***

Five months after the loss of financial data recorded on computer in the school district’s business office, most of the transactions have been reconstructed and new approaches to management of recordkeeping are being sought to prevent future snafus. Chief among considerations for revamping a computerized accounting system with a troubled history are hiring a consulting specialist from a third party and educating staff.

***

The echoing whistle down the valley, the flickering fire and plume of smoke, the busy depot with its crowds stepping off the local or aboard the great deluxe express — all this was part of almost every Connecticut city and town eighty and more years ago. Newtown was one of them, with railroad depots at Botsford, Sandy Hook, Newtown center and Hawleyville. Unbelievable as it may seem, Hawleyville was a major station, with several railroad lines converging thee. But railroading in Newtown is just a small though fascinating part of railroading in Connecticut. All of which comes to life in the evocative, entertaining and authoritative book, Connecticut Railroads: An Illustrated History, written by Gregg M. Turner and Melancthon W. Jacobus, and edited by Oliver Jensen, published by the Connecticut Historical Society.

***

A Danbury woman was slightly injured when a rock was thrown through her windshield from the Philo Curtis Road overpass on the westbound lane of Interstate 84, on October 12, at 9:41 pm. An unidentified individual or individuals threw large rocks down onto the highway and shattered the windshields of three vehicles.

October 20, 1961

Ruth Low was on hand to record the morning schedule of the awakening Main Street on one of the last days of the Flagpole Fountain, to retain a picture of an era that is passing with the changes taking place day to day. The place, Main Street at the Flagpole, Friday September 29, 1961. At 7:40, Mr and Mrs Hibbard drive up, Mrs Hibbard slides over to take the wheel as her husband gets out to begin his next to last day of business after 13 years… Inside the Flagpole Fountain coffee is still being served, even though the fountain is officially closed. When someone ventures that the Flagpole Fountain will be very much missed, Mr Hibbard is silent for a minute. “Yes,” he says, “I guess it will make a change on Main Street.” Then with a half smile, “I ought to auction off this stool where Marilyn Monroe sat.”

***

The newly formed Newtown Teen Canteen will hold an Autumn Leaves dance on Saturday, October 21, in the gymnasium of the Edmond Town Hall, from 8 to 10 pm. The dance will feature the popular local band, “The Quarter Notes.” The admission fee will be 50 cents, and grades nine to 12 are invited.

***

Stickers to wrap the little milk cartons which children carry as they collect coins for UNICEF will be issued at all schools next week. The children are being instructed to turn in their contributions at the schools the next morning, or if they so desire, at the party they attend.

***

As part of her program to visit the office of the town clerk in each town of the state, Secretary of State Ella T. Grasso paid a visit on Town Clerk John W. Schwenck at the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday morning. Mrs Grasso also included a visit with the registrar of voters. Following their visit at the town clerk’s office, Mr Schwenck entertained the group for luncheon at the Yankee Drover Inn.

 

October 16, 1936

A Hallowe’en Party will be held at the Fairfield State Hospital on Thursday, October 29, commencing at 7:30 pm. The Occupational Therapy Department will have charge and preparations are under way in the making of costumes and planning for games. The hospital orchestra, consisting of six pieces, will be in attendance and there will be both modern and old-fashioned dances. The general public is invited to attend.

***

Trinity’s turkey supper served on Tuesday evening, in the Alexandria room of the Edmond Town Hall, provided a sumptuous repast for the 200 members and friend who filled the room. W.M. McKenzie, in charge of the affair, certainly deserves credit in completing the reservation as well as for his novel method of serving the main plates from a serving wagon of his own design. This wagon has the capacity for 100 plates, is made of metal and lined with asbestos. It is mounted on wheels and the plates on metal shelves inside are kept warm by a electric heating unit.

***

“Plumes in the Dust,” a play by Sophie Treadwell in which Henry Hull will star, will open at Princeton, N.J., on October 24th. It will be seen a week in Washington, D.C. and a week in Baltimore before coming to New York. Miss Treadwell, the author, is a summer resident of Newtown.

***

A large partridge weighing two and one-half pounds crashed through the basement window in the Edmond Town Hall on Thursday night and was found dead on the floor in the post office room by John Pendergast on Friday morning. That’s one way of providing a game dinner!

 

October 20, 1911

E.J. Hill, Congressman from the fourth district, will give a lecture at Edmond Town hall, on Thursday evening, October 26, under the auspices of the Men’s Federation of the Congregational Church. His theme will be “Notes from a Sightseer’s Diary,” taking in the trip he made from Cairo to Constantinople.

***

Thomas Carey of Queen Street injured one knee while at work in the wheel pit at the factory of the Fabric Fire Hose Co., one day, last week, laying him up for several days.

***

A barn belonging to James Egan of Palestine was burned to the ground about 9 o’clock, Monday night. Mr and Mrs Egan had just retired when Mrs Egan was aroused by a snapping noise. Flames were seen to be breaking out at the barn. Neighbors were notified and help was soon at hand. By hard work, the house was saved from burning. The barn was 34 x 20 and was filled with hay and oats.

***

A meeting of the Jewish Farmers’ Cooperative Credit Union will be held at the home of Israel Susman in Huntingtown District, Sunday, October 22, at 10 am sharp. A vote will be taken whether or not the Jewish Farmer’s Association and the Credit Union shall become amalgamated, in order to have a larger reserve fund.