July 1, 1994

When The Bee Publishing Co. purchased Lovell’s Garage at One Main Street 11 years ago it was a concern. Four years later, Harry Greenman, long-time owner of the Oldsmobile dealership, retired and the building became an easy target for storage and unwanted items including a number of automobiles repossessed by the Newtown Police Department. In the years that followed the building acquired some graffiti, a number of broken windows, peeling paint, and equal ranking with other eyesores in town. In fact, The Bee included Lovell’s Garage, along with The White Birch Inn and the former Hi-Way Cleaners, in its articles and editorials suggesting a clean-up of these sites. Following a long siege with the town’s land use boards to develop the property, plans were abandoned to move The Bee printing and business facility to that location. The next step, for the good of the town, was to address the eyesore problem and Lovell’s Garage was taken down. The gasoline tanks have been removed from the ground and three dumpsters, still on the property, are to be taken away after receiving written permission from the State of Connecticut. Verbal permission was granted about four weeks ago and the letter is apparently well tied up in the state’s red tape.

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IT’S OFFICIAL: The Sandy Hook Post Office definitely will close, and probably will do so on Saturday, August 20, according to Carl Johnson, manager of postal operations in Connecticut. Mr Johnson said this week that the US Postal Rate Commission has indicated that no appeals were filed during the final appeals process for the closing. He said the commission informed him that postal officials could proceed in taking the steps necessary to close the office. Mr Johnson said officials will make every effort to close the office on August 20. Window operations probably will be shut down after closing time on Friday, August 19. The postal service’s lease for the Sandy Hook Post Office will expire approximately a month after the office closes. Clerks and carriers from Sandy Hook will be transferred to the Newtown Post Office, and Sandy Hook residents will be served by the same carriers.

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“This day has always seemed so far away,” said Salutatorian Kevin Malone, “and yet here we are, graduating from high school and beginning our journey into the real world, to take our place in adult society. Are we prepared? Yes, I believe we are.” In welcoming people in Bruce Jenner Stadium to the graduation ceremony for Newtown High School Class of 1994, Kevin told classmates, “As we come up to the stage and receive our diplomas, we’re a little like the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. We may not start spouting formulas, but this piece of paper is certainly a symbol of the knowledge within us. It confers on us the status of being learned, the dignity of a graduate, and we can thank the teachers and administrators of Newtown High School for guiding, inspiring, at times pushing and pulling us along to this day. ... Whether we are going off to college or into the job market, our learning continues. We learn in all that we do. If we stop learning, we stop living. We will learn from experience; we will learn from mistakes. Especially from our mistakes. Make mistakes, ask stupid questions, don’t be afraid to stretch.”

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Police report an incident of fifth degree larceny at a Sugar Street address. Police said they learned at about 7:45 pm on June 23 that sometime between 4 pm on June 22 and 8 am on June 23, someone went onto the property and stole a gray toolbox from the bed of a pick-up truck parked next to the house. Police said the toolbox contained hammers, tape measures, and spray tips for painting. The items stolen have an estimated value of $300.

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Members of Boy Scout Troop 770 will volunteer at their troop’s coffee breakover this Fourth of July weekend. The coffee break will be off I-84’s Exit 10 from 5 pm Friday, July 1, to 5 pm Monday, July 4. Coffee and doughnuts will be available at no cost. But the troop raises money during this event because people offer donations.

June 20, 1969

The dedication of the new St Rose Church on Church Hill Road will take place at 3 o’clock this Sunday afternoon, June 22. Principal celebrant of the dedication mass will be His Excellency Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of Bridgeport. The mass will be celebrated by 17 priests, including the Rt Rev Monsignor Walter Conroy, pastor, and former curates. Bishop Curtis will give the homily and will preside at the cornerstone ceremony. Scheduled to be placed at the cornerstone are the June 20 issue of The Newtown Bee, the dedication booklet, the 1959 centennial booklet, the fund drive brochure and selected coins minted in 1969. A parish reception at St Rose Church Hall will follow the cornerstone ceremony and dedication Mass.

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The Newtown Conservation Commission is presently investigating means of protecting from pollution the headwaters of The Halfway River which lie largely in a swamp and industrial zoned land on High Bridge Road. This river, which is one of unusual beauty, forms the boundary for about three miles between Newtown and Monroe before dumping into Lake Zoar. It is one of the few unpolluted rivers in Fairfield County and has been for some time the object of great interest and concern to the conservation groups.

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A new group of diversified paintings went on exhibition in the McLachlan Agency window on Monday, June 16. These are the work of Nancy Tilly, a talented young painter who is new in town. She has had one-man shows in Pennsylvania as well as participating successfully in juried shows. Mrs Sven Till of Sawmill Road works in mixed media and has won prizes for her versatility and brilliant color and hopes to have art classes in her barn studio.

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At the meeting of Pohtatuck Grange Tuesday, June 10, it was voted to send two children to the Grange camp in Winchester, one a Grange member’s child, and one chosen from Newtown. The next meeting is exchange officers night. A pot-luck dinner will be served at 6:30 pm, Tuesday, June 24. Members are requested to bring their own place settings

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Airman Ian D. Sellars, son of Mr and Mrs Alistair C. Sellars, 73 Main Street, Newtown, has completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Tex. He has been assigned to Lowry AFB, Colo., for training as an intelligence specialist. Airman Sellars, a Newtown High School graduate, attended Nichols college, Dudley Mass.

June 23, 1944

Mrs Earnest Fenn very delightfully entertained a number of her friends at the Newtown Country Club Wednesday afternoon with a dessert bridge party. The refreshments were served by the country club hostess, and prize winners were Mrs W.B. Bentley, Mrs M.N. Curtis, Mrs H. N. Kirby, Mrs C.F. Cavanaugh, and Mrs A. J. Smith.

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Dr Stanley Leavy is a recent addition to the medical staff at the Fairfield State Hospital, where he is now in residence with his wife and two children. Dr Leavy is a graduate of Yale and the University of Rochester School of Medicine. He has recently been practicing in Tennessee.

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Announcement has just been made by Mrs Nelson G. Curtis, president of the Woman’s Auxiliary of Trinity Church, that Mrs William M. Strong will open her home at the corner of Church Hill and Main Street on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 26, for a garden bridge and tea, given by the Auxiliary. Weather permitting, tables will be arranged on the lawn; if inclement, playing will be in the house. Mrs George H. Vello will serve as chairman of the occasion, which promises to be one of the several important summer entertainment.

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Miss Helen B. Safford wishes to extend, through the courtesy of The Bee, her thanks and appreciation to her neighbors for their interest in the welfare of her property Tuesday morning when her cottage on the hill took fire, and she especially wishes to thank the Newtown and Hawleyville fire departments for their quick response and efficient work in preventing the fire from spreading. She would also like to thank the telephone operator.

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Along with the happiness of leaving school for the summer months, the grade school students of Sandy Hook and Hawley school were treated to ice cream by their benevolent teachers last Thursday.

June 20, 1919

The credit of setting in motion this splendid movement for a Welcome Home celebration to our soldier boys belongs to Judge Pitzschler, and now that the preparations have taken an organized form, old Newtown will rise and heartily support the celebration. Let’s make it a rouser!

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The Newtown Water Company has extended the water pipes as far as the residence of A. W. Rynolds and are now extending the pipes from the residence of Eli B. Beers to that of Edward S. Lovell on Queen Street.

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George Evans is laying a brick walk for Charles Cole.

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The condition of Ex-Senator S.P. Glover has improved, so that he is up and dressed. This will be good news to his many friends.

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Abraham Goldstein of Brushy Hill was arraigned before Justice P.H. McCarthy Tuesday morning on the charge of selling intoxicating liquor without license. He was fined $10 and costs, amounting to $42.76. He was placed under arrest by Deputy Sheriff Beers and Constable Thomas Carlson. It was said that Mr Goldstein was making a concoction of wine and hard cider that was highly pleasing to his customers.

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 in 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.