October 9, 1998

The Board of Selectmen Monday passed a financial plan for the proposed purchase of the state-owned Queen Street properties. The purchase of the land, totaling $1.2 million, is contingent upon the approval of the Planning & Zoning Commission, the Legislative Council, and ultimately the taxpayers at a town meeting and/or referendum.

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The Board of Selectmen recommended Monday that the bypass road through Fairfield Hills be named “Wasserman’s Way,” in honor of Newtown’s state representative. Selectman Bill Brimmer came up with the idea, pointing out all the hard work Julia B. Wasserman of the 106th District has done for the town. Much of that hard work has been centered on the property at the former Fairfield Hills Hospital, which closed three years ago. Since then, she has been steadfast in her efforts to ensure that the future use of the property remains in the best interest of Newtown, according to the selectmen. The recommendation has been passed on to the state’s Department of Transportation, which will make the final decision.

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Enrollment figures for Newtown Public Schools are in, and they have surged past even the highest enrollment projections of the Newtown school district. A total of 4,515 students are enrolled, up 256 from the last official enrollment report, prepared May 1, 1998. The last enrollment report showed 4,529 students attending Newtown public schools. This is a six percent increase in student enrollment over last year.

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Church World Service (CWS) annually sponsors a CROP Walk to fight hunger. CROP is a name given to hunger education and fundraising events organized by 25 CWS/CROP regional offices nationwide. This year’s CROP Walk in Newtown was held at 2 pm on Sunday, October 4. The churches that participated included Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newtown Christian Church, Newtown Congregational Church, Newtown United Methodist Church, St John’s Episcopal Church, St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church.

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Whoever said the Newtown High field hockey program was supposed to be a perennial cellar dweller must have forgotten to tell this year’s bunch. The never-say-die Nighthawks of 1998 are starting to turn a few heads with their inspiring play of late. Take for example what happened Wednesday night before a large crowd under the lights at Bruce Jenner Stadium: Megan Critelli scored with just a minute to play to help earn a 1-1 tie with perennial contender Brookfield.

October 5, 1973

In his 14th year as coach of the Newtown High School soccer team, Bob Sveda saw his club win its 100th game under his direction on September 25 when the Indians triumphed over Masuk 4-0. Since 1959, teams under Coach Sveda have now won 100, lost 41, and tied 12 games and have been in the state soccer tournament ten times. This year’s team has thus far compiled a record of two wins and two ties. They play again Friday at Masuk High. In honor of the century mark, the coach was given a cake made by Melanie Allen and Mary Bucko, and was presented the game ball by Principal Alvah Cramer.

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William A. Watts, president of Newtown Forest Association, and Mrs Hilda V. Walsh, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Newtown Congregational Church, have jointly announced a gift by Howard T. Nettleton of Brookfield to the Association and the Church of the hillside overlooking the center of Newtown between Castle Hill Road and West Street. Mr Nettleton’s gift is made in memory of his uncle, the late Arthur T. Nettleton, the former owner of the property and long a leading citizen of Newtown. The total parcel is made up of 33.342 acres, with the Forest Association receiving the upper 23 acres and the Church receiving the ten acres at the bottom of the hill at the intersection of West Street and Castle Hill Road. Mr Nettleton’s conveyance to the Forest Association provides that that portion of the land shall be maintained as open space.

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Funds for the new dog pound were voted by the annual town meeting October 1, and First Selectman Frank DeLucia said he hoped to have the construction contract signed within the next few days. The dog pound occasioned most of the debate at the meeting, which opened with annual reports from Maurice Nezvesky, chairman of the Building Commission; Theodore Whippie, chairman of the Conservation Commission; James Smith, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals; and Jeanne Hubbell, for the Board of Registrars of Voters. About 50 residents were present. The amount appropriated for the dog pound was $38,000, of which $34,853 represents the contract price bid by Edward J. McCarty Inc of Georgetown, and $2,147 is a reserve for contingencies.

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Nearly 1,000 persons were treated to bounty and beauty at the Newtown Flower Show staged at the high school Sunday, September 30. Every facet of the show provided delight for those visiting.

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A new insurance office, Vanguard Executive Agency Inc, has opened in the Sandy Hook Plaza, Sandy Hook Center, by Robert Rubinstein of Newtown. The Vanguard Agency, of which Mr Rubinstein is a vice president, has another office in Greenwich and the firm handles all types of general insurance. The Newtown office will mainly deal with commercial and homeowners insurance, but the firm has experts in all lines of insurance.

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Ernest Vincent, a member of the Park and Recreation Commission, has been elected to represent that commission on the newly authorized Inland-Wetlands Commission.

October 1, 1948

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — MONOTONY IN WEATHER: The succession of gloriously sunny days which has been our lot in this particular area becomes somewhat of a monotony. We would like to see and feel rain drops — just for the novelty of them. Of course a drenching rain would be welcome for vastly more important reasons than to satisfy a whim of human nature. Too many wells have gone dry, too much vegetation has been seared beyond recovery, and an indefinite number of trees have been denied moisture to such an extent that many will not survive and the life of others will be considerably shortened. … Yes, we now crave rain which, when it comes and continues at any length, will soon be as unwelcome as the spell of dryness which now has us parched to pieces. When wells will again be full, there is no way of telling — except that the Danbury Fair celebrates its Diamond (75th) Jubilee from October 2 to 10, and “fair week” is usually clear. See you at the fair, and after that let it rain whole buckets!

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Mr and Mrs George Powell of Sandy Hook are the parents of a daughter born on Saturday at the Danbury hospital.

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A final report in the Girl and Boy Scout Drive in Newtown is made by Askel Jensen, treasurer, showing 53 contributors and a total collection of $845. The following names are additional contributors: Mr and Mrs F.B. Hubbell, Julius Tomanio, B.A. Stroock, The Riff Raff Club, Donald McCain, William C. Bechert.

October 5, 1923

On another page of The Bee this week will be found the annual statement of the Newtown Savings Bank. It shows deposits of $1,855,391.16, a gain for the year of $124,936.18. Surplus account shows an increase of $25,000, and now amounts to $150,000. Undivided earnings, or Profit and Loss account, stands at $40,874.19. The gain for the year in mortgage loans is $84,589. Four and one half per cent interest was paid on all deposits without discrimination. The statement is a very fine one and shows the bank to be in good condition.

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Austin Franklin Conger of Berkshire, who had been a sufferer from a tubercular affection of the throat, passed away on Monday, aged 34 years. Mr Conger was a young man of cheerful spirit and gentlemanly qualities and was well liked about town. He was in the employ of S. Curtis & Son of Berkshire. Mr Conger was a member of Hiram lodge, No 18, F.&A.M., and took a deep interest in its activities. Surviving him are his wife, three sons, Frank, George and Arthur, and one daughter, Rose. He is also survived by his parents, Mr and Mrs C.F. Conger of Botsford and one half-brother, Paul Morrow of Bridgeport. The Masonic burial service was conducted at the cemetery in Berkshire.

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Died in Newtown, October 2, 1923, Juliette Fairchild, widow of Hosea B. Northrop, aged 91 years, two months. Mrs Northrop is survived by two daughters, Mrs Frederick C. Sanford of Newtown and Mrs Annie C. Wilson of Bridgeport, three grandchildren, Mrs Albert Boyson of Newtown, and the Misses Annie Caroline and Mildred Wilson, and one great grandchild, Albert Sanford Boyson. Mrs Northrop was one of the oldest members of the Congregational church, having been a member over 50 years. She was a lady of very loveable character and the news of her death will be received with deep regret. The funeral was held from her late home, Thursday, at 2 o’clock, Rev Mr Ekins officiating. The burial was in Newtown cemetery.

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Notwithstanding the fact that the vaults of the Newtown Savings Bank were constructed under the advice of the ablest engineers and provide a factor of safety, deemed far in excess of that needed to protect their contents against any form of attack, it has been thought advisable by the officials of the Bank to install the most up-to-date alarm equipment obtainable. This has been installed by the Bankers Electric Protective Association of Boston, Mass., and is the same apparatus recently selected for the new vaults of the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland and Richmond, and is also used by most of the larger Eastern banks and Safe Deposit Companies.

October 7, 1898

The annual business meeting of the town convened at the Town hall on Monday afternoon shortly after 2 o’clock. It was quite largely attended, but harmony prevailed, and the business of the meeting passed off in machine order. W.J. Brew was chosen moderator. Assistant Town Clerk M.J. Bradley read the warning, which was accepted and ordered on file. The reading of the reports of the selectmen, town treasurer, treasurer and agent of the Town deposit fund, school visitors and health officer were moved to be dispensed with and accepted as in the printed reports, and the motion was carried. The roads were again placed in the hands of the selectmen for the term of another year and a [sic] 11 mill tax was voted to pay the expenses of the town. The matter of rent due from the Library association for the rent of the room occupied by them in the second story of the Brick building came before the meeting. The motion got rather mixed up in being handed about the room but finally passed simply remitting the rent for the past two years without further provisions. An adjournment was taken without date.

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THE NEWTOWN FAIR: The Newtown fair is over now / for 1898 / But when another year comes round / We’ll find ‘tis still first rate, / And ever on old Newtown ground / We have the weather date— / And all that mortals ever found / We have upon our state! / Come to our fair another year, / And you will happy be, / This is the ground without the beer / To make the people flee. —[G.W.B.

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A small spotted gray horse disappeared from the lot of J.H. Costello on Saturday night, and no trace of the animal can be found. Mr Costello will pay a suitable reward for the return of the horse. Mr Costello can be called by telephone at the Newtown Inn.

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Philip T. Ham, who has been in the employ of Edgar F. Hawley for a year, severs his connection with Mr Hawley’s establishment, this week.

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Miss Maggie Campbell of Sandy Hook returned last week from Brooklyn and is passing the present week with her sister, Miss Jennie Campbell, in Danbury.

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Grover H. Loveland of Stevenson has a goat that is well broken to harness. He has a harness and cart that go with the little fellow and is anxious to dispose of the turnout, as he is now the proud owner of a pair of likely steers.

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.