November 5, 1993

Halloween was so much fun this year that Newtown has extended the curfew on spooks and goblins by a week at Dickinson Town Park. Socko’s Haunted Graveyard at the park this year was bigger and better than ever, and because so many people did not get a chance to see it due to drenching rains last weekend, the stalwart volunteers who put on this annual show of Halloween fantasy have agreed to do it again on Friday and Saturday, November 5 and 6, from 6:30 to 10 pm, at Dickinson Park. So don’t put the pumpkin out to compost yet. Ignore the calendar and take in the thrills and chills.

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Two editorial changes on The Newtown Bee staff were announced this week by Publisher R. Scudder Smith. Tom Wyatt, who joined the staff six years ago as a sports reporter, has been promoted to sports editor. He will continue sports coverage in the town and schools. Bill Brassard is stepping down as sports editor to take on duties as editor of Horses in Connecticut, Bee Publishing’s paper geared toward equestrian activities in the state. The publication, started the first of this year as a bi-monthly, will become a monthly paper as of February 1994.

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After discussing the problem of youths drinking and taking drugs, and The Parent Connection’s call for help and community actions with this problem, Newtown Clergy Association issued a statement Wednesday. “We wish to express to our young people our love and concern for them. We realize that the society we live in is not always conducive to their well-being. We pledge in whatever way we can to work with our town and school officials, groups of dedicated parents, other organizations and the young people themselves, to meet this challenge with unshakable resolve. The abuse of alcohol and other drugs only pollutes the mind, body, and spirit, and destroys relationships and hopes for the future. We designate the weekend of November 19-21 as a time of prayer and awareness in order that we seek Divine Assistance in this crusade. Let us help one another. Let us not be discouraged. The cause is too great.”

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NEED A CHORE DONE? Members of Newtown Congregational Church’s Junior High Pilgrim Fellowship are raking leaves, washing windows, and cleaning basements in order to raise money for their fellowship. The work days are all day Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7.

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The cold dreary weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the 45 children who attended Welcome Wagon’s second annual Trunk or Treat party on October 31. This year’s event took place on Stone Fence Lane where parents lined the street with their cars so dalmatians, princesses, dinosaurs, and goblins could go from trunk to trunk begging for treats.

November 8, 1968

VOTERS’ CHOICE: Write-in votes this Election Day were few in Newtown, but ranged from the totally serious to slightly fantastic. In the Second District, one voter wrote in Alfred Newman of Mad Magazine for President; one gave his vote to Wallace and LeMay (Wallace and Griffin being on the ballot), and one to Pat Paulsen of the Smothers Brothers show. In the First District Sen Eugene McCarthy got four votes for President, Dick Gregory two, Edwin Muskie, one. Two voters went for Pat Paulsen and one of these teamed him with Eydie Gorme for Vice President.

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This election should go down in history as the one which plunged not only candidates, reporters and editors, but also computers into nervous breakdowns. Richard Nixon is the nation’s next President with more than enough electoral votes to send him to the White House but, two days after the election the popular vote is still in doubt. As of Thursday morning, November 7, there is a margin of only a few thousand between Mr Nixon and Hubert Humphrey out of more than 70,000,000 ballots cast. Also as of Thursday morning, Mr Nixon has 287 electoral votes from 30 states, with 270 being the required number. Mr Humphrey has 182 electoral votes from 13 states, and George Wallace has carried five southern states for 45 electoral votes. Computers across the nation complicated the count by giving out erroneous numbers, such as 177 percent of the vote had been taken in a certain area. Men, not machines were blamed, because computers are programmed by humans. A Los Angeles reporter was asked on the air why the West Coast return was so slow coming in. Completely deadpan, he answered, “Because of the change to the much faster computer system of counting.” Accurate national totals are simply not available as The Bee goes to press.

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On November 6, First Selectman Timothy B. Treadwell appointed Officer Kenneth Shaw to the newly created position of Sergeant in the Newtown Police Department. Mr Treadwell pointed out that filling this position was the first step in the process of creating an organized Police Department. He added that the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance have agreed in principal to the idea of going to full shift supervision in the next fiscal year. Officer Shaw has lived in town since 1941. He is a member of the Lions Club, Hiram Lodge AF and AM, Mirah Chapter. He is a member of Newtown Hook & Ladder Company and attends Trinity Episcopal Church.

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Presidential election notwithstanding, the Sandy Hook lady keglers were at the Woodbury Lanes as usual on Tuesday evening. The No Trump team rolled up the high score for the evening, 1,192 including a six-point handicap in three games. Spades were next with a score of 1,155. Hearts scored 1,162, Aces scored a 1,160.

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All children are collectors of “things” to some degree, and many of them as they get older collect worms, bugs, or butterflies. But few of them, even if they do live in the country, retain their interest in collecting. Somehow the charm was never lost with Mr and Mrs Hillary Pearson, who have been running the Pearson Wild Animal and Game Farm for the past 30 years on Poverty Road in Southbury. The cages containing the strange animals collected by the Pearsons are spread over many acres, and new homes are always being built for newcomers. Some of the animals and birds are raised right on the grounds, but most are imported. The Zoo Park was opened for the first time to the public in 1967, and people have been coming from all over to see it. There have been many school groups, with the cerebral palsy children and Southbury Training School children admitted free of charge. The Pearsons do what they can to train the animals, and then rent them for television and stage plays. They do most of the training of monkeys and some cats, and they have a partly-tamed leopard as well.

November 12, 1943

SHOP AND MAIL EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS: From every quarter, especially the the Post Office Department, come urgent appeals to shop early and mail early for Christmas. It is a warning we should heed. Our favorite merchants will have goods on their shelves in good season — in kind and quantities they are able to obtain. They obviously are handicapped by shortages. Whatever your Christmas shopping plans may be, start them early. It will avoid hardship and difficulties all around.

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During Monday’s session of the Town Court, William Krawiecki and Frank Krawiecki of Hawleyville were found guilty by Judge Walter Reynolds, charged with willfully throwing down the structure on land of another, set in a concrete foundation. The structure was a wooden Chinese figure owned by W.A. Upham which they damaged on Hallowe’en. They were each fined $50 and costs of $6, with the fines suspended. The young men were placed in the custody of Herman Geiger, probation officer, for one year. Agreement was reached with Mr Upham that the statue would be restored by the young men.

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Joseph Wiser of Botsford district returned home recently from the Bridgeport hospital. He is is now recuperating, after receiving treatment for torn muscles in one of his arms.

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Many parents accepted the invitation of teachers at Hawley School to visit the classrooms on Wednesday, tea being served in the Home Economics by Mrs Dorothy Cousens and her Home Economics Department. More than 35 parents enjoyed the afternoon. American Education Week was also observed Wednesday at the Sandy Hook School, many mothers taking advantage of teachers’ welcome. The interior of the building with its fresh coat of gay paint was much admired.

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Cadet Richard W. Andrews who is stationed at the State College, Raleigh, N.C., has been enjoying a seven-day furlough at the home of his mother, Mrs Georgia Andrews, of Main Street.

November 8, 1918

Warren Mitchell, while delivering farm products on Dayton Street, fell and broke a bone in his hand. Dr W. H. Kiernan attended him.

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John Duda, while out hunting one day last week, stopped in at a neighbor’s house. In fooling with the gun, it discharged and took off two of John’s toes. Dr Kiernan was called and he sent the young man to St Vincent’s Hospital.

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If for any reason the canvassers for the War Work Fund have missed you during the week, subscriptions may be handed in at the Newtown Savings Bank or to L. C. Morris, the Fund treasurer. Don’t fail to give, or if you do, you will regret it all the rest of your life. Let it be a Thanksgiving offering for peace for our boys who need the help.

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Charles F. Beardsley, the popular auctioneer who has auctioned off many hundreds of pigs, will appear at the hotel Green in Danbury, Friday, the 15th, to auction off some pedigree pigs to benefit the Red Cross. Go over and enjoy the fun.

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Newtown celebrated in royal fashion Monday night, the great Victory of the Allies, in a public meeting at the Town hall, which was packed to the doors by a happy crowd. It was an impromptu affair, quickly arranged by L.C. Morris and A. J. Smith of the United War Work committee. Every seat on the main floor was occupied and every inch of standing room taken. Rev George T. Sinnott said, “It is with pleasure that I accompany you tonight in this celebration of news of the Great Victory that has come to us. Imagination leads the way and pictures of the rejoicing boys on the battle field comes home to us. Their cries of jubilation thanking the Almighty for the victory, their wild embraces at the deliverance from death, then thoughts of home and loved ones for whom they have fought. Our duty now is to rejoice and keep on rejoicing.”

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.