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The first snow storm of 1984 dropped half a foot of snow on Newtown and the surrounding towns Tuesday evening before it abated a few hours before daylight Wednesday morning. For youngsters, the snow meant a day off from school.

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Newtown exchanged part of its small town charm recently for a bit of sophistication when the Southern New England Telephone Company assigned an additional prefix. According to SNET spokesman Fran Makula, the new exchange, 270, was introduced “just to meet growth in the area.”

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They’re all doing it — all of the fifth graders. It’s called Computer Literacy. Mrs Martha Gross, library media specialist at Middle Gate School, said all fifth graders are becoming competent. What is computer literacy? Computer literacy means an awareness of computer hardware and software and their applications in modern society. Fifth graders at all the Newtown schools are also doing similar work.

January 16, 1959

Members of the Newtown Hook and Ladder Company pumped water on Hawley Pond last Saturday night, and again on Sunday, to improve the surface of the ice for skating. This winter, with the absence of snow, is proving ideal for skating, and this effort by the firemen, if continued at proper intervals, will prove to be a great favor to the young skaters in town and a boon to healthy appetites.

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The Newtown Board of Fire Commissioner announces that all five fire companies have now been equipped with foam fire fighting gear and that this material is the best known means of combating gasoline and inflammable liquid fires. Similar to soapsuds in appearance, the foam smothers the fire.

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Last Saturday night, January 10, the Teen Canteen record hop was held. It was the introduction night for the new phonograph and loudspeaker arrangement. Everyone agreed that it served its purpose very well. The next meeting will be in the form of a record hop on January 24. Roger Fazziano, program chairman, has announced a new brand of entertainment.

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On February 14, a new stamp will be issued by the United States Post Office Department, commemorating the centennial of Oregon’s statehood, which was designed by Robert Hallock of Hattertown Road, Newtown. The design depicts a covered wagon in the foreground, symbolic of the wagons that rolled westward along the Oregon Trail.

January 12, 1934

A closet behind the furnace a C.B. Beardsley’s home got on fire, Tuesday afternoon. The fire truck was called, but the blaze was put out by Thomas Wright, who seized an extinguisher and drove to Gray’s Plain ahead of the truck.

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An entertainment for the benefit of the patients of the Fairfield State Hospital will take place on Friday night. The Farm Bureau ladies of Sandy Hook are sponsoring the affair and have arranged with the Zylo School of Music and Dancing, Sandy Hook, to present their pupils in a variety of dancing, singing and instrumental numbers.

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Henry G. Carlson, Proprietor of Liberty Garage, wishes to announce that he has become a Chevrolet direct dealer and that the new 1934 models will soon be on display in his show rooms. Liberty Garage, in addition to handling Chevrolets, will continue their present arrangement in regard to selling and servicing Ford cars, so that they will be well-qualified to serve the motoring public with these two popular cars in the low-price field.

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A passenger car got out of control, on Mt Pleasant, Wednesday night, and practically demolished an electric light pole. Two of the men were brought to Dr Desmond’s office for first aid and were later taken to the Danbury hospital. The “juice” will be turned off for a short time, Friday noon, while a new pole is being put in.

 

January 15, 1909

With a sleety rain falling, Saturday night, a Polish man, wife, and four small children, landed in Newtown Street, after dark, not knowing where they were to go. They happened to meet Judge Beecher on the street, and told him in broken English of their sorry plight. He provided them a place to stay and food for their necessities. It was a kind and gracious deed.

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Thomas O. Murphy of Botsford has a flock of 88 pullets of which he is justly proud. So far this winter they have averaged to lay him four dozen eggs each day and are still doing the same. He has the Rhode Island Reds and White Leghorn breed and he has some cockerels crossed between the two breeds which are beauties.

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A big fire occurred in Hattertown on Monday evening when the stock barn of J.M. Woolsey was burned up. The cause of the fire is unknown, as Mr Woolsey was in New York and no one had been about the premises of far as is known. The barn was 110 x 30 feet, almost new, and was fitted up with modern appliances and stanchions for 30 or 40 cattle. Burned with the barn was a large silo, 60 or 70 tons of hay and a number of farming tools. The fire was so brilliant that it lighted up Newtown street brightly.

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A chicken pie supper will be served this evening in the basement of Trinity church, beginning at 5:30 o’clock. In the evening at 7 o’clock there will be an old-fashioned spelling match, which promises to create a great deal of interest and amusement. The admission for the evening will be 25 cents.