Notice anything different about your drinking water lately? If you’re one of the Newtown Water Co.’s 840 metered customers, you may have detected a slightly fishy odor and a bad taste in the water coming from your faucet. According to Sanitarian Bob Jontos, the water company put algicide in Taunton Pond, the reservoir, to control the algae.

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It was ten years ago, William H. Johnson mused Wednesday in his office at Eagle Hill Alcoholism Treatment Center on Albert’s Hill Road, that planning first began for the $4.8 million facility. A dream that took shape in the minds of a number of people who had had problems with the disease, after years of struggling through government and financial haggling for approval, finally took real form this week as Eagle Hill planned to open its doors.

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Two 18-year-old men were arrested and charged with third degree larceny after they attempted to steal the flag from the flagpole on Main Street. Police say that at about 2:20 am June 15 they received a complaint that the pair had removed the flag from its pole and were leaving the area.

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Area ninth grade students have scored high on the proficiency test developed to determine basic skills, which was administered statewide to about 45,000 students in March. The screening tests were developed by the state, mandated by a 1978 state law which is concerned with Educator Evaluation and Remedial Assistance.

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The Newtown Strikers C division (14 and under) soccer team will play a Walkhill, N.J., team this Sunday at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. The Strikers and their Garden State opponent will play two 30-minute halves before the NASL contest between the NY Cosmos and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

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Police and other town officials were stumped this week when many area residents began complaining that young men were spray painting strange markings, Xs and Os, in front of driveways around town. On Saturday, police learned that they were not utility markings, nor the result of mischief or burglars, but markings for new garbage routes. “If you have an X, your trash will be picked up at the house; an O indicates roadside pickup.”

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Paula Hopper of Newtown continues her campaign to raise local consciousness and support to halt plans of the National Park Service to dispose of some 350 non-native, or feral, burros in the Grand Canyon National Park. Hopper announced a poster contest for Newtown and Bethel youngsters with the “Save the Burros” theme.

June 24, 1955

Approval of the plans for the new elementary school in Sandy Hook were given by the Board of Education on Wednesday night, according to Miles Harris, chairman of the Elementary School Building Committee. The Committee will shortly call for separate proposals covering the following: general construction, heating and ventilating, plumbing and electrical work.

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Six evenings of fun are in store for Newtowners, according to the Newtown Lions Club’s plans for its annual carnival. Offering a wide variety of rides, games and refreshments, the carnival will be held at the north end of the paved parking area at the Queen Street Shopping Center from Monday, June 27 through Saturday, July 2, at 7 o’ clock to midnight.

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Recently the members of the Play Shop group of the Town Players erected a new stage in their rehearsal hall on Orchard Hill Road. The erection of the new stage will enable the members to hold some of their productions in the hall. A series of one-act plays is now in rehearsal.

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Editorial Ink Drops: We voice the opinion of a number of local business people when we suggest that the time is ripe for the start of a Chamber of Commerce in Newtown. Even though we look with a skeptical eye upon the start of new organizations, it does seem the mushrooming businesses throughout the town would find it to their advantage to band together to work for their mutual benefit.

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At a meeting of the Newtown Park Commission held June 17, the members decided to engage the services of the National Recreation Association to make a master plan for the entire park site. Such a plan, the commissioners feel, will ultimately prove invaluable in the correct planning of the park.

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When the kids went to get a drink from the well last Thursday evening they found that somebody had stolen the handle and plunger from the pump at SAC park. Constable Hiram Hanlon was notified and is looking into the matter; he also gave the boys a pitcher pump which he had at home.

***

For the first time in the history of Newtown, some of its fine old homes dating from the 18th century are to be thrown open to the public as part of the Celebration of the 250th Anniversary. Admission is $1.50 for the entire tour, and at one home tea will be served.

June 20, 1930

St Rose Casino will undoubtedly be crowded to capacity on next Tuesday night, when St Rose’s Players will present “Square Crooks,” a three act comedy-mystery play full of laughs and thrills from start to finish. The annual parish play this year, which will be presented under the capable direction of Rev Charles H. Kane, pastor of St Rose’s church, is chuck full of action throughout and will undoubtedly prove to be one of the snappiest plays ever produced on the local stage.

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Letter to The Board of Assessors: The board of directors of Riverside on Lake Zoar wish to register an emphatic protest regarding the assessed valuations placed by your board on the various properties in Riverside. You must realize, if you have kept in touch with conditions, that the prices obtained by the company that developed and sold parcels at Riverside, were extremely inflated; that there are numerous parcels for sale today at prices less than the purchase price. Out of the taxes collected from Riverside, the only money spent which might be considered of direct benefit to the property owners there, is for the upkeep (such as it is) of the road leading from Sandy Hook to our Community house.

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The Golden Peach is installing a new Frigidaire outfit and fitting to their lunch room in first class shape.

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A meeting was held, Sunday night, June 15, 1930, at the Huntington Jewish Synagogue. The Jewish Community has decided to run a dance on July 4, 1930, for the benefit of the Synagogue, which is to be held at the dining rooms of the President, Isadore Kaufman.

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Help Wanted: Male. An unusual opportunity. One of the largest corporation in the country will select a man to represent it in Newtown. He must possess sales ability, be of good education and appearance and not over forty years of age. If you would be satisfied with an income of less than three hundred dollars a month, do not apply. Box J, Newtown, Conn.

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The graduating exercises of the Newtown High School took place last Thursday evening, at the Hawley High auditorium, and were of an unusually high order and a real credit to the work of the faculty under the inspiring leadership of Carl LeGrow. There was a large and appreciative audience, although there remained perhaps 50 or 75 seats that were unoccupied.

June 23, 1905

The whist party at the Beach Memorial Library building, last week Thursday evening, was a pleasant affair, netting about $14 toward the repair fund. The prizes were loaves of cake contributed by various ladies.

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Tell us if there isn’t enough flavor, or fruit, or phosphate or ice in your drink. Some like it one way, some another. We get to know how regular customers prefer theirs. We should like to learn how you prefer yours. We would give anything to have you feel that this is your store, your fountain. Betts & Betts

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NOTICE! Owing to the serious fire of Wednesday morning, which destroyed my place of business, I have opened a temporary store in the basement of Dr Betts’ house, where I shall have a stock of Stoves and Tinware. Telephone have been installed in my Newtown and Sandy Hook shops and I am in a position to attend to all calls promptly — E.J. HALL, Sandy Hook, Conn.

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The committee of ladies appointed at the last annual meeting of the Newtown Library Association to plan entertainments for the raising of money through the year has hit upon a novel scheme. This is to have ice cream and cakes on sale at the Library on Saturday evenings during July and August. The floor of the library is to be repolished and the wall of the magazine room, where a large block of plaster has fallen, is to be put in good condition and tinted. Thus our book house will be in good order when our guests come to see how we look at our great Bi-centennial.

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S. Curtis Hawley. Found In Bethel. Samuel Curtis Hawley, who disappeared on June 11, was discovered by Charles Mead, coming into the latter’s yard about 6:30, Wednesday morning. He was barefoot and had his shoes in his hand. Mr Mead took him to the livery stable of W. J. Nichols where the latter suggested it was the missing Newtown young man. He was carried to the home of his mother, Mrs Julia Hawley. The young man lost 25 pounds or more in flesh during his 10 days’ experience, and had evidently eaten little.

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P.L. Ronald has generously given $20 toward the fund being raised to meet the expenses of Newtown’s Bi-centennial.