The Police Commission has decided, after receiving legal advice from Town Attorney Raymond Connor, to wait until after the trial of Richard Crafts for the murder of his wife, Helle, to begin an inquiry into the Newtown Police Department’s conduct in this case. “When we are in a situation without jeopardizing either case, Mr Craft’s or the state’s attorney’s, then we will conduct an inquiry,” Commission Chairman George Wilson said. “It is the only safe way.”

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Former Chief Engineer Ernie Fenn, retired after 55 years of service at Fairfield State Hospital, was congratulated at the dedication of a building named in his honor Wednesday, by Dr Orestes Arcuni, chairman of the psychology department at Danbury Hospital. Mr Fenn retired December 31, 1986. He had spent 47 of his 55 years at the hospital as chief engineer before stepping down.

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Catskill Saucy Girl, a Morgan mare owned by Kurt and Pam Schneider of Newtown, has been awarded the 1986 Connecticut Morgan Horse Association Championship for carriage competition. The award was presented to the Schneiders at the association’s Year-End Awards banquet on Valentine’s Day at the Sheraton Tobacco Valley Inn. The championship is awarded on the basis of overall performance at shows held in 1986.

February 23, 1962

After a wait of several months, ten Newtown youngsters finally made it to New Haven this week to appear on the TV program Connecticut Bandstand. Taking part in the memorable trip were Sharon Fischer, Carol Ballerini, Maureen Hennessey, Tina Sedor, Leslie Stretch, Gary Stack, Jim Norling, Fuzzy Simon, Jonathan Senior, and Terry O’Connor. They danced, met the Rondels, and had a pretty good time, but for one drawback. The day was Tuesday and the coverage of the John Glenn space flight bumped the program off television for the day.

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Area residents will be getting two important changes in their telephone service this spring, when All Number Calling and Direct Distance Dialing are introduced. Arthur G. Potts, Danbury manager of the Southern New England Telephone Company, has announced that new telephone numbers consisting of seven digits, instead of the present two letters and five figures, will become effective here and in the surrounding area on April 12. The second innovation, Direct Distance Dialing, will be introduced in the Danbury-New Milford area on June 17. Equipment in the recently expanded telephone building at 39 West Street, Danbury, will make it possible for some 30,000 customers in Danbury, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Washington, and Kent to dial their own long distance calls.

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Over 100 members of the Teen Canteen enjoyed a “Ship Wreck” dance Saturday, February 17, in the Edmond Town Hall gym. Music was by the “Saints,” a band from Stepney who always make the evening most enjoyable. Due to undesirable behavior at the last dance, The Bee understands that four young men will not be permitted to attend any Canteen activities for the remainder of the year.

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On exhibit, in the case by the front door of the library, is a deed of the sale of land in Newtown, dated August 25, 1795. The deed was found by Mrs Louis Untermeyer and given to the library. It states that one Zachariah Clark of Newtown for the consideration of 30 pounds of lawful money in hand sold four acres of land near the Housatonic River to Philo Bassett of Derby. Also mentioned in the deed are the names of Theophilus Nichols and Nathaniel Nichols. It was signed in the presence of Philo Norton and David Baldwin, justice of the peace.

 

February 19, 1937

About March 1st the new Veterinary hospital of Dr Russell Strasburger located in South Center district, will be ready for occupancy. The building is one of the most modern and up-to-date structures of its kind in Connecticut. It is 65 feet long and 27 feet wide. Everything about the place is modern and sanitary to the last degree… From its exterior the hospital presents the appearance of an attractive Cape Cod cottage. In doing some dredging in the rear of the building, a live spring was discovered and a small lake has been created to add to the attractiveness of the surroundings.

***

An informal meeting of the Newtown Board of Finance was held on Monday evening, attended by members of the Board of Education. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of building an addition of six rooms to the Hawley School to provide more space. Tentative plans had been drawn up by Architect Sunderland on a basis of $100,000, $45,00 of which would be a grant. After considerable discussion, there seemed to be a prevailing opinion that an entirely new school should be built for the use of the grades, instead of adding on to Hawley school.

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Chief William Gower and members of the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company responded to a call, last Friday afternoon, about three o’clock, to extinguish a grass fire on the property of Dr W.A. Nolander, which the firemen put out with little damage. A spark from an incinerator caused the fire which burned over about five acres. As usual, the Dodgingtown boys were right on the job.

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The residence of Henry P. Mitchell was burned to the ground, Wednesday, about 1 am. The fire broke out around the chimney. All they saved was a few chairs and rugs. The house destroyed was a fine country residence in fine state of repair and Mr Mitchell will have much sympathy in his loss.

 

February 23, 1912

The strong hold the Newtown High school has on the affections of the people was manifested in the great audience which turned out, Friday night, at the High school minstrels. Fully 350 people were present and everyone was delighted with the performance. There was a snap to the minstrel part of the entertainment that pleased all.

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The water pipes leading from the barn of Ex-senator Glover to his residence froze up, Thursday night. Two holes were dug to the pipe, 80 feet apart. The pipe was brought to the surface, boxed and packed. E.J. Hall and men worked Saturday night, up to 2 am, Sunday, and got the pipe in working order once more.

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With the ground covered with ice and snow and plenty of cold weather, the young people as well as the older ones have enjoyed themselves coasting. One night, not long ago, between 30 and 40 gathered on what is known as Toll Gate Hill, now the state road, and spent the evening coasting down this well built piece of road.

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James B. Nichols, the popular and efficient carrier on RFD No 16, is planning to build a bungalow on his Mt Pleasant property the coming spring.