August 7, 1988

They are the men of Pinkerton Security. Their job — to guard the ghost town that is Fairfield Hills. There is not much activity these days at the former state mental institution, but these mostly-retired men patrol the grounds 24 hours a day. The days can be long and the nights can be longer. But there is plenty of work to do to ensure the place remains just the way the state wants it for now: practically dormant. As for being a ghost town, the guards say they haven’t seen any ghosts at Fairfield Hills, but over the years they’ve heard plenty of stories about it being haunted.

* * * * *

Police Lieutenant David Lydem, the grand marshal of this year’s Labor Day Parade, asks that those who are interested in displaying American flags on their floats should contact him if they need to borrow a flag for the event. The theme of this year’s parade is “Main Street Flag & Flagpole.” Lt Lydem manages the town’s Main Street flag display and flagpole maintenance.

* * * * *

The Newtown band Mind Tydes returned to Tuxedo Junction in Danbury on August 3. The band was opening for the rock band Ratt, who is playing a club tour while taking a break from recording its new album. Mind Tydes played a 45-minute set, with the majority of its material new songs the band has written since it released its self-titled debut last year. Since that time, the group has been invited to play at clubs and festivals across the state. The newest member of the band is bassist John Dotson, who has been with Mind Tydes for just over a month. Also in the band is vocalist Grady McAuliffe, guitarist Fred Dotson, and drummer Greg McWilliam. The band was at Boppers in Danbury on Tuesday night, and will be at Classic Rock Brew Pub, near Danbury Mall, on August 28.

* * * * *

It started with 16 teams in the coolness of an early Saturday morning and ended about seven hours later with four teams crowned champions of the second annual Newtown 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament at Treadwell Park. Champion teams were as follows: Red Group, 5th-6th grade, Team #3 (Kelly Collier, Kelley Haines, Alex Helfer and Julie Iwanicki); Blue Group, Team #4 (Kaltrina Behluli, Amy Fazekas, Emily Nezvesky, and Jessica Palmero); 7th-8th grade division, Team #10 (Cassi Bagaglio, Jennifer Knapp and Lisa Masella); and senior division, Team #15 (Jayme Beckham, Melissa Eigen, Shana Eigen and Ashleigh Smarrella).

* * * * *

Using felt-tip pens and an easel — and a program well punctuated with humor and creativity — writer and illustrator Guy Gilchrist led a workshop at Booth Library on Monday morning. Mr Gilchrist showed the children and their parents how to use basic shapes and sizes to draw anything they could imagine. Mr Gilchrist co-created “The Muppets” cartoon strip, with his brother Brad, that ran in more than 660 newspapers daily from 1981 to 1986. His artwork has been added to the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution and the touring exhibit “Art of the Muppets.”

August 3, 1973

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — “THE BOSS”: The untimely passing of Vincent P. Gaffney last Friday brought shock and sadness to his many friends both here in Newtown and afar. “The Boss,” as he was fondly known to almost all, retired this June from the Newtown School System where he had been a teacher for the past 37 years. The popularity of this man grew year upon year, as he gave countless students his time and dedication, first in the Vo-Ag program and later in the math department. Vin, however, was not a man to relax out of the classroom, and his activities ranged from agent for the Farm Family Insurance Company, Pohtatuck Grange and Farm Bureau member, and blue ribbon winner for agricultural displays at the Danbury Fair, to Newtown’s first ever pollution officer. … Fond memories of Vin Gaffney are going to live on for many years to come through the high standards he set for himself and passed along in an easy fashion to all the young people who ever entered his classroom. His winning personality, generally topped off with a smile, won him nothing but friends and respect from all who knew him.

* * * * *

Dressed in beautifully embroidered Ukrainian costumes, Lydia, Steven and Susan Stuban did traditional folk dances of that country at a Ukrainian Field Day picnic given at the home of Mr and Mrs Sam Paproski on Sunday, July 29. Over 100 persons enjoyed the beautiful day which featured sunshine, Ukrainian foods, dancing, music, and the favorite sport of the people, volleyball.

* * * * *

The many friends of E. Ford Cordial will be pleased to know that he returned home on Saturday from the Danbury Hospital and is recuperating nicely from his recent operation.

* * * * *

Richard H. Sperling of Elizabeth Street is eligible to win a free trip to Scotland and $1,000 in cash as a result of scoring a hole-in-one at the Newtown Country Club. Mr Sperling’s ace qualified him for the Rusty Nail Hole-in-One Sweepstakes, a national competition sponsored by the Drambuie Company of Edinburgh, Scotland. The winner will be announced early next year.

* * * * *

There’ll be no Exxon station on Church Hill Road. In August, 1971, Humble Oil & Refining Company (Exxon Corporation) went to a public hearing to seek the approval of the Newtown Zoning Board of Appeals for variances to allow the construction of a service station on Church Hill Road, across from the Eastbound exit and entrance ramp of I-84. The Board disapproved the variance and special exception requests and the matter was taken to the Fairfield County Court of Appeals in Bridgeport by Exxon and Richards. On Wednesday, July 26, Judge Norton M. Levine handed down a decision in favor of the ZBA, dismissing the appeal of Exxon.

July 30, 1948

The Pine Tree Patrol of the Senior Scout troop, Newtown, returned from its annual trek to the Canadian north woods on Saturday of last week, having spent nearly two weeks in the wilds. With Scoutmaster Paul A. Cullens in the lead, and Assistant Scoutmaster Ted Hamlin second in command, the patrol left Newtown on Sunday, July 11th. They traveled as far as La Touque, 100 miles north of Three Rivers, Quebec, by car, and from that point proceeded on by canoe. Sponsored by the Forest Protective Association, the boys and their leaders engaged in clearing trails, erecting signs and collecting specimens for the Canadian organization.

* * * * *

Mrs Eric DeGroat and sons and Coach and Mrs H.S. DeGroat spent Sunday at New York University Lake Sebago Graduate School camp where Eric, Sr is studying along with over two hundred others majoring in Physical Education. The camp has fine facilities for study as well as recreation. Swimming, sailing, canoeing, tennis and badminton take up the time of many of the students in their off hours. The DeGroat Seniors spent most of the day talking with former students and instructors who were at Springfield College before the war.

* * * * *

Alvin B. Coger, who served as Newtown’s member of the Draft Board in Shelton during World War II, has been notified by Vernon S. Morehouse, State Director of Selective Service, of his appointment by Governor Shannon to membership on Local Board No. 13 in Danbury. The Board is expected to meet and organize in the near future.

* * * * *

The Misses Margaret and Adele E. Johnson of West street left on Wednesday for a stay at the Mt. Crescent House, Randolph, New Hampshire.

* * * * *

Mr and Mrs William McGinley of Sandy Hook are the parents of a daughter born on Monday at the Danbury hospital.

* * * * *

Harold S. Bryant of Botsford, left on Tuesday for Buffalo, N.Y., to attend the 4th annual convention of the National Association of Piano Tuners. Mr Bryant expects to return about August 4th.

* * * * *

Edward J. Cullen of Toll Gate Hill is a patient at St Vincent’s hospital in Bridgeport, recuperating from a minor operation performed on Wednesday.

* * * * *

Mrs Lauvisa Lane, vice-president, has announced that all business meetings of the Raymond L. Pease Post, 163, Ladies Auxiliary, have been canceled for the month of August.

July 27, 1923

There was a somewhat exciting auto smashup in front of the Newtown post office, Saturday, about 6 p.m., when the cars of Edward Barnett and E.A. Waters of Danbury came in collision. The Barnett car was a sedan, and was quite seriously damaged. The other was an Overland touring car. John Carlson and mechanic were soon on hand and towed the disabled cars to the garage of Carlson Brothers.

* * * * *

Mrs Loughran has opened her summer place, Lough Maples, for the season.

* * * * *

The heart of the Borough had an exciting fire scare, Friday afternoon. Some one on the Barnett place had been having a fire in the rear of the building. It being dry the fire made its way to an old shed or tool house on the property, which began to blaze merrily. This was close by another barn and buildings on the place of the Misses Dikeman. An alarm of fire was sent in and in a short time the local firemen had a stream of water playing on the fire and it was soon squelched. The blessing of the local water supply was illustrated afresh. Had it not been for the prompt attention of the firemen a disastrous fire would have swept the central part of the Borough.

* * * * *

Rev F.W. Barnett and family thank the town’s people and the Fire Department for the splendid assistance in extinguishing the fire on their premises on Friday afternoon of last week.

* * * * *

Of interest to the townspeople is the announcement of Walter L. Glover of his intention to carry on the farm machinery of his father, the late William B. Glover. Walter Glover is well known in town and his many friends are glad to hear of his intention of staying in town. Mr Glover has in stock Blizzard Blowers, Oliver and Ward ploughs and parts, potato hillers, Meyers Pumps, McCormick Reapers, and numerous other farm machinery and parts made by the International McCormick & Deering Farm Machinery Company. His many friends wish him success in his new undertaking.

August 5, 1898

Daniel Lynch has begun harvesting his potatoes, and reports a fine yield.

* * * * *

William Griffin, of the Tunnel, who has been in poor health and in destitute circumstances, has been taken in charge by the town and is being cared for at Mrs Lynch’s.

* * * * *

Thomas Carlson, who was severely burned by an explosion of powder a month ago, has recovered and returned to his work at the Newtown Inn.

* * * * *

Miss Jennie Morse is spending a few days at Charles Botsford’s at Botsford.

* * * * *

Miss Mary Botsford has been staying a few days with Mrs Fred French.

* * * * *

George H. French and Miss Edith French passed Sunday, the 24th, with H.C. Beers at Botsford.

* * * * *

Miss Meyer of Walnut Tree Hill was married on Long Island, last week.

* * * * *

G.W. Northrop, Newtown, Conn. Dear Sir: It is with the greatest pleasure that I now acknowledge receipt of Chester White pig, shipped by you some time ago. He is full size and well proportioned, with good bone. He is fully up to the standard in every particular and point, and fully meets my views. Any one wanting to breed from good stock will do well to consult you and inspect your stock before purchasing. I can cheerfully recommend both. Very truly yours,—[John Monroe, South Kent.

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.