December 20, 1985

Has anyone seen the blueprints for the Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Company’s firehouse? The committee has hired a consultant to assess the condition of the firehouse floor, which has developed cracks. The floor is over the ceiling of a downstairs meeting room: when a truck is driven in, the ceiling moves. It would be easier to analyze the situation if there were blueprints for the 1931 structure.

***

While her mom, Cathy Stewart, was busy at Rod MacKenzie’s Main Street office on the morning of December 17, running off copies of a report, Jenny Stewart, 4, was playing in the hallway, and got her leg stuck in the banister. When Cathy and office worker Cindy Zane couldn’t extricate her, they called the emergency number and Newton Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire company came to the rescue.

***

A beloved landmark on Main Street is once again in the news as new owners take over and open yet another chapter in the long history of the Newtown General Store. After running the store for the past five years, Carol and Joe Mahoney have sold the business to Martha and Bob Gold of Brookfield. Ownership of the General Store has been a family tradition for many years. Records show that the building was built by David H. Johnson in 1868. The front portion of the building has been operated as a retail grocery store without interruption.

***

Claiming that newly adopted state-mandated zoning regulations are unconstitutional, F. Francis D’Addario has again sued the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr D’Addario claims that the regulations strip him of his control of his own land and diminish the value of his property. This marks the third time Mr D’Addario has sued P& Z.

***

December 23, 1960

The largest number of entries, 57 in all, has been received this year in the Christmas decorations contest, which is sponsored annually by the Chamber of Commerce and the combined garden clubs of Newtown. Danny Wann, chairman of the Christmas festival committee, states that this year, handsome certificates will be awarded to the winners in each category and cash prizes will be given in the junior organization class.

***

During this Christmas season, Christ the King Lutheran Church is being organized to meet the spiritual needs of Newtown’s growing community. The Newtown Board of Education has granted the Lutheran Church permission to use the Hawley School auditorium as a place of worship on Sunday mornings. The Rev James B. Ilten has announced that the date for the first service is Sunday, January 22, 1961.

***

Santa Claus has announced his ETA in Newtown is 11 am, this Saturday, December 24, for a last minute visit with all his young friends in town. His helicopter will land at the lower, rear parking lot of the Edmond Town Hall. He will proceed to the town hall gymnasium, where he will greet his young friends.

***

Townspeople and the motoring public found themselves indebted to both the state and town road crews for their long hours of plowing, to open and keep open the roads during last week’s heavy snow storm. It is no easy assignment to work steadily at plowing snow in frigid temperatures from Sunday night, all through Monday, into Tuesday morning. Those who did it should know that their work is appreciated.

***

December 20, 1935

***

A rear-end collision in front of the residence of Marcus Connors on lower Main street occurred shortly after 3 am on Sunday morning. Angelo Mancini had been stopped by Officer Stanton. A car operated by John P. Ford, traveling in the same direction, crashed into the rear of the Mancini car. Officer Stanton was thrown to the road and received back and leg injuries. Both drivers were arrested on the charge of driving while under the influence of liquor.

***

A death which has left its mark of sadness occurred in the Borough this week, when Edward Beecher Allen, one of the town’s most prominent citizens, quietly breathed his last at his home, shortly after 2 am, Sunday morning. At the age of fourteen, he invented and patented a shuttle device used on the woolen looms, and received the amount of $600 for his work. This started the young genius on the road to worldwide fame, later to be known as one of the outstanding inventors in the country.

***

Word has been received by The Bee from Dr Clifford D. Moore, superintendent of the Fairfield State hospital, that Thomas Walker has been selected to fill the position of chief engineer at the hospital. Officials at the hospital are now making arrangements with him as to the date he will assume his new position.

***

Mrs R. M. Leonard very delightfully entertained the Newtown Country club bridge players Monday night at a “tea party” in celebration of the Boston Tea Party. Mrs Mercer served some very tasty biscuits and had honey as a spread for them with tea instead of coffee. The tea and biscuits made a very pleasing combination.

 

December 23, 1910

***

R.H. Beers & Co have arranged two very stunning windows for Christmas shoppers. One is filled with the delectable and toothsome Kibbe confections in beautiful boxes. The other window is taken up with a very fine display of the Eaton-Hurlburt writing paper in dainty and pretty boxes. It’s a display creditable to a city store.

***

A very commendable piece of work is being done on the state road in Newtown near the Monroe line, by the contractors, the B.N. Beard Co. No greater improvements have been made in any locality than the widening and lowering of this hill, which before this was difficult to travel in either direction.

***

Joseph P. McDermott, a conductor on one of the work trains near Botsford, was struck by the caboose steps, as he was attempting to throw a switch. His ribs were badly jammed up. Dr Kiernan was called and dressed the wounds so he could go on to New Haven.

***

The thermometer registered just 18 degrees below zero, Saturday, at 5:30 am, at Edward Taylor’s in Sandy Hook.