September 1, 1989

Donations of time and money are the priority if Newtown is going to be able to build a Teen Center. The proposed Center will be located in the former town garage next to the old train station on Church Hill Road. To date, the plumbing and plumbing materials have been donated. “We need donations for everything,” Tom McGuire said. Mr McGuire, a Teen Center Committee member (TCC) and local contractor is in charge of coordinating all the different contractors. TCC estimated the cost to renovate the 2,000 square-foot structure would be between $50,000 and $100,000. Once the money is in place, the building is cleaned out and the floors are free of oil and grit, the renovations will begin. In the meantime, the TCC is seeking nominations for energetic and creative high school teens to join the Teen Center’s Planning-Governing board.

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The roadside stand at the Mayer Farm on Palestine Road is now full of great-looking produce, but not full of salespeople. The stand is entirely self-serve. You pick out what you want, weight it, figure the price, and then leave your money in the bowl. If you want blueberries, you have to go pick them yourself on Hi Barlow Road.

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A three-phase project which started five years ago came to a finish last Sunday as the final nails were hammered and bolts turned in a playgym on Taylor Field Behind Hawley School. Funded by the Hawley PTA and costing a total of about $16,000, this project is the third recreational area behind the school.

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With the second murder trial of 51-year-old Newtown resident Richard Crafts less than a week away, questions have been raised regarding the trial’s location and the effect of the coverage by the media. Judge Nigro reserved the decision on whether cameras could be trained on Mr Crafts’ face during the trial. Along with other objection to media photography during the trial, Mr Crafts’ lawyers asked that the murder charge be dismissed or that the upcoming second trial be delayed or moved, because of pretrial publicity. Mr Crafts, a former airline pilot, is on trial for the November 1986 slaying of his wife, Helle.

September 4, 1964

Newtown schools will open on September 9 with 246 more students enrolled than in September of 1963. The increase is general, at high school as well as at elementary level. Due to the shortage of classroom space until the new elementary school is completed, the following class assignments will be in effect: All fifth and sixth grade classes of the Hawley school will be housed in the C wing of the Newtown High School All fourth grade classes will be located in the high school except those below will also be in the high school. One will remain in Hawley school, while two fourth grade classes will be located at the Sandy Hook School. Children attending the Sandy Hook School will have cafeteria privileges while those in both C wing and Hawley School will have to bring their lunches from home.

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The Bee office is shining in a new dress of maroon paint. Sam Nezvesky, in doing the job, put a priming coat of pale pink on the front of the building. That worried many townspeople, who thought that perhaps The Bee staff had suddenly become color-blind.

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It is perhaps as well that the full size of the fish was not apparent at the first, for there might have been some question as to who was fishing for whom. Winner was Jack Whittle, eight-year-old son of Mr and Mrs Donald Whittle of Huntingtown Road. Jack hooked a 9-pound, 32-inch blue fish last week-end while fishing near Middleground Light in Long Island Sound.

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The Newtown Office of Family and Children’s Services has officially been opened. This was made possible by the efforts of many Newtown people and especially those individuals who are members of the Newtown Fund, Inc. After careful study and evaluation the fund asked Children’s Services of Connecticut to provide this service. A part-time family counselor is now located in the Edmond Town Hall. The aim of this service is to help people cope more adequately with the many problems that beset them.

 

September 1, 1939

A delegation of the Charles Howard Peck Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars of Newtown, attended the National Encampment at Boston, this week, and participated in the parade on Tuesday when over 30,000 veterans from every state in the Union were represented. Those attending from Newtown were Robert D. Fairchild, commander, Hubert Carey, senior vice commander, Charles Neilson, Edgar Hanlon, James Lynch, John Wood and Irving Shaw.

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The September issue of “House Beautiful” carries a story regarding the attractive Cape Cod home recently built by Mr and Mrs Arthur E. McCollam on Glover avenue. The article is liberally illustrated with interior and exterior views, as well as floor plans of the first and second stories. Mention is made in the article of the interesting and practical features of the house.

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Miss Peggy Budd, daughter of Mr and Mrs Stephen E. Budd of this town, riding her father’s veteran black gelding, “Come On,” took first money in the open jumping class with the obstacles at 3 feet 9 inches, in the opening session of the 10th annual North Shore Horse Show, held at Old Field Club, Stony Brook, L.I., on last Thursday. Miss Budd rode with a faultless score during the event.

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Hobart Warner returned to town, last week, from an extended fishing trip into the wilds of Canada, north of Ottawa. “Hobie,” who takes after his dad in his love for fishing, has come back with tales of catching 150 bass in one day — which is better than the Senior Warner ever did, or probably ever told about! We expect soon to report that H.F. Warner has disappeared into Canada for a whirl at this fishermen’s paradise.

September 4, 1914

Newtown came into unenviable notoriety, Sunday, when it was discovered that John Green, the village shoemaker, had been brutally murdered in his little shop on Church hill, located just east of The Bee office. The murder was discovered by Charles F. Cavanaugh, field agent of The Bee Publishing Co., on his way home from the early Mass at St Rose’s church, and stopped to get a pair of shoes belonging to his mother. On looking over the counter he saw the legs of Mr Green protruding out, blankets, a mattress and the pillow being on top of him. Sheriff Blakeman hastened to the little shop and found the news was only too true, for the patient, kindly old man had been murdered and in the most brutal fashion. The implement used by the fiend who did the deed was an ordinary axe and Green was evidently struck six or seven blows. The last person to have seen him alive is believed to be Sanford Beers, son of R.H. Beers. Sanford tells the editor he went to the shop about 3 pm to get some rubber heels placed on his shoes and remained talking with the old man an hour or so. Rev J.B. Howell stopped at the shop shortly after five to get a pair of shoes, but seeing no one about went his way. He did not look behind the counter, but observed the room was in more or less confusion. Constable Thrall of Sandy Hook detained a man acting suspiciously in Sandy Hook. His coat was covered with blood, and he was more or less spattered with blood. He was taken by Constable Carlson and placed in the lock-up. The man protested his innocence, but by orders of the coroner was held to await the outcome of the inquest. It is a possible thing the guilty murderer will yet be brought to justice. John Green, or William Gore (his right name) is a German 64 years old. For two years before coming to Newtown he was located in Hawleyville, having a shop in what is now the blacksmith shop.

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The town meeting called for last Saturday at 2 o’clock, to consider whether the town could do without the lock-up on West Street, was held and about 50 of the taxpayers were present. Dr Kennedy spoke at some length, how unsanitary the lock-up was in its present condition and how he would have it in better condition if allowed to be there. He also said that the hoboes would have no place to go if the lock-up was done away with. When the vote was taken, the Yeas had a large majority. The selectmen had figures showing that a cage could be bought to accommodate two persons for $100 and for four persons for $185.

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Extensive alterations and improvements have been completed in the Zoar school building. A new floor has been put down and other improvements made. The work has been done under the efficient committeeman, Clark L. Page, who deserves much credit.