September 17, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Ken Wilkinson.

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Leon Barkman returned home Monday from a week-long trip to the Midwest where he climbed to the highest points in the states of Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. The local outdoorsman has now reached the summit in 40 of America’s 50 states. And he intends to eventually scale them all. Barkman is a longtime member of the Highpointers Club, a group of some 2,000 hikers and rock climbers who get a kick out of living life on the edge.

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The Board of Selectmen Monday authorized the appropriation of $21,400 to the Parks & Recreation Department for the design of playing fields at the town-owned Amaral property on Elm Drive. The money would come out of the town’s capital and non-recurring reserve fund. The department will also need approval of the Legislative Council, which next meets October 6.

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Emergency personnel will now be able to find their way along Huntingtown Road a little easier thanks to the efforts of one local Boy Scout. James Kaechele, a sophomore at Newtown High School, was spotted painting house numbers on the road in front of each driveway last Saturday. The road is confusing to fire, police and ambulance personnel because many of the mailboxes are not marked and the house numbers are not sequential. Believing that this project could someday save a life, James is hoping it will help earn him an Eagle Scout badge by Christmas.

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A developer is seeking land use approvals to create a nine-lot subdivision on 16.6 acres in The Borough. J. Richard McLachlan, along with others, has submitted an application to the Conservation Commission for a wetlands construction permit, said Conservation Official C. Stephen Driver. The site of the proposed subdivision is an irregularly shaped parcel which would be divided into seven lots fronting on Hanover Road, across Hanover from its intersection with Sunset Hill Road. One of the lots would abut the intersection of Hanover Road and Hall Lane.

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In the yellow light of Middle Gate’s gymnasium Thursday night, September 9, the tiny hands of students clasped the considerably larger ones of their grandparents during the elementary school’s fourth annual Grandparent’s Night. It was a night focused on reading. Students spread out throughout Middle Gate’s gym, media center and classrooms, resting comfortably in the folds of their grandparents’ laps while they read from their favorite books; at times the reading roles were reversed, and students turned their ears to their stories read to them.

September 13, 1974

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — SUPPORT FOR EAGLE HILL: A look at the recent records shows that a great percentage of the hours spent at the Town Hall by the Planning and Zoning Commission have been in dealing with the proposal now before it regarding Eagle Hill, the treatment center for alcoholics. The hearing on this topic went on for nine hours and the clock will continue ticking off the time as the proposal comes up at regular Friday night meetings of the board. For our part, we commented on the issue some time ago, speaking in favor of building the center. Our opinion has not changed, we are still for it. … There is absolutely no question that such a center is needed, especially in the light of the number of people who could use the service. That figure is shocking. Would it benefit Newtown? Yes, for there have been and still are alcoholics who live in this community who are being driven to treatment centers in different parts of New England. … We do not feel that its presence in our town would hurt Newtown, for, as in other communities, such a facility goes about its own business and often remains unknown to a large percentage of the residents. … The welfare of Newtown has always been the foremost subject of this column, and it will continue to be so. We have not always backed winners, but we have lent our support to the side we believed in. With all the facts now on the table, Eagle Hill still has our endorsement.

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When the Rouel H. LaBelle family returned to their home on West Street on Wednesday evening, September 11, they discovered that an unwelcome alteration had been made to their residence. An Allis-Chalmers backhoe owned by the Loomis Construction Company, which was working on the driveway of the Stratton property across the street, had come down the hillside of the Stratton property and crashed into the side of the LaBelle home, ending up in the living room. Luckily, the home was unoccupied at the time of the mishap.

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The Bridgeport Hydraulic Company informed the Board of Selectmen on June 27 that it intended to release a 57.1 acres parcel of land it owns, located off Key Rock Road. Under state statutes, when public utility land is offered for sale, the community in which it is located has first crack at the property. First Selectman Frank DeLucia, in a letter dated August 28, asked the Planning & Zoning Commission for a mandatory referral on the possible purchase by the Town of the land, which he said is priced at “fair market value,” between $3,000 and $4,000. Mr DeLucia discussed the issue with P&Z at its meeting last Friday, and, on Wednesday, September 11, announced he was withdrawing the mandatory referral request temporarily to seek additional information from Town boards and commissions as to what possible use the land could be put to.

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Tournament action at Newtown Country Club this year has provided some good, down-to-the-wire, tight golf matches, and the recent three-day member-guest tournament was no exception, as two championship flight teams were forced into a sudden death playoff to determine the winners. When it was all over, the team of members Joe LaCava and Bob Morlock took the honors with the Skalandunas brothers, member Don and guest Ed, coming in as runners up.

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Sandy Hook Boy Scout Troop 370 resumed its regular schedule of meetings Tuesday night, September 10, at the Methodist Church Meeting Hall. Ed Rees returned as Scoutmaster. The first Troop committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening, September 18, at 7:30 at the Berkshire Road home of the new committee chairman, Gene Lawton. All committee members are urged to attend and any parent who wishes to participate is cordially invited.

September 9, 1949

In anticipation of school opening for fourteen grandchildren from several parts of the country, Mr and Mrs Charles G. Morris had an early celebration of their golden wedding anniversary recently at their home, “Chestnut Ledges,” in the Zoar district, with all six of their children, then grandchildren, sons- and daughters-in-law present. The notable gathering took place on Saturday, August 27, exactly one month to the half-century mark, at the Morris home.

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The Edmond Town Hall was the scene on Wednesday night of two of the largest party caucuses ever held in Newtown. Some 450 Republicans gathered in the gymnasium, with an attendance of about 200 at the Democratic caucus held in the Alexandria Room. A number of contests developed in each caucus, requiring ballots which consumed a great deal of time, especially in the Republican caucus with such a large vote involved.

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Last Friday evening’s special town meeting, held in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, drew an attendance of less than 50 taxpayers and voters. Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh was named chairman, following which a motion was made by William Hunter that a part of the warning for the meeting be used as a resolution for adoption, as follows: To authorize and empower the Newtown Ambulance Association, Incorporated, to construct and equip an addition to the Newtown firehouse for the purpose of housing and maintaining the ambulance of the said association, said addition to be constructed without cost to the Town of Newtown.

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A Cairn terrier, Mr Mulroony, owned and shown by Mrs Taylor Coleman of Westport, was judged best in match at the Newtown Kennel Club’s 26th sanctioned match show in Edmond Town Hall last Thursday evening. Competing against 60 registered dogs, Mr Mulroony was named best terrier, and received the top award when judged with the other group winners. Further honors went to the terrier in the children’s handling class, which Mrs Coleman’s daughter, Lydia, won for her expert handling of Mr Mulroony.

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Mr and Mrs Bayard C. Hopping of Twist Hill were among the guests of Col and Mrs C. Raynor Smith for the Labor Day buffet luncheon at the Country Club of Fairfield. Following the luncheon they were guests aboard F.T. Bedford’s yacht for the Atlantic Class races of the Fairfield Yacht Club.

September 5, 1924

A young tornado paid a visit to Newtown, on Tuesday afternoon around 4 p.m., the fury of the storm seeming to center over the Borough. Trees were blown down in the yards of the Misses Dikeman, and Mrs S.C. Glover, in front of the residence of M.D Beers at Sandy Hook, and large limbs twisted off trees in front of the Beers-Sanford residence and in other places. A curious freak of the wind was the twisting off the metal gutters from the west side of the Congregational parsonage and bending them neatly about the big chimney, like an up-to-date necktie.

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CARD OF THANKS: To the friends and neighbors who so kindly remembered us at the time and death of our infant son, and grandson, we wish to return sincere and heartfelt thanks.—[Mr and Mrs Thomas Griffin, Mrs Thomas Cavanaugh.

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Miss Dorothy Dinkley, who has been out of school since January, entered the Hawley High school in the freshman class, Wednesday.

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Mrs G.G. Morgan of Bridgeport has been the guest of Mr and Mrs E.F. Dinkler. Mrs Morgan has bought four lots on Lake Zoar of Thomas White. Contractor T.F. Brew will build a bungalow for Mrs Morgan there.

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The Misses Emma and Florence Carr passed the Holidays at the Miss O’Dea’s.

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GREAT NEWS FROM LAKE WARAMAUG — SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE BEE: Editor A.P. Smith, Dear Uncle Allison: Just landed a six pound bass. Warner is wild with joy. Having great time. Have developed an enormous appetite. Regards to all.—[Raymond Hall. Loomarwick, New Preston. September 3, 1924. Send up an extra $50. I like it here. Also send three pair of woolen socks.—[R.H.

September 15, 1899

The editor of The Bee, in company with Walter S. Bradley, made a trip over the famous Shelton trolley road on Monday. It was an unpleasant day, but a grand idea could be obtained of the scenic attractions of the route. The writer had little idea of the expense of building this line till after his ride of Monday. Whatever the rule before the horror at Peck’s Mill Bridge, the cars are now run with the greatest care. Signs are up at all places of possible danger, and the work on the roadbed is being done in a thorough manner.

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Mr and Mrs H.C. Beers were recently visited by members of the Order of Rebecca from the Charity and Fidelity Lodge of Bridgeport. There were between 50 and 60 who sat down to the sumptuous repast prepared for them.

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Dr Green returned, last Thursday, from a week’s visit to his old home in Rocky Hill.

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DODGINGTOWN AND VICINITY: Mrs E.E. Ferry is entertaining her cousin, Miss Jessie Briscoe of Botsford. | Mr and Mrs E.C. Bevans have returned from a two-week’s vacation, spent at Compo Beach. | Miss Lottie Behn celebrated her ninth birthday, Saturday, September 9.

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The young son of Mr and Mrs E.S. Lovell has been quite seriously ill for the last weeks, but is now convalescing.

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John J. Northrop had a whip and blanket stolen from his carriage in Bethel, not long ago, while attending a Knights of Honor meeting there in the evening.

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Ex-Selectman Timothy Costello announces that he will be a candidate for the nomination of second selectman on the democratic ticket at the approaching caucus.

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.