January 1, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Jackie Argersinger.

* * * * *

Theorem paintings by Lorraine VanderWende of Newtown are on display at the C.H. Booth Library. Theorem painting is an early American decorative technique that was usually taught to young ladies attending academies or seminars in the first half of the 19th Century. Stencils cut from heavy paper were used to create these paintings on velvet, silk, linen or paper, with oil, watercolor or homemade paints applied to the openings.

* * * * *

Rand-Whitney Container of Newtown, LLC, has purchased Union Camp Corporation’s container factory on Edmond Road for $2.9 million in a cash sale. According to documents filed December 21 in the town clerk’s office, Rand-Whitney of Worcester, Mass., purchased more than 18 acres and a 130,000 square foot factory from Union Camp of Wayne, N.J., for $2,963,000. There is no mortgage on the property.

* * * * *

There are three guarantees in life for all Newtown residents: death, taxes, and a sure bet the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium will be booked solid every time you want to use it. You might have a better chance of getting an audience with the Pope. The gym is used for just about everything — from aerobics and basketball to antique shows, dog training, and birthday parties. It is the official home of Lathrop School of Dance and, over the years, has served as a polling place and a town meeting site.

* * * * *

New scenic road signs have been placed at each end of Sanford Road. The history of Sanford Road, a dirt road designated as a scenic road in 1997, goes back to the earliest days of Newtown when John Glover, one of the town’s earliest settlers, moved to the Hanover district. For more than 100 years, what is now Echo Valley Road and Sanford Road were the main thoroughfares to travel north from Newtown to Brookfield, New Milford, Litchfield and beyond. Sanford Road is the first road in Newtown to receive scenic road status.

* * * * *

Newtown police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred mid-afternoon Monday, December 28, at the General Nutrition Center health products store at Sand Hill Plaza. “A white male entered the store and displayed a handgun to the [female] clerk and a note describing that he wanted the cash register monies put in a bag. The suspect verbally directed the clerk to the back room,” police said. The clerk fled the store from a back door. Police learned of the robbery at 2:05 pm. Police described the assailant as slender and between 25 and 35. It is unclear where the man went after leaving the store that he had robbed of approximately $250. The unidentified clerk was unharmed in the incident, police said.

* * * * *

Newtown residents including Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Dent, Mr and Mrs Michael Osborne, and Dr and Mrs Edward Beck were among the 300 guests when Danbury Hospital Development Fund recently celebrated the theme, “Le Bon Ton Roulier” (Let the Good Times Roll), which featured street lamps and entertainers with a classic New Orleans theme.

December 28, 1973

Road Superintendent Ed Napier reports that a great deal of rubbish was left at the town’s landfill when it was closed on Christmas Day. Mr Napier commented that when people leave refuse at the landfill after hours or when it is closed, an unsanitary and unhealthy situation arises. He said he is looking into the feasibility of having the police check the landfill site during off hours.

* * * * *

Miss M. Asenath Johnson, chairman of the Committee on Aging, has just returned to her home on Parmalee Road from ten days in the hospital being treated for leg trouble. She says that she is getting better each day and that she had a good Christmas with friends. The Bee hopes that she continues to improve and that she has a good New Year.

* * * * *

HAWLEY SCHOOL NOTES from Ann Hertberg: The Hawley School Chorus and band performance was the highlight of the Christmas Season at school this week. Carols rang out through the halls as the students put on their annual concert. The Tuesday evening program was iced-out, but the daytime concerts went on as scheduled (perhaps I should say re-scheduled)! Another highlight of the week was the Christmas play put on by the Fabulous Cluster under the direction of Mrs Edmond, Mrs Kuhla and Mr Nyitray. It was enjoyed by all!

* * * * *

Cooking Skill Award and Merit Badge requirements were the order of the day on the Troop 370 campout at Scoutland in Southbury on the weekend of December 15 and 16. Fifteen adventurous scouts were in attendance led by Scoutmaster Ed Rees, Assistant Scoutmaster Gordon Palmer and Committeeman Charles Rispoli, Sr. Six Scouts also used the weekend to complete the requirements to the Camping Skill Award.

* * * * *

The State Department of Environmental Protection has requested permission from the Town of Newtown to utilize the town’s landfill as a landfill operators’ instruction area. The landfill area was recently inspected by DEP officials, who were impressed with the local operation. Shortly after the inspection, Newtown’s Superintendent of Roads Edward Napier was contacted by the DEP, requesting that the area be used as a classroom model. … The instruction will be a part of a course that is required by the Connecticut General Statutes for all operators of any solid waste facility. To date four Newtown men have taken the course. Mr Napier and Joseph Tani, Jr took a course offered in Weston, and Joseph Tani, Sr and Robert Hicks completed the course at the Quinnipiac College in Hamden.

December 24, 1948

An event occurred in Newtown last Thursday evening which, if the acclaim of the townspeople is a fair indication, might well be repeated from time to time in the future. It was the winter concert presented by the Hawley Chorus in the Edmond Town Hall theatre, and it was a good one. This was the first such public appearance of the group. Conducted by William Jones, music supervisor in the Newtown schools, the chorus is comprised of 100 mixed voices. It was formed by Mr Jones in February of this year to stimulate musical interest among the students of Hawley school.

* * * * *

Several members of The Bee staff are leaving at the end of the week, just prior to Christmas, to take up pursuits elsewhere. George Sweet and Robert Stephens are getting out of the weekly newspaper field to start a job printing plant of their own in Wakefield, Rhode Island, George’s home town. Mrs James Cavanaugh is leaving to take up her duties as a housewife on a full-time basis. The Cavanaughs recently completed their new home in Botsford.

* * * * *

Mrs Paul A. Cullens and daughter, Miss Mary Cullens, entertained a number of the latter’s school friends and their mothers at a tea on Wednesday afternoon.

* * * * *

In order to provide time for its staff for last-minute details before the arrival of Christmas, The Bee office will close at noon on this Friday, December 24.

* * * * *

Mr and Mrs George Jackson of Berkshire district are the parents of a daughter, Mary Lys, born on Thursday, December 16, at the Danbury hospital.

* * * * *

The December 15th meeting of the Cub Scouts was held in the auxiliary room of the Episcopal church. At the opening of the meeting, awards were given out. Tony Clement and David Los received their Bobcat badges. Charles Nash received one silver arrow point, Donald Warner received his Wolf badge, Herbert Hemsted received his Wolf badge and one gold arrow point. After the awards were all given, we saw moving pictures. The first moving picture we saw was about water birds, the second was about a rodeo, the third was about two boys looking for adventure and found it and the fourth was about three bear cubs. After the moving pictures we sang Christmas carols. After we sang we grabbed in our grab bag and after that we went home. —Stevie Jones

December 21, 1923

At the stated communication of Hiram Lodge, No. 18 F. & A.M., held Wednesday night, December 19, the following officers were elected: W.M., Harry M. MacClymon; S.W., Fred H. Duncombe; J.W., Fred McGuire; Treasurer, A.M. Briscoe; Secretary, Charles A. Peale; S.D., Frank A. Sandusky; J.D., Herbert C. Cutler; S.S., Herbert G. Beers; J.S., Henry G. Carlson; Chaplain, Louis T. Briscoe; Tyler, A.M. Briscoe; Marshall, Charles G. Meeker; Board of Trustees, A.T. Nettleton, L.C. Morris, L.T. Briscoe; Board of Finance, Charles A. Peale, Charles G. Meeker, Rodney P. Shepard.

* * * * *

E.W. Troy’s undertaking room was burglarized, Tuesday night, but nothing was apparently stolen. It is not believed the burglar was after a wooden overcoat. The lock to the door was broken, and the party gained admission to the building.

* * * * *

William C. Johnson and O. Howard Hall attended the 175th anniversary dinner of St John’s Episcopal church in Bridgeport, Tuesday evening. Mr Johnson was the guest of Mr Hall and the affair was very much enjoyed by the 300 people present.

* * * * *

Postmaster General New has approved an amendment of the Postal Laws and Regulations, making Christmas day a holiday for rural carriers. Patrons are, accordingly, notified that there will be no delivery service on that day. Mail may be obtained from the Sandy Hook Post office on Christmas between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m., and from 5 to 6 p.m. H.H. Cutler, Postmaster.

* * * * *

The credit of having the party responsible for the house breaks on the residences of W.O. Pardee, Rev J.B. Howell and P.H. Johnston belongs to Constable Carlson. Nothing of value was taken but the houses were frightfully mussed up. What was taken has been returned. It was boy foolishness or naughtiness, and it is a safe bet he’ll never, never do it again. The magnitude of his act didn’t dawn upon him until he had broken and entered.

* * * * *

Mrs W.E. Hawley of Hawleyville fell off the piazza, Tuesday, and broke an arm. Dr E/L. Kingman attended her.

December 30, 1898

THE BEE BUZZ: It may be of interest to some to know that the first contribution under this head was published July 3, ‘91, and that since that date the Buzz has appeared about 175 times, touching upon a large number of various subjects. Within this period the writer has also contributed a score or more articles under the head of “Our Public Schools;” eight occasional papers that were read in public; eight sermons preached at St John’s church, Sandy Hook, mostly at times of special interest; and numerous other articles of miscellaneous character, all of which having been brought together makes a scrapbook volume of about 300 large octavo pages. A considerable number of persons, for whom I have a high regard, have been kind enough to assure me that in their opinion my freedom of speech has been the means of good. I am very grateful for such approval and personal appreciation. I have also been made to feel that others do not like my writings. … Some have kindly expressed the hope that this work may continue; and, if it does not, it will be because I shall try to do something better. —[O.O.Wright.

* * * * *

Miss Jessie Taylor, a student at the Northfield, Mass., seminary for young ladies, is passing the holidays with her parents, Mr and Mrs C.B. Taylor.

* * * * *

L.C. Gilbert & Sons, with plenty of help, filled their ice house, the first of last week, which meant no small affair, as it holds when full over 100 tons.

* * * * *

Mrs Julia Fields has been visiting her daughter, Mrs H.W. Wright.

* * * * *

Levi Banks is the owner of a trotter bought of parties in Newtown.

* * * * *

Miss Helen Blakeman gave a party, last week Saturday, Sunday being her ninth birthday. Quite a number of her most intimate friends were invited to make merry on the occasion.

* * * * *

Master Henry Farrell of Sandy Hook is spending his Christmas vacation in Tinkerfield.

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.