Newtown has lost the status of being one of three Connecticut towns that have refused to enact an ordinance enabling an exemption on tax assessments on solar heating and cooling installations. The council voted 10-5 to adopt an ordinance allowed by the state statutes. John Bedichek of Scudder Road, who has installed a solar heating system in his house, termed enactment of the ordinance “the patriotic thing to do,” to help the country cut down on oil imports.

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“Exciting and innovative activities will soon be taking place at our library,” according to Pat McShea, chairman of the Friends of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. At Tuesday evening’s initial meeting of the newly reorganized group, an enthusiastic membership discussed plans for cultural events to be offered at the library in the near future under the auspices of the Friends.

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To say that Head O’ Meadow’s First Annual May Day Run was a success would be putting it mildly. There were 288 entrants for this six-mile run around the Hattertown and Palestine sections of town, with 233 runners taking off when the gun sounded, and the same number making it over the finish line.

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Bob Ruland of Robin’s Market, no fan of Connecticut’s Bottle Bill, found an unwanted extra ingredient in a bottle of Pepsi delivered to his Church Hill Road store for sale — a bent straw. The businessman said it confirms what he’s suspected right along, that recycled bottles are unsanitary.

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The monthly meeting of Cub Scout Pack 270 on April 29 had a circus theme. Den 2 provided the refreshments, circus character cookies they made and a circus tent cake. All six dens performed skits pertaining to circus acts.

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The grand kick-off for Newtown’s Summer Festival fun took place the evening of May 3 at the Embassy Room in Danbury. It was the Summer Festival Ball, attended by 116 people who had a rousing good time.

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In response to the many requests made by adults needing work done and by teenagers looking for part-time jobs, the Cyrenius H. Booth Library is reactivating its summer job file. The purpose of the file is to help young people find a market for their services and to provide adults with a list of students wanting to work.

May 13, 1955

The Newtown Savings Bank will throw open its doors to the public next Friday, May 20, as it observes not one but two historic occasions. As well as showing off with pardonable pride its newly expanded quarters with a completely modern look, new vault, and many other new facilities, the bank will mark the centennial year of its founding.

***

An exploding oil stove was the apparent cause of a fire which destroyed the former Hoyt homestead on Mile Hill South, adjacent to the Fairfield Hills State Hospital grounds, shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Discovered by a state police officer while on patrol, the blaze was so well advanced when the fire apparatus arrived that it was only possible to save the outbuildings.

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At Newtown Tru Valu Store: Fancy short cut rib roast: 59 cents lb; Round roasts: 79 cents lb; Fresh Cod fillets: 43 cents lb; Fresh Haddock fillets: 39 cents lb; Broccoli: 25 cents bunch; Indian River juice oranges: 39 cents dozen; Fancy juicy grapefruit: 10 cents each; Birds Eye Frozen spinach: 2 pkgs for 33 cents; Sliced American cheese: 49 cents lb.

***

Ray Trimpert of Bethel and the Lee Hat Company of Danbury were hosts for a group of high school boys last Wednesday, May 4. The trip was sponsored by the Guidance Counsel, under the direction of Mrs Charles Goodsell. At the factory, the boys listened to an interesting introductory talk concerning the subject of the various fibers used in hats. It was explained that, due to the shortage of rabbits in Australia, the laboratory chemists’ main project now is to develop a synthetic fiber to be used in production.

***

Evidence that the Elementary School Building Committee is losing no time in its effort to complete the new Sandy Hook School by the end of the year is found in its call for bids for site development work on the school property, off Riverside Road. The site development work, which will precede the letting of the contract for the construction of the building, includes the leveling off of knolls and filling of low areas.

***

Take a Sunday afternoon in the spring, add a brilliant sun at the greenery, put the chamber ensemble of the Danbury Symphony in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall, and place Ann Raynolds at the piano. Do these things and you have the perfect recipe for contentment.

***

Baseball will be the order of the day this Saturday afternoon, May 14, when the four teams of youngsters making up the Newtown Little League start off their season with a double header at Taylor Field, at the rear of Hawley School, starting at 1 o’clock. The games will be preceded by a procession of the teams from the flagpole to Taylor Field at about 12:45.

May 9, 1930

E.C. Platt, the popular Hawleyville lumber and hardware dealer, has bought a lot north of W. A. Honan’s store at Hawleyville, on which he will erect a building to serve as postoffice and hardware store. It will face the highway, and will be very convenient for the public.

On Monday for the first time in eight years John O. Piltzschler took his fish pole and line and went out after the festive trout. He pulled four nice ones out of the Pootatuck River and during his experience fell in the brook and bruised one hand some. He presented the trout to his father, Judge Oscar Pitzschler.

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Al Fatool is installing a large sized Frigidaire ice box in the Sandy Hook Confectionary store. Mr Fatool has now five boarders and will install shower bath with hot and cold water.

Hawley Highlights: Everybody reserve this Friday night for the Junior play! “O Kay” is a comedy in three acts, interspersed with mystery and thrills. Dancing by orchestra will follow. Tickets are obtainable from any of the Juniors.

***

As Dr W. F. Desmond was shaving, after dinner, on Saturday, he looked out the window and saw part of his car out of the garage. As soon as he could he finished dressing and went down and saw his car going down the road. Running into the house he notified Birdsey Sniffen that his car had been stolen. Meanwhile, the two culprits from Danbury who had taken the car, drove toward Berkshire and down by the residence of Miss May Hoyt, where they had a flat tire. They jacked up the car, and put on another tire. As they were coming by the residence of William Hayes, Patrick Sweeney, on the lookout for them, ran his car across the road, compelling them to go up on the lawn, where they jumped out and started across the swamp with Sweeney after them. “Stop or I’ll shoot,” shouted Sweeney. Sweeney had to wade through the water to get them, but he marched them back to the road and turned them over to the state police.

***

On Sunday afternoon, May 11, the Sandy Hook Baseball team will open the season at Pine Grove Park by taking on the strong Fulton A.C. of Waterbury. The Sandy Hook boys have been working out for the past two weeks and expect to give the Fultons quite a battle.

May 12, 1905

A Word From Congressman Lilley, House of Representatives, U.S., Washington D.C.

To E.L. Johnson, Chairman, Newtown’s Bi-Centennial:

My dear Mr. Johnson: In reply to your kind letter of May 2 would say that it is my expectation to be away this summer. Nevertheless, I think you very kindly for your invitation to attend your Bi-Centennial, and wish you a full measure of success.

***

Arthur D. Fairchild has a new Kemp manure spreader, bought of J. B. Fairchild.

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Prof Ross Jewell, the publisher of the Newtown souvenir postals, has up-to-date hand printed 10,000 cards of Newtown scenes and houses, a large number for so small a place.

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Frank Lee of Danbury came to Newtown, Sunday, in his handsome automobile, stopping at the Grand Central Hotel.

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It is almost needless to say that a concert by a brass band of about 20 pieces in the Town hall is an unusual event in Newtown. There should have been a larger audience, but small as it was, there was enthusiastic applause, from the opening selection, “The Star Spangled Banner,” to the close.

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A lot of gypsies camped at Bennett’s Bridge, last Tuesday night. They passed through Sandy Hook, Wednesday morning.