July 8, 1994

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Tens of millions of Americans spent a good part of their week watching the hard fall of O.J. Simpson on television. Astonishingly, television network news executives decided that a court hearing on a pre-trial motion to suppress evidence in the Simpson murder case was of equal magnitude of, say, a presidential assassination, the Watergate hearings, or the Persian Gulf War. We are told this case is significant because of Mr Simpson’s position in the national Psyche. He was a consummate athlete — a hero and a role model. The idea is that the murder tragedy has something to do with the American Dream and the thin line between fame and infamy. We should do better than to link our national self-image to such heroes. The television networks should get this sideshow off the big stage.

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Moms and kids spread blankets in the field behind the Cyrenius Booth Library on Wednesday to sing, draw, and create with entertainer Bruce Laird at the celebration to kick off the library’s summer reading program. “Don’t Become Extinct — Read,” the theme for children age 3 through grade 6, encourages children to read a chosen number of minutes a day, books per week, or books per the entire five-week program. Weekly prizes are awarded to each child who checks in each week at the library, and pictures of those who attain their goals are placed on the Dinosaur Wall of Fame.

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During two days of motor vehicle equipment spot checks by state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) inspectors, 85 vehicles of the 124 checked didn’t pass inspection, according to DMV. The DMV, with the assistance of town police, made the spot checks on June 28 on South Main Street at Ram Pasture and on June 29 on Route 34 at Johnny Appleseed Drive. DMV inspectors spent four hours at each location. Inspections involved a general “walk-around,” check of the vehicles. Of the 85 that didn’t pass, 61 of them were over five years old and 24 were under five years old. Forty-seven motorists were found not wearing seat belts. Violations included: window glass damage, tire and wheel problems, headlights, stop lights, signal lights, no front marker plate, no insurance, expired emissions stickers. After inspections, six vehicles were towed away because they were deemed unfit for travel on the roads, according to the DMV.

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The Fairfield Hills Auxiliary has provided more than $1,000 worth of donated items to the patient wards at Canaan and Cochran Houses at Fairfield Hills Hospital. The auxiliary made its presentation of gifts at its June 29 meeting at Shelton House at which it also announced new officers for the year. Cochran House, Ward 3-C, which serves mostly autistic and retarded patients, received a wading pool to cool those patients who prefer not to use a sprinkler; games, posters, maps, electronic typewriters also were presented to Leanne Grabowski, who runs workshops in the ward. The hospital’s chaplaincy department received a radio-CD player to assist with religious services when a musician isn’t available. Cochran House, Ward 1-D, which served medical and geriatric patients received a VCR and CD player and CDs along with a medical dictionary.

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The sign has long since fallen down and the wooden signal and its framework has rotted to eternity. Pepper Crossing is no more except in the memory of a few people who still live in the area and those with the foresight to take a few pictures. Located below Newtown at a spot near the Monroe line, the sign said “Pepper Crossing,” and the signal was hoisted high in the air so the approaching engineer of any train could tell at a glance if the sign had been pulled down and passengers waited to get aboard or left at the crossing — a sign of their summer vacation. Mr and Mrs Harry Garder, who came to the area from New York, had wonderful fresh vegetables, butter, milk, and other farm goods so attractive to the city visitors they were even willing to make the trip out into the country. The Garders knew when to expect vacationers and the farm wagon waited for their luggage. They eventually built a small waiting station where those who wanted to stop the 5:15 pm train could be out of the weather. The waiting station was partly dismantled and taken down in 1921 and then used as a farm storehouse.

June 27, 1969

Mrs Jean Klein’s grade 3 from Middle Gate School visited The Bee on Tuesday, June 24, as part of their study of Newtown history. Mrs Carol Greenman assisted with the 27 students, who divided into two groups to see the press and linotype machines. They were particularly interested in the first edition of The Bee, dated June 23, 1877.

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Under a cloudy but dry sky the Newtown High School Class of 1969 graduation took place on the high school lawn. It was a rather somber ceremony due not only to the seriousness of the times but also due to the tragedy of the loss of a beloved classmate on the eve of graduation. Following the processional, the Invocation was given by Rev. Robert Hyl. The Star Spangled Banner was played and school Principal Alvah Cramer introduces Frances Ann Whittle who gave the Salutatory. She told of attending an awards dinner in New York where it was said there was nothing to offer graduates since they had everything. Ms Whittle felt that in a great sense this was true. They do have everything — each one has talent to offer and the important thing is for each person to use his talents to the fullest.

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The tragic death of Jill Margaret Fitzgerald in an automobile accident on the eve of her graduation from Newtown High School stunned teachers and classmates alike. Born in New York City December 6, 1951, she was the daughter of John J. Fitzgerald of Fort Lauderdale Fla., and Mrs Alice Hammel Fitzgerald of Bear Hills Road, Newtown. She had lived in Newtown for 15 years. She was a member of the National Honor Society. She was to have graduated Wednesday, June 25. Jill was in the top half of her graduating class. She was enrolled in the business education course at the high school and she had planned to continue secretarial studies at a business school. She worked part time during her senior year in the school guidance office to gain office experience. She was a member of the girls track team, Drama Club, Glee Club and the Pep Club. A pretty girl and conscientious worker, Jill was well liked by classmates and faculty. According to State Police, Miss Fitzgerald was alone in the car, southbound on Toddy Hill Road, approximately 150 feet north of Surrey Trail, when she lost control.

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Mr and Mrs Edward J. Coleman write The Bee from Helsinki, Finland, to say that they have just spent 10 very interesting days in Soviet Russia. “Very clean cities, good transportation, very good food, etc.” Norway is next on their schedule.

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A call has gone out for more women of St Rose Parish who would be interested in working at Carnival on the church grounds on June 30. Please call Joan Jacob at 426-5758.

June 30, 1944

William M. Strong of Main Street reports having had a grand good time at the Golden Anniversary of his class at Colgate University on June 24. Thirteen of the eighteen surviving members of the class of 1894 attended the reunion. This was said to be following tradition as thirteen men with thirteen dollars, thirteen prayers, and a constitution of thirteen articles founded the college.

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The first of a series of Silver Teas being sponsored by the Thrift Shop for the benefit of the dental project in local schools will be next Thursday, July 6 at the Hawley Manor from 4-5 pm and the public is invited to attend. Mrs Charles F. Cavanaugh will be hostess, and Mrs Lee Woodworth and Mrs W. Norton Grubb will pour.

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Mrs Pearl Tilson of Sandy Hook has received a long-awaited letter from her son, Cpl. Roswell Tilson who is stationed somewhere in England, in which he reports that he is safe and well.

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The meeting last week of the Woman’s Auxiliary of Trinity Church brought out a really enthusiastic group for sewing for the Christmas Fair and for the luncheon served under the chairmanship of Mrs John Mutton. The luncheon was cold ham, stuffed eggs, and several delicious kinds of spring salads, pickles, maple nut sauce and cake. The group then returned to their needle and thread work until 4 o’clock. Mrs Walter Bounty, in charge of the apron section of the Christmas Fair, expressed herself as well satisfied with the progress being made, as did several others.

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The deed has been passed for the purchase by the town of Newtown a piece of land, approximately an acre square, from the New York and New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, bordering other land of the railroad company, and land owned by H.H. Cutler, on which will be constructed a town garage.

June 27, 1919

An interesting convocation of Hiram Chapter No. 1 was held on Wednesday night when the Royal Arch degree was impressively conferred. Brethren from out of town included L. Raymond Darling, E.J. Wheadon, J.B. Woodhull and James Peck of Bridgeport. Refreshments of ice cream and cake were served.

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C.F. Beardsley of Gray’s Plain and J.E. Corbett, the affable proprietor of the Newtown Inn, passed Thursday at a fishing expedition in Carmel, N.Y. At this lake, the fish hop right up out of the water and grab the line at once. Old residents of the borough are looking for some hot old fish stories when they return.

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All three sons of Michael Cavanaugh of Hanover are now telegraph operators for the New York & New Haven road. Dennis F. Cavanaugh is on duty on the third trick at the Rat tower, single station, 201, at Hawleyville; James Cavanaugh is on duty on the second trick at Botsford, and Michael J. Cavanaugh is telegraph operator at Ansonia.

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A party of 50 from Waterbury will have a banquet at the Newtown Inn on the Fourth.

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P. H. McCarthy is harvesting the hay crop on Mrs S.C. Glover’s place.

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.