March 5, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Ray Scholl.

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Newtown students continue to show progress on Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) scores. The sixth and eighth grade scores continue to rise from previous years. Fourth grade scores indicate, however, the need for more work in the lower grades. Les Weintraub, principal of Newtown Middle School, said he and his staff are very proud of their results. “Eighth graders did well in all areas,” he said, “[with] 89 percent meeting the statewide goal in reading. Our score is the highest in all of the [educational reference group] B. It is the third running year we have ranked first among 17 schools.”

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Paul Caulkins says he spends more on town taxes than he does on food each year. That is why he went before the Board of Selectmen last night to show support for a proposed tax relief program for the elderly. Mr Caulkins joined fellow residents Jim MacNaughton and Charlie Hegenauer in urging the selectmen to form a committee to study the best way to establish the program. As they pointed out, local taxes continue to rise and remain a major burden for the elderly, particularly those on a fixed income.

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OVER THE BACK FENCE by Jean Loveland: Where did February go? It was an expected surprise to turn the calendar to March, Monday morning. Perhaps the lack of severe winter weather last month didn’t make us want to hasten March along. The small snow last week brought out quite a few birds. The lone mockingbird was in the yard each day, and some white throated sparrows. From now on, the arrivals can be expected — March always brings the redwinged blackbird. When they are here, I consider it to be spring’s debut.

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According to the Newtown Assessor’s Office, the following taxpayers had the highest assessments on the grand list released late last month: Connecticut Light & Power, (net assessment) $21,005,650; DD Newtown Partners LTD Partnership, $13,938,710; Sorvall Products LP Ltd Partnership, $10,871,340; Taunton Press, $9,207,180; John Sedor Jr (Homestead@Newtown) LLC, $8,244,000; Harvey Hubbell Inc, $8,222,970; Barnabas Realty Group General Partnership, $6,390,660; Iroquois Gas Transmission System, $6,118,740; Newtown Shopping Village Limited, $5,704,640; Arbar Properties LTD Partnership, $5,216,320.

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“They’re good! They taste just like normal eggs!” pronounced Cameron Gehrman, a six-year-old guest at a Green Eggs and Ham/Dr Seuss Birthday Party at C.H. Booth Library earlier this week. It took nearly a full book of clever rhymes and verses for Sam-I-am to get someone to try green eggs and ham in the 1960 Dr Suess book of the same name, but the multi-generational guests at Dr Seuss’ Birthday Party on March 2 were much easier to convince when it came to trying some unconventional cuisine. … This year’s celebration — a national event created to encourage reading aloud by grown-ups to youngsters — was coupled with a celebration of the 95th anniversary of Theodor Geisel, the brilliant writer better known as Dr Seuss. The NEA had estimated that nearly 15 million children would be participating in Read Across America events on Tuesday.

March 1, 1974

Phase II of the highway department’s improvements to Elm Drive is underway, and the road crew is in the process of installing drainage down the length of the road to Cemetery Road. Road Superintendent Edward Napier says that, weather permitting, the road crew hopes to have drains installed and the road patched and oiled sometime in May. Among those working the backhoe this week was Clifford Beardsley, who will retire on April 1 after 34 years on the road crew. He was showing Jack Butler how the job is done. Mr Butler will be the new backhoe operator after Mr Beardsley’s retirement.

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The Voters Action Committee of Newtown has completed its survey of voters which was conducted to determine public opinion regarding the need for a new elementary school and the retention of the Boyle property as a school site. In addition to recording the answers to these two questions, further inquiries were made to determine the basis for the opinions expressed and the factors that most influenced the voters at the time of the December 11, 1973 referendum. With fully 75 per cent of the voting households having been called, there is overwhelming support (2-1) for a new school; however, a significant percentage of voters (25 per cent) are undecided and feel more information is required.

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Newtown has received word it is now an official bicentennial community. The information was received on Tuesday, February 26, via a telegram to First Selectman Frank R. DeLucia. This telegram was read at the meeting of the Bicentennial Committee that evening and read as follows: “Congratulations. You are now an integral part of our National Bicentennial Commemoration. Your application for official designation as a bicentennial community was approved at yesterday’s (February 20) board of review meeting. We will be in touch to help with preliminary plans for a flag and certificate presentation ceremony.” The telegram was signed by Hugh A. Hall, acting administrator, American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, Washington, D.C.

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A letter has reached the editor of The Bee from Mrs Edith Parker of Orange, Mass. Older residents of Newtown will remember her with fondness from the days when she and her late husband, Bill, ran the Parker House which is now the Yankee Drover Inn. Friends will be interested to know that Mrs Parker has been living for a number of years at the Eastern Star Home in Orange, Mass., 01364. She writes, “I am now 91 years old but fairly well. Of course, travel in wheel chair for 14 years now. I have such wonderful memories of all my dear friends.” And then Mrs Parker lists many of them, ranging from Dr and Mrs E.L. Kingman to Miss Mary Hawley, Father Collins and many more. She also adds that she still enjoys reading The Bee, to which she was a regular contributor during her later years in Newtown.

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Sarah Larrabee was back in Newtown briefly last week on her way from Mexico to Nepal and the Himalayas. She stopped in at The Bee office wearing a three-cornered fur hat and a huge wraparound sheepskin coat over layers of Tibetan clothes she’d collected during her last stay in India. She found time during her short visit with her family to speak at a Sunday night supper the Pilgrim Fellowship served for members of the 60 Plus club at the Congregational Church on February 24. The Newtown resident has been travelling in the US since last May, finding markets for Indian and Tibetan crafts and products like the red felt platform books she wore to the Pilgrim Fellowship supper.

February 25, 1949

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — OUR SPIRIT NEEDS IMPROVING: Perhaps the cause lies in the particular season of the year; it could quite possibly be the weather, or just plain growing pains — and probably just that. But, whatever the cause, there is a lack of spirit and good fellowship in the town of Newtown which is disquieting, if not alarming. It just shouldn’t be. … Neighbors do not make an effort to know each other, and seldom does the entire town become enthusiastic over any single subject. We argue over schools, give insufficient support to our churches, and tend to question the motives and capabilities of our leaders, civic and otherwise. In short, the wholesome atmosphere of a true New England town is lacking, and The Bee deplores that fact. … The cumulative effect of neighborliness, a friendly and helpful spirit, and interest in the welfare of the town and willingness to do one’s part, all made, in the past for a happy town and pleasant living. We suggest a turn in that direction by everyone. The present attitude in Newtown is neither a compliment to those of us who live here nor a hopeful omen for the future.

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In other years, when winter has been severe and the snows heavy, The Bee has urged its readers at this season to befriend the hungry birds. But this year of balmy weather is quite a different story. Miss Elsa Endemann of Currituck Road, for instance, who is a real bird lover, tells us that during the past three weeks she has had many early spring visitors at her home — all of whom enjoy being fed but none of them exactly starving. Her visitors have included robins, bluebirds, four pine siskins, two myrtle warblers, and the mourning doves who arrived on Tuesday afternoon.

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Much distinction has come to H.C. Honegger of New York City and Walnut Tree Hill, Sandy Hook, for his effective work as president of the Pestalozzi Foundation, on behalf of the war-stricken children of Europe. A letter has just reached Mr Honegger from Henri Bonnet, French Ambassador in the United States, informing him that he has been nominated “Chevalier” in the French National Order of the Legion of Honor.

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Last week the proprietors of the Village Coffee Shop, Virginia and Mack Lathrop, made news by dropping their chores in town briefly to accept an engagement at the Capitol Theatre in Washington, D.C. Billed under their professional name of Lathrop and Lee, the pair has been appearing on the stage in the capital city in conjunction with the premier of MGM’s “Command Decision.” This week the Lathrops made even more news, for the word is around that they have been commanded by the President of the United States to perform at this Thursday night’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner celebration in Washington. Until more details are forthcoming, congratulations and best wishes are extended to Newtown’s popular dance team for having earned a most coveted honor.

February 22, 1924

Senator Philo T. Platt, who was overcome by gas while starting his auto last Thursday, and was found unconscious on the ground outside the building, where he had fallen, was quite seriously ill for a few days, but is now convalescing and is able to sit up a part of the time. Dr Smith of Redding has attended him. A host of friends have followed his case with solitude and are deeply gratified that he is now safely on the road to recovery.

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The Women’s Republican Club held a very pleasant meeting at the Country Club rooms, last week Thursday night, when the men folks were guests of the evening. Mrs Wallace N. Mitchell, the president, presided and introduced as the speaker of the evening, Jon F.M. Salmon, the state comptroller. He gave a fine address, speaking briefly of the history of the republican party and told of some of the good accomplishments of the state government. He eulogized Lincoln and Coolidge. At the conclusion of his address he was given a formal vote of thanks. Mrs Salmon also was present. Refreshments of cake, cream and coffee were served.

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Dear Editor Smith: Apparently my sermon published in the “Bee,” last Friday, was misunderstood, when I used the expression, “Don’t waste your affection on dogs.” No one is a greater lover of dumb animals than I am. Dogs, some of them are better than humans. Dogs are not deceptive. They are loyal friends of man. Dogs always mind their own business. They never interfere with other’s rights. That is more than we can say of many men. When I used the expression: “Don’t waste your affection on dogs,” I had in mind a sight that I saw in Central Park a few years ago when I saw a beautiful carriage have in it a dog, apparently having an airing. The thought struck me that if the person in the carriage had some poor child upon whom she could bestow her love, it would have been better. I recall a story of a man, whose dog was sick. He took it to the river to drown it. His foot slipped, and he was drowned. Then the dog drew the dead body to shore, the animal whose life he was going to end. I am a lover of dogs, but not at the expense of humans. “The more of some people I see the better I like dogs.” I trust that this explanation will satisfy the minds of my worthy critics.—[J.L.L.

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The Liberty Garage has their salesroom for demonstration, one of the new five-passenger Buick Sedans and a five-passenger Buick touring car. They are both of the six-cylinder type and are beauties.

March 3, 1899

LOCAL AFFAIRS — ONE OF THE BEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS IN CONNECTICUT, SAYS THE ESTEEMED DANBURY EVENING NEWS: The Newtown Bee, which is one of the best weekly newspapers in Connecticut, has purchased a building lot in Newtown and will soon commence the erection of a new office building suitable to the demands of the paper’s growing business.—[Danbury Evening News, Friday, February 24, ‘99.

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Real estate seems to be booming on the Depot road, for on Saturday last P.H. Skidmore sold another building lot adjoining and next east of the lot purchased by The Bee Publishing Co., on Monday. The purchaser was Mrs Mary E. Rahrig of Bridgeport, a sister of P. Gannon, and she contemplates the erection of a cottage for herself and mother, in the near future.

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Father Kiernan was a guest of Father Fox at the parochial residence over Wednesday night and preached at the service in St Rose’s church on Wednesday evening. Father Smith was in Watertown, Wednesday night, assisting Father O’Donnell with Lenten services.

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The funeral of Miss Lizzie O. Schwartz was attended, last Friday, from the home of her mother, Mrs E.V. Schwartz, a large number of friends being present. The officiating clergymen were Rev Mr Braman of Stepney and Rev L.O. Brooks of Bridgeport. The pall bearers were Messrs Wright, Wheadon, Wilcox and Van Stone of Bridgeport. There was a beautiful display of floral tributes including a pillow with the word “Daughter,” handsome wreath and numerous hand bouquets. The deceased is survived by her mother and six brothers and sisters, Frank, Max, and Fred Schwartz and Misses Lillie and Meta Schwartz and Mrs Guckert, the latter living in Bridgeport.

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C. LeRoy Mitchell met with a painful accident on Tuesday afternoon of this week. He was getting ready to attend the golden wedding anniversary at his brother’s, when he stepped out back of the house, and not having on his rubbers, slipped on the ice and fell heavily, striking on his arm and fracturing the arm socket at the shoulder. It caused him pain and will require careful nursing before he can use his arm again.

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Bennett Beers of Berkshire is seriously ill.

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Mrs E.C. Schwartz and family desire through The Bee to thank the friends and neighbors for their kindnesses to them during the time of the sickness and death of Miss Lizzie O. Schwartz.

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Hiram Lodge, F&A.M., worked the second degree, Wednesday night, and is to hold a special next Monday night for the conferring of degrees.

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.