May 10, 1991

Edith Tracey turned 100 years old on May 2 and a dozen of her friends turned out to celebrate the day. Mrs Tracey's home on Dayton Street was brightened with best wishes and by the 100 red, pink, white and yellow carnations sent by her doctor.

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Students arriving at the Middle School "moving up" dance in a limo wearing a tuxedo and a floor length or strapless gown will not be admitted to the event. The dance and catered buffet dinner, which is open exclusively to eighth graders, is intended as a concluding social event for members of the eighth grade class. The dress code was created in an effort to reverse a trend toward greater extravagance than is appropriate for middle-school-aged students.

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Doris Lepat, 72, of Brookfield sustained minor cuts when she was involved in a one-car accident on Boggs Hill Road at 3:40 pm on May 3. Reportedly, while she was driving she attempted to avoid a bumblebee that was in her face, lost control of her car, and struck a telephone pole.

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Golf anyone? At the Legislative Council's May meeting, Andrew McCollough of Aunt Park Lane proposed the town establish an 18-hole golf course on the state's Fairfield Hills Hospital property. He said the land would be suitable for a golf course, with a minimum of excavation. The project could include a driving range, and a nine-hole pitch and putt course. "And of course, a club needs a clubhouse," he said. When asked if he would be willing to play a role in the course's development, Mr McCullough said he would be interested in a consulting role. "Ideally," he said with a smile, "I would like to run the clubhouse. Somebody's got to run it."

May 13, 1966

The capacity audience at the Edmond Town Hall last Saturday thoroughly enjoyed a festival concert featuring the Newtown High School Band and Chorus and the Portsmouth, N.H., High School Chorus. Plans for this concert, and the one in Portsmouth at which the Newtown Chorus performed last April, were first discussed last fall and were enthusiastically received by the school administration and the Board of Education.

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The Zoning Board of Appeals has approved, with restrictions, the application of Harry J. Gould for a special exception to permit the building of a nursing home on the former Stepney Camp site on Toddy Hill Road in Sandy Hook. In the nursing home decision, the board noted that the building's proposed location is at least 200 feet from any adjacent property line and their belief that it will not adversely affect the surrounding property.

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Cards of Thanks. We just received word from the Zoning Board of Appeals, approving our nursing home on Toddy Hill Road. We are overjoyed and wish to thank all the warm-hearted, unselfish people who supported this cause. We pledge to these people and all of Newtown, a facility of the highest standards meeting changing needs as they occur. Harry J. Gould and Donald Burns.

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More than 7,000 racing fans braved the chill evening to attend the opening program of the season at the Danbury Fair Racearena last Saturday. The 20-car, 20-lap feature was run off without a stop despite spin-outs. Racers provided an exciting duel, holding the lead until the final lap when Ken Webb of Goldens Bridge, N.Y., jet propelled himself across the finish line and winning by a car length.

May 9, 1941

The Newtown A.C. lost their first game in the Pomperaug Valley Baseball League on Sunday when the New Preston Hillies, last year's champs, downed them 5-4 at Washington. The A.C. put up a valiant fight but were unable to overcome their rivals' three-run lead in the first inning.

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A public hearing will be held in the Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room on Friday evening May 16 at 8 o'clock for the purpose of acting upon the application of Louie C. Lovell in which he requests the Zoning Commission to change the classification of his property on Main Street from a residential to business zone.

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Don't forget, June 2 is the date for the appearance of Gene and Glenn of radio fame at the Edmond Town Hall Theater. Admission is 40 cents plus tax. Boys and Girls wishing to earn free admission are advised to communicate with members of the committee: Mrs Charles Hawley, Mrs John Northrop, Mrs Sarah Smith, Euclid Courture, or Vincent Gaffney.

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A delicious menu has been arranged for the annual Boy Scout Father and Son banquet which will be held on Saturday evening in Trinity Church rooms. Rev. Paul A. Cullens is arranging for several reels of moving pictures to be shown through the kindness of William Dougless.

May 6, 1916

Mrs William Platt complained to Grand Juror Gannon last Sunday, that Michael Dobisca had committed a disturbance in front of her place and called her names. He was arrested on the charge of abusive language and disturbing the peace and arraigned before Justice McCarthy. He pleaded not guilty, but later admitted calling Mrs Platt vile names. He was fined $1 and costs which his employer paid.

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It is a matter of importance and value that Newtown now has a resident dentist. Dr McLaughlin's assistant Dr Kersey is giving good satisfaction. Dr McLaughlin has fitted up a dental office on modern lines. Appointments may be made by phone.

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Cornelius B. Taylor, Newtown Savings Bank vice president, and one of Newtown's most beloved citizen's, was taken ill with pneumonia last Thursday. He is now making steady progress toward recovery, The Bee is glad to announce. A trained nurse and doctor are in attendance.

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A.S. Green, the well-known electrician who has done much work in Newtown, met with an accident Saturday afternoon that came near costing him his life. That he is alive is considered miraculous. He had been at work in Westport and was walking toward the village when the team of Mrs Banks, the florist, loaded with flowers, came along and the driver offered Mr Green a ride, which he accepted. While climbing a hill he noticed a heavy furniture van ahead of them beginning to back down the hill. The ponderous machine gained momentum at every foot and was soon so close to them that an accident was certain and the driver jumped. Mr Green's foot caught in the reigns and he fell to the ground. The big machine smashed the florist's wagon to bits and there was a terrible mess of splinters, wood and flowers. Mr Green was found buried in the mud and had to be dug out. He had no broken bones but was terribly bruised.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.