March 6, 1998

The Police Commission, acting as the town’s Traffic Authority, this week endorsed a proposal to create a sidewalk network in the center of town. Such a project would connect existing sidewalk sections in the area bounded in the east by Queen Street, on the south by Glover Avenue, on the west by Main Street, and on the north by Church Hill Road. The Police Commission endorsed the proposal as a public safety improvement in an area where many children walk to school, said Police Chief James E. Lysaght Jr.

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Police are awaiting the results of forensics testing on evidence they gathered at the scene of a January nighttime drive-by shooting in which local businessman William Trudeau Jr, 34, was wounded in the leg. The testing is being performed on various pieces of evidence, including bullet fragments, which were collected by police January 2 at 49 Main Street, the site of Trudeau Service Center, Mr Trudeau’s Automotive business. Testing is being done at the state police crime laboratory in Meriden.

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First Selectman Herb Rosenthal has brought back former town employee Rita MacMillan to head the town’s land-use department. Mrs MacMillan, who served as the Planning & Zoning Commission’s administrator aide before resigning last March, will begin work Monday. The hiring of Mrs MacMillan is part of a complete restructuring of the town department, announced by selectmen last week. Town Engineer Ron Bolmer, who had served as department head, has been moved to the highway department.

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Organizers are preparing for a grand re-opening of the Newtown Teen Center on Church Hill Road later this month. They are hoping the improved “Garage” will once again become a popular spot for Newtown High School students. Recently, the Teen Center has dropped in popularity and attendance, but with the promise of more live bands, a dance club and a coffee house, the crowds are expected to return.

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Newtown resident Mike Snyder showed up at Wednesday’s Legislative Council meeting to voice his displeasure over alleged Freedom of Information violations by members. Mr Snyder, a former selectman, said he heard that several council members had met with the Library Board of Trustees on more than one occasion to discuss the library’s proposed budget. One meeting was allegedly held at a restaurant, another was at someone’s home, Mr Snyder said. The private, unannounced meetings are a violation of the state’s FOI laws, Mr Snyder said. First Selectman Herb Rosenthal agreed.

March 2, 1973

NEW HOME FOR BEE’S LINOTYPE: The Bee’s model eight linotype has been sent to the Goudy Club at Heritage Village, Southbury. On February 27, a cold, wintry morning, men from Bennett Trucking Company of Danbury moved The Bee’s linotype out the door, onto their truck, and to its new resting place. The Club is a small group of about a dozen retired senior citizens whose hobby is collecting and using old-fashioned type and related equipment. The members are all graphic arts people, former news correspondents, etc. The club is named for America’s most prolific type designer. Bill Greer of Ridgefield, an old friend of The Bee, was instrumental in securing the new berth for our machine.

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“A wetland is anywhere the skunk cabbage grows” or “If you get your feet wet, you’re in a wetland.” These two elementary, but rather reliable explanations of what qualifies as a wetland, are a few of the numerous things one can learn about the valuable natural resource from Newtown Conservation Commission’s presentation on inland wetlands. Last Thursday night, February 22, the Commission showed the film they have prepared to elected and appointed town officials, in addition to members of conservation commissions from other towns. Members of the Conservation Commission have taken the slides of wetlands right here in Newtown and have written the script, while Alexander Scourby narrates the movie.

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Chairman John Gill informed the Board of Fire Commissioners that a new aerial ladder truck is still on the budget at the Board’s meeting Monday night at Hook & Ladder. Mr Gill told the Board he would appoint a committee to work with town officials on details of the $90,000 truck, and to boost the idea among the various fire companies. The present aerial truck is 28 years old, and when the insurance expires on it next year, the policy will not be renewed, because of the truck’s age.

February 27, 1948

The marriage of Miss Barbara Martin and Robert Gill Walker took place on Sunday, February 22, at 4 o’clock at the Riverside Presbyterian church, in Riverdale-on-Hudson, N.Y. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend George M. Duff and Reverend Paul A. Cullens of Newtown. The bride was given in marriage by her father, Doctor Alexander T. Martin. Her gown of ivory satin was worn by her late mother. She wore a fingertip tulle veil, and carried a bouquet of freesia and lily of the valley. … After a short honeymoon, the couple will reside in Newtown, where the bride has spent many summers at the Martin summer home in Palestine district.

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Bids were opened on Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Bridgeport-City Trust Company offices in Bridgeport on the $300,000 Elementary School Bond issue of the Town of Newtown. There were thirteen bids, the successful bidder being the Union Securities Corporation and the Equitable Securities Corporation of New York City. The bond issue was sold for $300,270, to bear interest at the rare of 1.80 per centum per annum.

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It has been announced by the officers of the Newtown Kennel Club that a total of $71.16 was handed over to the Scout Building fund, an amount collected from recent shows held in the Edmond Town Hall gym.

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Mrs J. Bruce Espey and her young daughter, Margaret, who have been visiting Mrs Bruce’s parents, Mr and Mrs William A. Honan on Main street for the past eight weeks, returned this week to their home in Denver, Col.

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The change in time for test of the fire sirens in Newtown, from Saturday noon to Wednesday noon, becomes effective on Wednesday, March 3. When the sirens blow next Wednesday at 12 o’clock, townspeople are warned that it will be only the first of the weekly Wednesday tests and not the signal that a fire has broken out in town.

February 23, 1923

Francis Flynn of Watertown opened the Economy market in the Troy building in Sandy Hook on February 21, with a full line of high grade meats and fresh fish. It will be his aim to give the people of the town the advantages of a first-class market and with the co-operation of the public, he will endeavor to do so. His business will be carried on a cash-and-carry basis and by so doing he will be able to give complete satisfaction to all. Watch the ad in The Bee and then go in and give him a trial.

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The thermometer registered 24 degrees below zero at John Kelley’s on the Berkshire road, Sunday morning. This almost beats out the Colebrook River section.

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Martin Roach of Bridgeport passed Sunday with his father, John Roach.

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Frank Corbett of New Haven passed Sunday with his parents, Mr and Mrs M.A. Corbett.

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Thomas F. Lynch returned, Saturday, after a 10 days’ stay at [sic] Nintic.

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The Men’s Club met on Saturday evening at the residence of Charles Snyder Cole, it being Mr Cole’s birthday. He was the recipient of a great assortment of socks, which he received in a real spirit of gratitude. The speaker of the evening was Hon George R. Sturges of Woodbury, who gave a very able and interesting paper on the question of Americanization. A splendid dinner was enjoyed, served by Mrs Cole. Guests present included Mr Beardsley of Woodbury, A.M. Briscoe, L.T. Briscoe, and A.C. Griscom.

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BE KIND TO THE ANIMALS EVEN IF IT IS A SKUNK: Last Saturday evening as my wife and I sat at the table eating our supper, we were aroused by a visitor at the kitchen door. On opening the door, there sat a small animal as proud as a peacock, as much to say please give me a bite to eat. We did not invite him in to sit down so he got a hand-out and after eating a few morsels he departed and showed his gratitude, without even leaving a scent. The winter has been very hard on all these animals, so rather than to kill them give them a bite to eat even if it is a skunk.—[A. Liefeld, Hawleyville, February 19, 1923.

March 4, 1898

Arthur T. Nettleton was in town to pass Sunday.

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TOWN TOPICS — A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, HOW ONE FARMER FELT: Through the courtesy of Charles G. Peck we are able to give a copy of a letter written over 100 years ago. It was found among the effect of his father, the last Simeon B. Peck, who acted in the capacity of administrator of settling estates. The letter follows:

To every man in Newtown who is a friend to farmers the time is sune cumin when we aur to meat to put in Town Officers and it is a well none fact that our publick officers has been made up off Layers Massons and speckulators and they am a dangerous set of Peepol we used to have none but farmers for debitees to go to the assembly and we did not have any others for select men and other officers now I ask was not the business as well done then as now I answer it was much better done for the farmers but not so well for Layors and Speckulators I ask agin haint we got as good men now as we had then I will answer we have & much better tu. therefour as you valsy your one interest let every farmer attend tow the meatin and put in farmers for townsmen and other offices, and not vote for ane Layor any Mason of Speckulator we no by experience we can carry our pint if we try and then we shant have to many critticks to inspect our publick business anuf I think has been sed to ensure every friend to the farming interest tu attend.

A Friend to farmers. Newtown November the 2nd day A.D. 1796

N.B. it is hope other towns will take the same caushion.

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THE BEE was in error, it appears, in stating that no flags were flown to the breezes in the Street, Washington’s birthday, for the Grand Central, the new Dick’s and M.C. Hawley displayed the stars and stripes. The only way this remarkable oversight can be accounted for on the part of the writer, is that his vision was clouded by the large flocks of spring blue birds and robins passing over, long expected by a popular member of our staff, who has been predicting an early spring.

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Rev T.B. Smith, assistant pastor at St Rose’s, has been appointed by Col Sheridan as chaplain of the fourth regiment, succeeding Rev Mr Gill, who recently resigned.

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Mrs John R. Peck is now officiating at the organ in the Congregational church.

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.