October 5, 1990

Work crews of Prime Restorations, the Westport firm renovating the Newtown Meeting House, removed the town’s famous rooster weathervane on September 28 from its perch on the spire of the former Newtown Congregational Church. The weathervane was removed so that it can be gilded and so its overall condition can be checked. The rooster weathervane has a hollow copper body and glass eyes. One side of the vane is peppered with nearly a dozen holes — bullet holes, according to local lore. Legend has it that Rochambeau’s troops shot the holes in the weathervane as they passed through in 1781, but local histories take pains to debunk that story. “Local bad boys” may have been responsible.

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A reduced sewer system and assessment of $12,500 will be offered at public hearing on October 25 — the second public presentation of a plan that’s been scaled down to $113 million. The major change to the plan is a cut in the number of problem areas to be sewered. Eliminating Pootatuck Park, Sandy Hook (except for its center), and the Bogg’s Hill/Valley View neighborhood has cut the cost of construction from $183 million to $113 million. Unsewered and outlying areas will be regulated by the town with an active sewer avoidance plan.

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For the first time in the history of the Police Department, Newtown Police Services is holding an open house at the station, October 18. Members of “all the boards and commissions are going to be invited,” Newtown Police Chief Michael DeJoseph said. “A lot of members of the legislative council don’t know what we do on a day to day basis,” he said. “This will help them understand.” The open house will offer a reception period, a few opening remarks, and a tour of the facility.

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The Newtown High boys’ cross-country team last week won its 50th consecutive meet in a span of five years. Their record, 50-0, stands to be the longest winning streak in boys’ cross country in the Western Connecticut Conference. Their latest victim was Weston. Newtown won the meet by a 28-31 margin. “Our 50th was our hardest,” said Coach Rich Pesce.

October 8, 1965

Newtown High School’s football team took the field for the first time last Saturday to meet a New Milford team with comparable experience and played the game to a 6-6 tie. The Newtown score came in the last minute of the game. While the score indicates a close game, statistics show a great deal of improvement needed on both sides.

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Last year, members of the Newtown Historical Society made and sold 575 pairs of hand-dipt candles, and still left many orders unfilled. A new supply of candles goes on sale this Thursday night at the meeting of the Society in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, and more will be available from now on. And something new has been added: scented candles in an array of attractive glass containers.

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The Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission has scheduled a public hearing to consider its proposed changes in zoning classification for three areas in Newtown. Under these proposals, three parcels now zoned for farming and residential purposes would be changed to M-2 or M-1 industrial zoning. One 55-care parcel is in Hawleyville, east of Route 25, between Barnabas Road and the railroad to the west side of Tunnel Road; one of about eight acres lies Route 25 and the railroad north of the present sand and gravel zone; one of about 54.5 acres is east of Route 25 and west of the railroad between the present M-2 zones. There is considerable opposition to the change as proposed in the Hawleyville area. Friday evening’s meeting promises to be an important one.

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The highly anticipated softball games between Newtown and Huntington, Long Island, scheduled for last Saturday, had to be canceled at the last moment Saturday morning. Several of the Long Islanders are employed by one of the large aircraft factories there, and a new government contract caused the company to call all its employees in to work on Saturday. Because of the lateness of the season, the games have been put off until next spring.

 

October 4, 1940

The public is invited to attend a meeting on this Friday evening in the Probate Court room at the Edmond Town Hall at 8 o’clock. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the future objectives of the local committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies. It is hoped that the united efforts of the residents of this town will help in every possible way to carry on this important work.

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Hawley Highlights: by Evelyn Shepard: Something, whether good or bad we cannot say, has happened. Students will receive report cards every six weeks this year. At the end of each month, parents of flunking students will be notified accordingly. Now we shall not be able to spend whole days in study hall as punishment for unsigned report cards, quite so frequently.

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A course in home hygiene is to be given in town, with Miss Barbara Gratto, visiting nurse, as instructor. The class will meet on Monday afternoons, for twelve weeks, from 2 to 4 o’ clock, at Troy’s Hotel, Sandy Hook. It is hoped that the course will attract a good number of local ladies.

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From Wednesday, October 9, until the following Wednesday, October 16, the Newtown Committee for Child Refugees asks that cooking fats be put into the food baskets so generously filled each week at the various stores in town, with varieties of staples, for our unfortunate refugee brethren whose plight is taking the resources but not the hearts of the valiant English.

 

October 8, 1915

A search of the records in the town clerk’s office reveals the fact that in a period of six years, Mrs Jerome Platt paid her dog tax three out of six years, one of the payments being under compulsion after a visit to her house of the dog agent. In four years previous to that she paid two out of four years. Beyond that the town clerk was not able to find the stubs. The Bee has no desire to do Mrs Platt any injustice and so cheerfully gives the facts.

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Dr W.H. Kiernan, the local health officer, has served notice on the committees of the Sandy Hook, Palestine, and Head O’ Meadow school districts that suitable repairs must be made on the schoolhouses in the districts named, in order that they be put in proper condition. County Health Officer Hill has notified Dr Kiernan that he will prosecute the district committees criminally if they neglect to carry the orders of the health officer into effect.

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A movement is on foot for the formation of a Country club, with the idea of purchasing a property with golf links, etc. The Bee wishes the project success and trust the promoters will meet with success in their efforts.

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Mrs Hutchinson closed the Grand Central, Tuesday, and with her, guests were conveyed by auto to Bronxville, N.Y. A.E. Brinton and C.J. White furnished the cars for the trip. People are sorry to see the Grand Central property closed, as it adds to the life about the center of the Borough.