition.

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Twenty Fresh Air Fund children arrived and were welcomed by host families from Newtown and area towns August 10. They will remain until August 24. Mr and Mrs Dennis Farrell of the Newtown Jaycees and Wives chaperoned the bus-load of youngsters on their way here from New York City. According to Mrs Brian Gibney, one of the Jaycee Wives coordinators for the Fresh Air Fund, all the youngsters involved in this program and their hosts were invited to visit the Poverty Hollow Farm owned by Dan Lufkin on Wednesday, August 17. They toured the grounds and observed the various procedures connected with running a working farm.

August 15, 1947

On Saturday morning St Rose church in Newtown was the scene of a pretty wedding when Dr Margaret Neville Boyle, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Neville Boyle of Palestine District, became the bride of Dr Ralph A. Kinsella, Jr, son of Dr and Mrs Ralph A. Kinsella of St. Louis, Missouri. The ceremony was performed by Rev George B. Ford, Rector of Corpus Christi Church, New York, a friend of the bride and formerly Catholic Chaplain at Columbia University. The ceremony was attended by members of both families, and close friends of the bride and groom. A wedding breakfast followed at the home of the bride’s parents. Later in the day the bridal couple left for a motor trip, after which they will make their home in St. Louis.

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Noel Coward was correct when he tagged “Blithe Spirit” as being An Improbably Farce in Three Acts, for that is precisely the way it came off on the stage of the Edmond Town Hall Theatre on Wednesday evening. Being the hottest night of the year was no help, for the Town Players performers must have sweltered behind their grease-paint. It, more than anything else, probably tripped them up in their lines, making for an uneven, spotty, at times bad, at times excellent, performance. The last act was uniformly good from beginning to end, with barely a static moment in it, but to get to this degree of perfection necessitated working uncommonly hard through the two acts which preceded it. Mr Coward must accept part of the responsibility. He wrote the play for himself and it is static writing, much fun to read but less fun to listen to unless performed by Mr Coward himself.

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The Inter-Church Committee, composed of Congregational and Episcopalian women of Newtown, has received an unsolicited letter of commendation from the Church World Service Center at Long Island City, N.Y., for the regularity of its dispatching of relief supplies for the distressed in foreign lands. The Long Island address is one of twelve shipping centers through the country from which was shipped during the past year $10 million in money and $5 million in food, clothing, bedding, seeds, tools and medicine to churches and mission centers in Europe and Asia for distribution on the basis of need. Shipments from Newtown, mostly new and used clothing, layettes, blankets and shoes, are made on a weekly basis.

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The Newtown Bees took another hurdle in their race for the championship of the Pomperaug Valley Baseball League on Sunday afternoon when they defeated the Southbury nine at Taylor Field by the score of 13-3.

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The latest report on the condition of Paul S. Smith, editor, who has been a patient in the Danbury Hospital since last Sunday, suffering from an attack of virus pneumonia, indicates that he is much improved and recovering satisfactorily.

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Mr and Mrs H.N. Kirbny were host and hostess to four tables of bridge at the Country Club on Monday night. High scorer for the evening was Dr W.N. Jones. On next Monday Mr and Mrs Frederic Duncombe will be hosts.

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More than $125 for the Sandy Hook Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps has been collected from the sale of scrap during the present drive being conducted by the Sandy Hook volunteer firemen, with additional quantities already collected. The firemen are continuing the drive. Paper, old iron and all other salable scrap is solicited. Friends in the Riverside district may leave scrap paper for collection in the barn of Mrs Margaret Lillis’ place. Pickup trucks are also available. Workers on the drive may be reached by phoning Louis Carbonneau, Newtown 460-J2, Justin Jaborde 207-W2, Donald Tenney 101-J2, Robert Lockwood 634.

August 11, 1922

The funeral of Mrs John Roach was held from St Rose’s church, Thursday, August 3. The church was filled with neighbors and friends who came to pay tribute to one who was honored and respected by all. Mrs Roach was a gentle, unobtrusive woman whose greatest happiness lay in the performance of her duties to her family and friends. … Due to her reticence of speech her friends confided by her wise counsels. Ever a devout Catholic, Mrs Roach was comforted at the last moments by the rites of her beloved church. She was laid to her eternal rest in St Rose’s cemetery amidst many beautiful offerings.

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The annual carnival of the Dodgingtown firemen opened on Wednesday night, with a good crowd. The grounds were brilliant with electric lights, furnished by a Fairbanks-Morse electric lighting outfit, the gift for the carnival, of Philo T. Platt. Mr Platt also exhibited an electric water pump. John W. Behn and A.T. Joy presided over the ticket stand. Louis Freld served out those delicious hot dogs, fresh from Broadway. William Fidner had charge of the knife wheel. James Christopher of the candy wheel. William Gower of the aluminum articles wheel. Roy Barnum was in charge of the fish pond. Rene Branch had the clock wheel in charge. J. Moroney, the groceries and peaches. Curtis’ peaches were a tremendous drawing card. A large platform was erected for the dancing, music being furnished by A.E. Bevans’ excellent Broadway specialists. The carnival continues tonight (Thursday) and to-morrow night (Friday). Go and have the time of your life.

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Miss May Jordan of Bridgeport is passing a vacation of two weeks with her mother, Mrs M. Jordan, of the Glen.

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Miss Esther Rupf, who has been quite seriously ill for several weeks, is improving slowly, a fact her many friends will be glad to learn.

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HATTERTOWN PERSONAL CHAT: Mrs Sarah Penny is visiting with her son, Henry Penny, in West Redding. | Mr and Mrs J.C. Lewis and their sons, Clayton and Leon Lewis left Monday, for an auto trip through Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. | Mr and Mrs Stephen Parks are spending the week with their sister, Mrs Emeline Fisher. | Edgar C. Northrop has been spending a few days with relatives in Danbury.

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Mr and Mrs Albert Rasmussen of Botsford, Richard Broderick, daughters, Helen and Marion Broderick of Bridgeport, Mr and Mrs Elmer Andrews and daughter, Lorraine, of Danbury, were callers, Sunday, on Mr and Mrs Carl Rasmussen.

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Selectman J.J. Northrop, who is summering at Cedar Beach, passed Tuesday and Wednesday in town.

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Mr and Mrs George G. Canfield and children passed Sunday at Lordship.

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Mrs Henry C. Johnson of Astoria, N.Y., and Mr and Mrs F. Willard Johnson of Hollis Court, L.I., were guests over the weekend of Mr and Mrs George U. Burr.

August 20, 1897

Miss Ruth B. Hall of Guilford, Conn., and Miss Helen W. Collier of Kinderhook, N.Y., have been elected to fill the positions of assistant in the Academic department and teacher of primary and intermediate grades respectively at The Newtown Academy. Miss Hall is a graduate of Smith college and a teacher of experience and acknowledged ability. Miss Collins was educated at Albany, N.Y., graduating with highest honors from the Albany Female academy and afterwards taking a special course in methods of teaching at the Albany Normal school; she comes to the Academy highly recommended as a teacher of kindergarten, primary and intermediate pupils. The trustees of the Academy and Principal Hoyt have made these selections from a large number of applicants and believe the coming year will show the wisdom of their choice.

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James Coles of Hawleyville had some of his roofs covered with Carey’s flexible cement roofing, put on by the local agent, Frank Pinckney, of Brookfield Center.

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A party from Dick’s hotel enjoyed a drive to Woodbury, last Friday night, taking supper at the Curtis hotel. The party included Mr and Mrs C.P. Coe, A.F. Clarke, W.A. Leonard, Mr and Mrs F.A. Beckley, Miss Bertha Parce and Mrs Laura Leonard.

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The semi-annual abstract of the registrar of vital statistics for Newtown shows that there were 31 births for the first six months of 1897, 12 marriages and 33 deaths. Of the births there were in January seven, February three, March eight, April five, May four and June four. The deaths were in January eight, February four, March seven, April five, May two, June seven. Of the occupations of those who died, the farmers seem to have reached the highest average age, as there were five deaths among them, three between the ages of 60 and 70 and two between 70 and 80. Of the fatal diseases, those of the heart and diseases of respiratory system were the most numerous, there being six deaths from each of these causes, a little over one third of all the deaths.

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.