Full Text:

THE WAY WE WERE

APRIL 5, 1974

By a plurality of 456 votes, the voters of Newtown in an all-day referendum

April 1, elected to retain the Boyle property on Boggs Hill Road as a site for

a new elementary school. The turnout for the vote, 3,681, was a record for any

referendum in town, including those on budgets. Also, 29.1 percent more voters

showed than did for the December 11, 1973 referendum which was nullified

because the property had not gone to Planning and Zoning for a mandatory

referral prior to the vote.

The First Selectman, the Public Building Committee and the Road Superintendent

are thinking about one type of town garage, and Jack Rosenthal, vice chairman

of the Board of Finance, is thinking about something different. Mr Rosenthal

attended the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Tuesday night to attack the

$450,000 price tag that has been placed on the new facility. His contention is

that, with other priorities to be taken into consideration -- such as the

ever-increasing costs to the town for basic materials and employees salaries,

it is irresponsible for the town's officials to be talking about a garage of

that cost. Mr Rosenthal promised, following the meeting, that he would be

prepared to offer an alternative plan for a new garage, which would be both

smaller and less expensive than what is being proposed. "We need a new town

garage," he stated, "but not anywhere near $450,000."

Alvah R. Cramer, principal of Newtown High School, has announced the

valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 1974. Valedictorian is Miss

Cynthia St. Jean, daughter of Mr and Mrs Leon St. Jean of 11 Taunton Lake

Drive. Salutatorian is Miss Catherine Pierson, daughter of Mrs Norma Pierson

of 5 Curry Drive.

Newtown's Police voted on Monday, April 1, not to accept the letter of intent

which was written by the Board of Selectmen to solve the grievance filed by

the police last December about the assignment of sergeants to the dispatcher's

desk. In a 17-0 vote, with three officers absent, the police decided to send

back to the Board of Selectmen a copy of the letter as they feel it ought to

be written, including two corrections suggested by the union and the policemen

themselves. Officer Richard Stook, president of Local 337 of the International

Brotherhood of Police Officers, (IBPC), said on Wednesday, April 3, that he

hoped the Board of Selectmen would rewrite the letter and resubmit it to the

Police Union.

Members and friends of the Newtown Historical Society will be afforded the

opportunity of hearing one of the country's leading authorities on antiques at

the society's monthly meeting on Monday, April 8, at 8 pm when Miss Alice

Winchester of Newtown will speak on the subject, "Antiques and Preservation."

On Saturday evening, March 30, the five fire companies of Newtown joined

forces and had a testimonial dinner for two ladies who had just retired after

a combined 34 years of service to the town. These two, Mrs Myrtle Von Bank and

Mrs Louise Urbanovsky, had had a lot of contact with the firemen in those

years for they were employed at the switchboard of the Town Hall and had

relayed many a fire call during the years. Mrs Von Bank had spent 18 years

behind the switchboard and served 16 of these as head operator. Mrs

Urbanovsky's voice was a familiar one for 16 years, and between the two of

them they probably managed to carry on communications with the volunteers

through some of the worst fire calls in the history of the town.

High scorers in the Sandy Hook Women's Bowling League for March 26 were: high

single, Rita Nagy, 134; high three, Rita Nagy and Tiny Olmstead, 322; high

no-mark, Katy Pierwola, 92.

Edwin J. Corfey was installed as Scoutmaster of Troop 70 at a combined meeting

of the Troop and Troop Committee on Saturday, March 30. Mr Corfey was

presented with the Scoutmaster's Library and badges of office by retiring

Scoutmaster William Downing. Newly elected Troop Committee Chairman Robert

Crawford, on behalf of the boys and committee, presented an engraved plaque to

outgoing Scoutmaster William Downing, in appreciation for his services as

Scoutmaster. Robert Hannah, previous Troop Committee Chairman, will serve as

Troop Advancement Chairman, with Robert Fahrenholz, Treasurer; John Watson,

Camping; Theodore Whippie, Adult Cook and William Downing, Publicity. Other

adults active with the Troop are Paul Alexander, Gilbert Teal and Gene Travis.

APRIL 8, 1949

The residents in the many towns throughout the Housatonic River Valley are

being urged to form a strong citizens organization for the purpose of

preserving and developing the natural beauty of the Housatonic River. In a

recent announcement by Charles Downing Lay, president of the Housatonic Valley

Association, an organization of this kind would serve to promote favorable

public opinion for the establishment of a Housatonic Valley Planning

Authority. This authority, as permitted by state law, would be dedicated to

the carrying out of a program set up for the uniform improvement and

protection of all the valley towns. But the success of such a plan depends

entirely upon the mutual efforts and co-operation of the neighboring towns.

One hundred and thirty members and guests of the Newtown Fish and Game Club,

Preston Beers, president, gathered at the Parker House last Thursday evening

for their annual dinner and get-together. As in previous years, ladies were

invited and the whole company enjoyed an excellent turkey and ham dinner.

Highlight of the evening was the awarding of many substantial worthwhile door

prizes. Local merchants had cooperated with the club in helping to provide

suitable awards. Winners were announced as Howson Stevens, Newtown, fishing

rod; Nick Lucicio, Shelton, 15-pound ham; C. Norton, Southbury, portable

Westinghouse radio; Angelo Anderson, Bridgeport, Martin automatic reel. Other

officers helping with details for the affair were Robert Lockwood, secretary,

and Michael Rusinko, treasurer.

William Ferris, Jr, and his brother, Percy, of Newtown were among the several

youths from Fairfield County who attended a forestry field day in Woodbridge.

4-Hers from Fairfield and New Haven counties participated in the all-day

program on Saturday.

The puzzling question of "what time is train time," which has plagued the

public for years during the months when Daylight Saving Time is in effect,

will no longer bother the patrons of the New Haven Railroad, Henry F.

McCarthy, vice president in charge of traffic, has announced. On April 24,

when DST becomes effective for 1949, the New Haven will be the first large

railroad in the East to print all its public timetables in Daylight Savings

Time. It will also operate all its public clocks in its own stations on the

same time. No longer will patrons hurry for the "5:15" only to find a train

gate curtain advertising the "4:15." No longer will the New Haven patrons have

to excitedly ask information clerks, "Yes" but what time does it leave by MY

watch?"

The Sandy Hook Fife and Drum Corps' gala minstrel to be presented on the stage

of the Edmond Town Hall theater Thursday evening, April 21, is now in its

final stages of preparation with a dress rehearsal scheduled for this Friday

evening, April 8, at Trinity church.

The theater of the Edmond Town Hall was well filled with an audience of

appreciative parents and friends who much enjoyed the 1949 Gym Show, presented

last Thursday evening by the students of Hawley school under the direction of

their two Physical Education teachers, Coach Harold S. DeGroat and Miss Ann

Anderson.

APRIL 4, 1924

The young blizzard which struck Newtown about 4 pm Tuesday, increased with

fury all the evening and by morning there was 10 or 12 inches of snow on the

level, with many country roads drifted full. Louis Lovell responded to three

calls from autoists stuck in Mt Pleasant and the Liberty Garage was also

called to the same section to help autoists stuck in snowbanks. W.C. Johnson,

foreman of the local highway force, was right on deck and Frank Goodsell

started out with the big truck and plow and kept at it through the night, and

when the average citizen looked out in the morning he found the state roads

clear for any traffic.

In spite of the raging storm of Tuesday night, about 40 people came out at the

meeting of the church forum at the Congregational Church when Superintendent

of State Police Robert Hurley was the speaker. For about an hour Mr Hurley

held the closest attention of his hearers, his address bubbling over with

humor. The hostesses of the evening, Mrs Beers and Mrs Sanford Mead, served

hot cocoa and crackers.