September 18, 1998

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Bob Grossman.

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For the first time since ownership of the Newtown Meeting House changed hands ten years ago, the Heritage Preservation Trust is doing a major renovation job on the historic building at 31 Main Street. Walls are being painted, carpet is being put down, and this winter, those who meet in the meeting house will feel warmth emanating from a brand-new furnace. The Newtown Meeting House this week began having its chimney relined. This is the first step in a $90,000 project to renovate the building.

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More than 20 Key Rock Road residents showed up at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting to urge the town leaders to recommend a “no thru truck” designation for their road. Their request was promptly approved by the selectmen, who now pass the proposal on to the Legislative Council for further consideration. Residents requested that town ordinance number 57 be amended to include Key Rock Road. Mile Hill Road South and Nunnawauk Road are the only Newtown streets already deemed “no truck” roads.

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After a utility pole fell onto South Main Street at its intersection with Mile Hill Road at about 9:45 pm September 9, work crews made an impromptu temporary repair by connecting utility lines via cabling to a large maple tree trunk. Police said the utility pole fell over due to excavation work that had been done at the Trudeau Service Center property. The fallen pole directly caused one auto accident and indirectly caused another accident in which about 20 gallons of gasoline escaped from a 9,000-gallon gasoline tanker truck. The 20 gallons of gasoline ignited into a fireball, but the contents of the tanker did not burn. Utility crews are expected to install a new pole on Saturday.

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The football field may be ready and the lights may shine on Friday night, but the work of the Newtown Blue & Gold Booster Club is far from over and it needs your help. Aside from the new concession stand that is still in the process of being built at Bruce Jenner Stadium, the B&G Booster Club provides numerous other things — from money to equipment — for the more than 700 Newtown High School Students who participate in athletics every year.

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Hundreds of health-conscious residents showed up at Newtown Middle School this past Saturday for the 5th annual Newtown Health & Safety Fair. The popular event is put on each September by the Health Fair Planning Committee. The group started the fair in 1993 in an effort to educate the public about good health. The idea is to mix a bit of fun in with some serious stuff, all while teaching people of all ages how to remain healthy.

September 14, 1973

Newtown has a temporary dog pound to replace the old pound on Mt Pleasant Road, which was closed down two weeks ago by the State because it was unfit for occupancy. The temporary site, owned by Mr and Mrs David Johnson, is the Copper Devil kennels on Hattertown Road, which will be used until the town builds its new pound at the landfill.

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The Board of Police Commissioners met Monday evening, September 10, with Police Chief Louis Marchese for the Board’s regular monthly meeting, and the first order of business was to hear the Chief’s report on August activities. Commissioners present were George McLachlan, chairman; Alfred Karcheski, Seth Brody, and Robert Hayes. In giving his report, the chief pointed out that during August 161 motor vehicle warnings were issued and 181 motor vehicle arrests were made. This totals 342 motor vehicle contacts, ones for speeding and running red lights. The heavy count was due to increased patrols and radar because of the concern over speeding throughout town. Roads given particular attention were Main Street, Routes 34 and 202, and Currituck Road. The violators were stopped by the special traffic squad which is assigned whenever possible.

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Jesse Brainard of Coventry entertained and enlightened a capacity audience of members and friends of the Newtown Historical Society on early Connecticut glassmaking at its first meeting of the year on Monday evening in the conference room of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. As has been demonstrated many times, Yankee shrewdness and ingenuity came to the fore in the early days of glassmaking in this country. According to Mr Brainard, old world artisans located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania made beautiful and decorative articles of glass, but when the Connecticut people began their glass works, they made practical and useful items for the home: dishes, drinking glasses, inkwells, and the like.

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The Visiting Nurse Association had its first fall meeting of the 1973-74 year at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Tuesday afternoon, September 11, and following the reports, including that of the president, Mrs Gilbert Teal, new officers were installed. Serving for next year will be Mrs Teal, again as president; Mrs John Schwerdtle, first vice president; Mrs Benjamin Blanchard, second vice president; Mrs Thomas Cheney, treasurer; Mrs Robert Domke, recording secretary; Mrs Robert Hall, corresponding secretary; Mrs Harold Haase, fund drive chairman; and Mrs Vincent Gaffney, thrift shop chairman.

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The team of Charles Batchelder, Bruce Batchelder, Fred Wills and PGA Professional Al Jones, representing the Charles Batchelder Company Inc of Newtown, walked off with the team championship, with a low best ball total of 57, in the Boros Scout Pro Am Golf Tourney at the Golf Club at Aspetuck Tuesday, September 4. The Batchelder team was one of 21 competing for trophies and prizes for the benefit of Scouting in Fairfield County.

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The League of Women Voters of Newtown is in general agreement with the LWV of the United States on its new national trade position. The national position is the result of a one-year study undertaken by Leagues throughout the country. Newtown LWV reached consensus last April. The study committee included Mimi Jost, chairwoman, Janice Atkins, Faye Buttrick, Virginia Holran, Lucia Payne, and Charlotte Weisbrock. The new position calls for the adoption of trade expansion techniques as a remedy to the US balance-of-payment deficit; broad, long-range presidential authority to negotiate trade agreements for tariff reduction; and adjustment assistance for workers and firms.

September 10, 1948

It was a familiar sight in Newtown on Wednesday, a sight duplicated and repeated throughout the country, when schools reopened for the fall term. By school bus, private car and on foot they came, pupils entering school for the first time, pupils returning after the summer recess. In Newtown and throughout the district, enrollments were on the increase over similar periods of pervious years. Officials gave out first-day enrollment figures and in Newtown they stood at 578; in the district at 1426. That these figures will change is generally understood for not all students put in an appearance the first day of school.

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A fifth child, the third son, was born to Dr and Mrs J. Benton Egee of Church Hill road, Newtown, in Bridgeport hospital, Wednesday, September 1. The Egees have named the newcomer Paul.

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Theodore Roberg of Bantam, a senior at the University of Connecticut, is spending two weeks observing instruction in Vocational-Agriculture as conducted by Vincent Gaffney at Hawley High school. He is preparing to become a teacher in Vocational-Agriculture.

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As a footnote to Town Players’ production of Sophie Treadwell’s play, “Highway,” which was staged in the Edmond Town Hall theatre the night of September 1st, The Bee, in reporting it, was more concerned with the play than those who came to see it. As is pretty well known, the play brought out a full house, with many of the balcony seats being taken. Besides the regulars, followers of Town Players, and natives who make it a practice to stay away from amateur theatricals, a number of persons professionally connected with the stage, publishing and kindred trades were on hand. Elia Kazan, Joshua Logan, Theresa Helburn, the Paul Osborns were there, as were the House Jamesons, Arthur Hopkins, Tom Chalmers Eva Le Gallienne, the John Whartons, the Westbrook Peglers, the Kyle Crichtons of Colliers, also Ruth Carson of the same magazine, whose lead article this week is featured on the cover. The play received note on page one of the New York Herald Tribune’s Sunday theatrical section.

September 7, 1923

The first annual reunion and dinner of the Newtown Community School Association was held on Saturday evening, September 1, in the Guild room of Trinity church. The dinner was served by the girls, who furnished the menu: Pickles, Olives, Salad, Sandwiches, Cake, Ice Cream, Coffee. Twenty-four members of the Association and two visitors were present. After the dinner everyone adjourned to the Hawley school auditorium, where dancing was enjoyed ‘till 12 o’clock. Safe to say, the reunion was a decided success for which the committee is duly thankful.

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Miss Alma DeMaria of New Brunswick, N.J., who has been the guest of Mr and Mrs John Dolce of Land’s End, has returned to her home. Mr Dolce accompanied her home.

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Clark Page and son are the first to finish filling their silo.

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Paul Fell, who has been a patient in Danbury hospital, has returned to his home in Hawleyville.

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The North Center school building has been propped up on timbers by Contractor George A. Northrop, preparatory for removal to the new location on land of Miss Mary Hawley adjoining the garage of Carlson Brothers.

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Mrs H.G. Warner gave an informal luncheon, Wednesday afternoon, in honor of the birthday of Mrs W.R. Curtis. Those present were Mrs Clifford Stoddard, Miss Elizabeth Chambers, Mrs F.J. Johnson, Mrs [first name illegible] George, Miss Caroline George, Mrs Fannie Edwards, Mrs Ernest Sanford, Miss Martha Dibble.

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A wedding of interest was solemnized at St Rose’s church on Wednesday morning, the contracting parties being Terrence F. Dowling of Waterbury and Miss Florence Irene Cassidy of South Britain. Rev M.J. Regan, the pastor of St Rose’s church, officiated. The best man was Edward J. Dowling and the bridesmaid, Miss Emeline Cassidy. A nuptial High Mass was celebrated. A reception followed at the home of the bride’s parents in South Britain. Mr and Mrs Dowling will reside in Waterbury.

September 16, 1898

EDITORIAL NOTES: An appreciative correspondent writes: “We wish to call attention to the feast THE BEE gave its readers, last week; especially the story, “Margaret Ann’s mother.” The Ladies’ Home Journal has published a story, “A Cabinet Minister’s Wife,” which unjustly reflects upon such old mothers as the mothers of “Margaret Ann.” Such a story, from the Springfield Republican, will do more to make young women and young men regard their old mothers than many a fine sermon. What is it shows true womanhood and manhood but the men and women like Howard Sherman and Miss Hamlin?”

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Theron E. Platt, president of the Newtown Agricultural society, is quite an authority on crooks, having had to deal considerably with them during his connection with the state and local fairs, but one of them got his pocketbook, last week Wednesday, as he was on the way up to the New Milford fair. It was at Brookfield Junction, during the change of cars, when he had his pocket picked of a fat wallet, which fortunately contained little but papers. The thief did not care for these, so left the book on the car floor. It was found and returned to Mr Platt by a man who himself was a victim of the thief to the extent of $15.

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Esther May, daughter of Niels Ransmussen, a respected citizen of the south part of town, died, Monday night, aged five years. The girl and two brothers, a few years older, were taken violently ill on Sunday, and it was feared they were poisoned by eating wild berries. The heart broken parents have the sincere sympathy of all their neighbors and acquaintances. The funeral was attended yesterday.

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The residence of John B. Kain at Sandy Hook, has been reshingled, Messrs James and David Kain doing the work.

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Rev H.C. Gilbert was in Sandy Hook on Monday. He is now staying at Southbury.

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Constable C.B. Johnson of South Center district has been confined to his home for a few years, the past week by illness, which threatened to develop with a fever.

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The genial miller of South Center, W.C. Johnson, and the good wife, were with friends in Bridgeport and vicinity over Sunday.

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.