* * *

All three candidates for Newtown first selectman agreed there is a need to attract more commercial and industrial industries to Newtown, during an appearance before the local Chamber of Commerce Wednesday afternoon. Jack Rosenthal, Cordalie Benoit, and Robert Ruland responded to prepared chamber questions on whether they favored planned retail and commercial growth, and what the effect would be on taxes, police and fire protection, educational and other town services.

* * *

Four months after a student-teacher panel from Newtown High School presented the Board of Education with proposed changes to the school discipline policy, the board is considering adoption of a new policy which includes nearly all of the recommended changes. “Everything the panel recommended is included in the policy, except the in-school suspension proposal,” Interim Superintendent of Schools A. Winthrop Ballard explained to members during Tuesday’s meeting.

* * *

Newtown’s Board of Selectmen has kept alive the possibility of purchasing a 32-acre tract of land off Castle Meadow Road, which includes Morgan Pond, from the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company. Morgan Pond is used by area residents for skating, as well as fishing. No asking price has been given to the town.

* * *

Newly appointed Commissioner of Mental Health Dr Audrey Worrell personally thanked volunteers “for improving the quality of life for the patients at Fairfield Hills Hospital” at a reception in Cochran House Wednesday afternoon, October 7. Dr Worrell noted that for many of the patients without family, volunteers are their only connection to the outside world.

* * *

Roads, water and sewers are key issues in the future of Newtown, and provisions for them are made in the update of the Newtown Plan of Development. The plan reflects the four-year-long study of the town’s sewer needs conducted by the Center for the Environment and Man, Inc and now being worked on by the town’s Water Pollution Control Authority. Areas potentially requiring service are due to density, type of development, or existing or historical septic system failures.

* * *

As regiments of snappily dressed soldiers marched down Main Street last Sunday, Newtowners and area residents got a rare glimpse into America’s history as the soldiers reenacted the march of French General Rochambeau’s troops through Newtown in 1781. The troops were greeted with as much applause, cheers and whistles as probably welcomed Rochambeau 200 years ago, as the colonists in the area were relieved to see the troops arrive.

 

October 19, 1956

Because of an automobile accident several weeks ago, Newtown’s flagpole got a fresh coat of paint last Thursday without expense to the town. According to First Selectman Edward J. Coleman, insurance carried by a motorist, whose car tangled with the famous 100-foot white pole, paid for the repainting.

* * *

The Connecticut State Department of Health urges adults, particularly those under 45 years of age, to be vaccinated against polio. The department explains that inoculations should be started at once, to give partial protection before the end of the current polio season. Starting now, the three inoculations needed for full protection can be completed before the next polio season.

* * *

Climaxing Ike Day in Newtown last Saturday, Republicans gathered at the Hawley Manor Inn to honor the President and their candidate on the occasion of his 66th birthday. More than 100 gathered at the Hawley Manor for the evening’s celebration. Fluted streamers, large colored photographs of the president and a photograph of Senator Prescott Bush, candidate for re-election to the US Senate decorated the Inn.

* * *

Newtown will join in the eleventh worldwide celebration of United Nations Day. Posters depicting the theme of the United Nations will be appropriately displayed in local store windows. A program is being finalized for students of the Newtown High School grades nine–12, at which a guest speaker will lecture on the United Nations.

* * *

Negotiations are well underway for the location of a new industry in Newtown. The concern is the F.W. French Tube Company, headed by Fred W. French of Watertown. The Industrial Committee of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce with Earl Mitchell as chairman, has been engaged for some time in the project of helping Mr French to locate his company here. One of the important details involves the construction of a roadway into the Stowe property from the present easterly end of Johnston Drive.

* * *

The first couple to be married in Edmond Town Hall celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Sunday with an open house for more than 100 friends and relatives. Mr and Mrs Milton Chernoff of Ann And Milt’s Gas Station, Route 25, and Milt’s Gas Station, Route 25, South Center District, were married in the town hall October 11, 1931, and held their wedding reception in the Alexandria Room.

 

October 16, 1931

Hairdressing! I am now ready to do Hair Dressing at my home in Botsford, next to former Crowe-Keane Button Shop. Marcel Waving: $1.00; Permanent Waving: $7.50; Finger Waving: $1.00. Mrs Nora Varisco, Tel. Newtown 83-23.

* * *

A bad break in the pipe of the Newtown Water Co. at a point opposite St Rose’s church was discovered, Monday night, after two days’ digging by men furnished by Contractor Thomas J. Connor. The break was at the point of the old connection with the pipe which led to the former Newtown High school. Water was shut off from Church street residents and the Boulevard, Sunday and Monday.

* * *

At a meeting held in the Town hall on Tuesday night a Newtown bowling league was formed. The league will consist of eight teams which will play two tournaments of 14 games each. The winners of the two tournaments will meet at the end of the season for the town championship. The success of the league will depend on every bowler being on time at the alleys, when his team is scheduled to play.

* * *

Arthur Beard returned to Sandy Hook, last week, after three months passed at Red Ruth, Cornwall, England. While there he played in a band, of which he was a member 50 years ago. He found a few of his old band comrades of 50 years ago. Mr Beard says every small community in England has a well-organized band.

* * *

D.N. Popovitch, Taunton’s enterprising agriculturist, took five of the prizes in the vegetable department at the Danbury fair, last week. He received first prize on yellow and white Bent corn, pole beans, corn stalks and sunflower. Mr Popovitch’s cornstalks were 18 feet high, several feet higher than his nearest competitor.

* * *

Ruth Topping Beers, who so successfully conducted a school of dancing in town during last fall and winter, will reopen her classes on Tuesday, October 27. The classes are to be held at the Edmond Town hall in the afternoon and evening. A large number will undoubtedly avail themselves of this unusual opportunity.

 

October 19, 1906

Sherman Botsford, 82 years old, who was injured a while ago by falling on a scythe and cutting himself badly, is now up and about again. He was able to wield an ax and chop down a tree, the other day.

* * *

A gang of 30 men are at work installing the new iron bridge over the Housatonic river at Sandy Hook. It is said it will take about three months to complete the job.

* * *

The public will have an opportunity of witnessing an exemplication of the work at the new Masonic hall as soon as the hall is finished. The goat used on this occasion is a genuine Royal Chiyoeta and was presented to this lodge by the Queen of Itsukushima, who was so pleased with the work on the occasion of her recent initiation, that she selected the finest goat of her collection of four hundred and sent it to the MIHMG.

* * *

Miss Ann Blackman and Miss Florella Northrop had an interesting experience with Miss Blackman’s reliable horse, “Fan.” They journeyed as far as Brushy Hill, where the horse balked. About 5:30 they got the horse to move and she traveled as far as Fred L. Northrop’s where the horse balked again. Finally, Mr Northrop hitched up his horse, unhitched “Fan” from the carriage and led the “balky trotter” into town.

* * *

A Crisis In The History of the Newtown Fair. On Saturday of this week at 2 pm, an important meeting of the stockholders of the Newtown Agricultural Fair Association will be held, when it is hoped every stockholder will be on hand. Through no fault of the directors the association finds itself in debt to the amount of about $700. If the fair is to go on these premiums must also be paid in full, and it lays with the stockholders to decide the momentous question. There is genuine regret and sorrow on the part of the directors over the situation.