September 24, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Dot Cavanaugh.

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EDITORIAL INK DROPS — NEWTOWN’S WELL-INFORMED PUBLIC: The experts came to the high school auditorium armed with projectors, charts, and briefcases bulging with back-up documentation, each intent on making the best impression for their respective firms at the Tuesday night public information session on the three development proposals for Fairfield Hills. Spectrum-Skanska touted its size and experience with other major projects around the country and its financial strength to carry out its ambitious plans. Wilder-Balter pointed to its experience with rehabilitating historic structures and to the advantages its planned nine-hole golf course would bring to the people of Newtown. Becker and Becker played up its intention to preserve the existing buildings at Fairfield Hills and its planned partnerships with the Town of Newtown and others to provide a development that reflects the town’s needs and desires. All the presentations were impressive, yet we were most impressed not by the experts, but by the people of Newtown who came to listen and to ask questions. Soon after the public questioning of the developers began, it became clear that townspeople had done their homework.

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Hundreds of Newtown residents showed up at Newtown High School Tuesday night in the hopes of learning more about three private developers and what, if chosen, they would do with the 186-acre core campus of Fairfield Hills. The re-development of Fairfield Hills has become an emotional issue with Newtown residents (some of whom tuned in to watch the program on TV — Channel 17). In recent years, Newtown has undergone major changes due to growth. But those changes have been spread throughout town and have unfolded over a long period of time. The change wrought at Fairfield Hills could be intense and quick, depending on which plan is selected by the town and state.

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Newtown Health District Director Mark Cooper said residents should not panic over the discovery in Fairfield County of mosquitoes carrying the deadly St Louis Encephalitis (SLE) virus. One infected mosquito was found in a trap on the Greenwich/Stamford line this week and a dead crow in Westport also was found to be infected. The viral disease carried by the mosquitoes has infected a dozen people and killed three, primarily in New York City. … “The DEP has traps in the swamp by Hattertown Road and has been monitoring them for Eastern Equine Encephalitis for more than a year,” Mr Cooper said. “Now they also will check for SLE, but I don’t think there is any reason for concern at this point.”

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Housatonic Habitat for Humanity celebrated the completion of its first home in Newtown with a dedication service September 19 on Philo Curtis Road in Sandy Hook. Community leaders and HHH volunteers and supporters took part in the dedication of the new home. “This is a special day for a lot of people,” Community Relations Director Roger Authers said in greeting the more than 100 people who attended the dedication. HHH President Christie Davey said, “People have become good friends as a result of this.”

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A little piece of Newtown history was restored at noon on July 4 when the clock in the tower of Edmond Town Hall struck the hour for the first time in over a decade. The clock tower was part of a restoration program of Edmond Town Hall’s clock system that was undertaken this year by members of the Connecticut Chapter 148 of the National Watch and Clock Collectors Association, which meets every other month in the town hall gymnasium. The striking of the clock was a dream fulfilled for the members of a committee formed by the group.

September 20, 1974

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — TIME FOR A SETTLEMENT: The importance of the Public Works Department in Newtown is really secondary to none when one considers the responsibilities this group has and the community’s dependence on it. Thus it is with regret that a contract for the crew had not been produced and an understanding of terms arrived at between the men and the town. It was the decision of the road crew, as was the case of the Police Department before them, to join a union, feeling that there were greater benefits and strength through organization. There can be little question that the siding with the union will cost the town more money, but consideration must also be given to the better standard of living achieved by those town employees. … For our part, we ask continued patience on the part of the road crew and no wildcat strike. … an even keel must be maintained to gain progress. We look for a successful meeting on Thursday or Friday, a time when the needs of both parties will be met and the differences solved. Moving out of the picture and taking measures destructive to the town would not be a compliment to either the road crew or the community.

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On Sunday, September 15, the volunteers from the United Fire Company of Botsford had an open house to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary. When the day was over, a guest book tally showed that 150 persons came to the firehouse on Route 25 to learn how their fire company worked. Kids got a chance to explore the big trucks and try wearing some fire gear. Apparatus and fire fighting equipment were explained to the visitors.

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The Newtown Jaycees emerged victorious late Saturday, September 14, in the State-wide Jaycee Slow Pitch Softball Tournament in Plainville. The field of 28 teams was narrowed down with continual play throughout the day. The Newtown club’s first opponents were Milford II Jaycees. In a tough diamond battle, Newtown won, 7-5. Newtown then beat North Haven, 10 to 6. Plainville Jaycees were the toughest opponents for Newtown, but the local team squeezed out a 5 to 3 victory over last year’s runners up. Newtown Jaycees and Ridgefield faced each other in the final championship game, a lopsided 11 to 3 romp for Newtown.

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First Selectman Frank DeLucia expressed hope at the Conservation Commission meeting on September 16, that the open space and map plan which the Commission has contracted for would help the Town set priorities for land acquisition for future use. Conservation Commission chairman Theodore Whippie deflated the hope when he said that the open space map would designate general areas of Newtown for only conservation as open space. To do the things which the First Selectman wants done, Mr Wippie said a new Town plan of development is needed.

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NEWS FROM NEWTOWN’S POHTATUCK GRANGE: Pohtatuck Grange was happy to have Mr and Mrs Charles Hawley back on a visit from Florida. They were the power needed to organize a Grange in their area. A letter announcing a State Grange session at the Holiday Inn in Meriden on October 16-19 was read. Mr and Mrs William McIntyre were elected to be alternates if Master Mrs Margaret White and husband cannot attend.

September 16, 1949

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THE SOLUTION OF ONE PROBLEM APPROACHES: Tuesday night’s budget hearing attracted to the Alexandria Room a medium-sized but quite representative cross-section of the citizenry of Newtown. The members of the Board of Finance should have gained a clear indication of the public desire on several matters which came up for lengthy discussion. The item which attracted most attention was the famous flagpole which stands in the middle of our Main Street and for some months has not flown a flag because of the urgent need for its repair or replacement. There is no question that the people of Newtown wish to have a flagpole, and to fly a flag from it. … We are confident that our town officials will now seek full information so that an appropriation of correct amount can be voted at the annual town meeting … and the necessary work completed soon thereafter. In such matters, it is always much better to proceed with reason, with a cooperative spirit all around, making sure that the best solution will result. … We wish that all our civic problems could be as amicably solved. We would then be the envy of the whole wide world.

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Mr and Mrs Frank J. Oberstadt and daughters, Joan and Bonnie, formerly of Newtown, have moved into their new home which they recently purchased in Oakdale Manor, Southbury. The property consists of a 5 1-2 room modern house and a 3-room cottage. Mrs Oberstadt is in charge of hairdressing at the Fairfield State Hospital, Newtown, and Mr Oberstadt has been in the employ of the Plastic Molding Corp., Sandy Hook, for twenty years.

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Bob McMahon, son of Mr and Mrs John McMahon of Sandy Hook, had the misfortune to break an ankle last Thursday night. He was taken to the Danbury hospital and returned home Sunday night with his leg encased in a walking cast which enables him to get about again while the bone is mending.

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Mr and Mrs Carl A. LeGrow entertained last Thursday afternoon at a tea given for all members of the teaching staffs of Newtown schools, their wives and husbands, at their home in the Zoar district. The tea has become something of an institution with Mr and Mrs LeGrow for the first week of each school year. Mrs Carroll Johnson and Miss Charlotte Isham poured.

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Mrs Walter A. Reynolds of Glover avenue, who has been a surgical patient at the Danbury hospital, returned to her home on Wednesday. Mrs Reynolds wishes to thank her many friends for the flowers and numerous cards sent to her.

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The elector’s oath was administered to 61 new voters and one additional name was restored to the list at the meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Clerk held in Edmond Town Hall last Saturday. This compares with 87 persons who were made voters in their corresponding meeting last year.

September 12, 1924

The Little Brown House, Newtown, Conn., which opened July 1, as a Motor Inn and Tea Room, has had excellent patronage, a most successful first season, and will keep open during October. The Inn has accommodated to its utmost capacity, visitors to the Berkshires, both for longer and shorter stays, including guests for luncheon, dinner and tea, 275 people during July and August.

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The cool weather has caused the peaches to ripen slowly at the Curtis orchards on Curtis hill, and Mr Curtis thinks it will be the middle or last of next week before the luscious Elbertas come to their best. The editor took a stroll into his orchard, Wednesday, and he certainly has a fine crop of peaches. All he desires is some warm weather and sunshine.

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HATTERTOWN: Last Thursday afternoon we had the hardest thunder shower that has visited this place in a long time. Two cows were killed by the lightning, one owned by Thomas Koma and the other by Jacob Goldberg. | Mrs Ada Parmalee and Harold Tomlinson are building new hen houses from plans furnished by the Agricultural College at Storrs. | Mr and Mrs John Loucks of Danbury have been guests of Mr and Mrs Birdsey Peck. | Mr and Mrs William Tomlinson and children, and Miss Jessie Peck of New Haven were week end and Labor day guests of Mr and Mrs Harold Tomlinson. | Miss Angie Wakeman, who has been with her mother, Mrs Lizzie Wakeman, has returned to her school duties at Norwalk. | Mr and Mrs Eugene Northop, with their son, Edgar Northrop, and Mr and Mrs Clarence Burr of Monroe enjoyed an auto ride to Newburg and West Point, passing over the famous Storm King highway.

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John Stefanko, while working on the state road, Wednesday, had one foot badly smashed while unloading some heavy iron. Dr W.H. Kiernan attended to him.

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A most enjoyable affair took place on last Saturday evening at the Guild room of Trinity church, when a surprise party was given to Miss Victoria Martin and Charles B. Ferris. The affair was managed by members of the choir of which Miss Martin is organist and Mr Ferris one of the singers. About 50 in all were present. A fine supper was served and dancing was indulged in by the younger people present. There was also some pleasing vocal selections given. As a token of appreciation, Miss Martin was given a beautiful Maxfield Parrish picture.

September 22, 1899

Mr and Mrs M.S. Otis returned, last week, from a trip to New London, Groton, Saybrook and other points. At Groton he learned the joiners’ trade as a young man and was interested in again visiting the place.

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O.J. Geer, the New York freight agent of the Pennsylvania system, who has been passing the summer at Rev Henry Upson’s at New Preston, was in town over Sunday, stopping at the Grand Central.

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Paul Beardsley has entered Cheshire Academy for a course of study. Howell Wright has also entered upon his second year at the same institution.

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C.F. Beardsley was unfortunate enough to lose a valuable calf, last week, it being found dead in the pasture lot.

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Mrs Henry Fairchild has gone to Virginia, where she will pass the winter with a sister.

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Mrs Neil Gilbert returned, last Thursday, from a visit to Bridgeport, where she was the guest of Miss Maud Beach.

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Mrs Paul James and son, Ernest, of Concord, N.H., have been recent guests of Mr and Mrs J.L. James.

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Some one was so kind, one night last week, as to enter the cellar of Charles Thompson and steal a large quantity of pork from his barrel.

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Newtown people will be sorry to hear of the accident which befell Mrs Richardson. She fell down stairs, cutting a gash in her head requiring five stitches to close the wound.

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.