September 22, 1989

“We’ve Only Just Begun” may become the Newtown Board of Realtors’ theme song as members enjoy the results of Saturday’s townwide Clean Sweep Day. Under skies that threatened rain up until noon, over 200 people of all ages picked up fresh trash bags at 8 am at their neighborhood fire stations. Then they roamed their appointed streets, filling two-ply plastic with commonly overlooked litter and debris. On that same Saturday, September 16, another 1,500-plus dragged their own trash to the landfill until 2 pm. Called Amnesty Day, the time was reserved for residents only to bring trash to the landfill without paying fees.

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Students at Newtown High won’t have to make a choice between playing in a nationally known marching band or participating in a title winning cross country team, after all. A compromise solution has been worked out to let band members who are also cross country track team members make up for missed performances. According to Bill Manfredonia [interim high school principal] the new policy will allow those band members who do participate in half-time shows to get credit. At the same time, those preferring to run “would miss points for not performing, but can prepare a musical audition to regain as many points as possible,” he added.

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State officials have responded swiftly and angrily to a move by First Selectman Rod Mac Kenzie to close Nunnawauk Road, the state’s only viable access to the proposed jail site. Mr Mac Kenzie closed the road Wednesday, September 20, ordering town highway workers to start drainage work on the road up to its intersection with Hitfield Road. Nunnawauk bisects state property on either side, and a $52 million jail is under the first phase of construction to the east of it. The state and the town are currently in court battling whether and how the jail should be built.

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Weatherlore says that when earthworms come to the surface it means it’s going to rain — a lot — and those wiggly creatures have been much in evidence lately. In fact, it has rained every day since last Wednesday. There has been 41.73 inches of rain so far this year, according to Mel Goldstein, meteorologist at Western Connecticut State University’ s weather center, noting that the area is three months ahead in rainfall. The forecast, however, does call for more rain as Hurricane Hugo moves up the coast. If Hugo continues on its present path, there will be heavy downpours late Friday and early Saturday.

September 25, 1964

There was some display of short tempers at the second session last Friday evening of a public hearing on proposed zoning changes in Newtown, but in the main it was a productive and constructive meeting with a good balance of pros and cons voiced by a number of townspeople. The proposal to provide for horse raising under certain restrictions came in for heavy fire and determined support. This discussion, at times, became something of a wrangle. The other major proposal which brought both strong support and outspoken opposition, during Friday’s hearing, was that dealing with the minimum size of dwelling in R-1/2 , R1, R2 and R3 zoned areas.

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Instance of tampering with mailboxes and mail in the boxes is reported by Postmaster Arthur Carmody of Sandy Hook. Both Postmaster Carmody and Postmaster Albert Nichols of the Newtown Post Office remind the public that, while damage to mail boxes is a matter for local police action, tampering with mail itself is a federal offense. In any case, this evidence of lawlessness is considered quite foreign to local behavior and will not be condoned without due penalty imposed on the offenders.

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The five fire companies of Newtown had their first annual firemen’s ball at the Yankee Drover Inn last Saturday night. A capacity crowd of about 165 people attended. Dancing continued up to the 2 am time set, with music by the Crystal Bells orchestra of New Haven. Those attending had a great time.

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C. David Hull, area representative of the H.C. Boerner Company, brokers for the Rival Dog Food Company, has announced that two puppies will be given away. An “Elect a Puppy” Contest is being held at the Newtown Grand Union from Wednesday, September 23 through Saturday, September 26. This year’s contest features an election year spoof urging everyone to support the Rival ticket. Two winners will be announced at 5 pm, Saturday and each will receive a five-month-old cocker spaniel puppy.

September 22, 1939

State police and local constables have not as yet found any trace of John and Alice Day, former servants in the home of Mr and Mrs John Mann of Main street, who left town Monday afternoon with several hundred dollars worth of valuables and clothing, the property of Mr and Mrs Mann. Their departure was not discovered until about 9:30 Monday evening, when Mr and Mrs Mann returned to their home, after being out of town, and found the doors all unlocked and their five-month-old baby alone in the house.

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Six cars of the 52-car New Haven Road freight train bound for New Haven at 5 o’clock, Monday morning, left the tracks at Keatings Crossing near the Fairfield State Hospital. Tracks were torn up for some distance and traffic between New Haven and Maybrook, N.Y. had to be rerouted. With the exception of the caboose, all were coal cars. Two of them overturned, scattering the cargo about the east bound and west bound tracks. Members of the train crew riding in the caboose escaped injury.

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The Newtown Board of Finance held a stormy and, it is understood, very argumentative meeting on Monday night, finally setting appropriations for the town. Chief change from the requested figures is the item of $6,500 requested for a paid police force which was disallowed in the entire amount.

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John McCarthy, Jr, son of Mr and Mrs John J. McCarthy of Main street, was struck by an automobile last Thursday afternoon as he was on his way home from school. The accident occurred on Church Hill road at the entrance of Wendover road. Fortunately, “Johnny” had no bones broken, his injuries being mostly cuts and bruises about the body. It so happened that he collided with the rear fender. If it had been the front of the car, the accident might easily have been fatal.

 

September 25, 1914

The September meeting of the Ladies Missionary Society was held at the home of Mrs Arthur J. Smith on Wednesday, September 23. A very interesting paper was given by Mrs C.B. Taylor on The New American. Mrs Howell, a missionary from Brazil told very entertainingly of her experiences and Miss Susan Scudder gave a bright talk about her trip abroad.

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The Methodist Church: Rev T.N. Laine and family left town on Wednesday after a pastorate of five and one-half years, to the regret of the community in general. They are a lovely Christian family and we wish them much success and usefulness in their new home at Pine Bluff, N.C.

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Benjamin Arthur of Bethel was arrested by Constable C.B. Johnson at the instance (sic) of the state dairy commissioner and arraigned before Justice P.H. McCarthy, on the charge of selling watered milk. Archer had been summoned to Hartford before the dairy commissioner, but did not respond, hence the order for his arrest. Mr Archer was a patron of the Hawleyville creamery.

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Trinity Parish: Choir practice Saturday evening at 7:30 o’clock. The vestry has engaged J. Edmond Skiff to train the choir and with Mrs Skiff will sing on Sunday. A full attendance is requested at the rehearsal on Saturday evening.