June 29, 1984

A case involving a proposal for an Old Hawleyville Road group home for mentally retarded persons has led the Planning and Zoning commission to contemplate amending its regulations to comply with a state statute requiring that for zoning purposes, group homes not be considered differently from single-family residences. Marty Legault, executive director of the Corporation For Independent Living, said he is upset that town officials have taken such a long time in reviewing the group home’s application to the town.

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The Board of Fire Commissioners voted June 28 to ask the town for funds to replace the engine of Truck 21, the main pumper truck of the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Department. Dodgingtown recently learned that the 16-year-od truck — the department’s main attack apparatus at fires — has severe problems and that the engine must be replaced. Rather than run the risk of having the truck “die” on the way to a fire, it was put out of commission several weeks ago. Dodgingtown has borrowed a pumper truck owned by the Town of Bethel and used by the Stony Hill Fire Department.

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The Public Building Committee is recommending that the town move its fire and ambulance dispatch services from Edmond Town Hall to the Police Station at Town Hall South. The committee, however, recommends that the town keep a switchboard operation at town hall during daylight hours so that dispatchers there can handle calls to the various town departments.

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Nearly 200 staff members, friends, and relatives gathered together Thursday, June 21, to honor Alvah Cramer, principal of Newtown High School, who is retiring at the end of the school year. A proper balance of mild roasting and fitting tribute to the man who has spent the past 20 years as the school leader combined to make a most memorable evening.

 

July 3, 1959

Dave Stewart of Stamford and Newtown was a member the crew of the Southern Star II, the yawl that won class C of the 1959 Newport to Annapolis yacht race. The Southern Star is owned by Mr and Mrs James Mullen of Richmond, Va.

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Attention of townspeople is called to the fact that under the existing zoning regulations in the town of Newtown, permits are required for the construction of private swimming pools. E.H. Megin, building inspector, has necessary forms available, and applications should be filed with him.

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At special meeting of the Board of Education held at the high school on Tuesday evening, June 30, the board voted to appoint Michael K. Wolfer, head of the high school English department, assistant principal of the high school. Mr Wolfer will continue to teach the advanced placement English course and will retain his position as head of the school’s English department.

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Just in case they haven’t been noticed, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to New Haven reminds that this has been a very productive spring for mosquitoes. The station reports the abundance of water in the past month has caused ideal conditions for rapid multiplication of the pests. The Experiment Station says further that a light spray of DDT on the shrubbery around homes sharply reduces the mosquito nuisance to the immediate area.

June 29, 1934

The Cyrenius H. Booth Library’s first exhibit will open Sunday, July 1, at 3 pm, at which time the artist, Martin Lewis, Mr Nettleton, and members of the Library Board and staff will welcome visitors. Library readers would have to search through many recent novels to find such revealing comment on modern city life as may be discovered in Mr Lewis’s etchings and watercolors of New York. It is hoped that many people will make the most of this opportunity to see the work of an artist of national reputation.

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There was a bad auto accident, Saturday morning, about 12:30 o’clock when Charles Burhans, an employee of Harold Smith, and having as passengers Shirley Wakelee and Jean Smith, in trying to avoid a car at the Lovell corner, crashed between a tree and a telephone pole. Dr E.L. Kingman took nine stitches in two cuts on the cheek of Shirley Wakelee and a cut on the wrist of Jean Smith. The front of the car was pretty thoroughly demolished.

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A large crowd of people gathered in Sandy Hook and Newtown Street, opposite the flag pole, Saturday about 1230 pm, to greet President Roosevelt and party as they passed through, enroute to Hyde Park, N.Y., the President’s home. Mr Roosevelt waved his arm genially to the hundreds who had gathered to greet the Chief Executive of the nation.

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The case of William M. Strong, who was given a court summons, will be heard in Judge Hampton’s court, this Thursday evening. Mr Strong is charged with the violation of the Borough Zoning laws by placing a tourist sign in front of his home, which is in a residential area. Mr Strong has refused any effort to cooperate with the Zoning Board or Board of Appeals and it is too bad that he has forced this step by the Board.

 

July 2, 1909

Appreciation for the work of the Newtown High School on the part of the people of the town was evinced again, Friday evening, by the large and representative audience, which crowded the town hall at the annual graduation exercises. The exercises were of a very high order, and the young people who participated were commended for the excellence of the essays.

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John B. Hubbell, while returning from his father’s funeral on Friday evening, was struck by the train going north, due at Newtown at 7:20, at the crossing just above Botsford. Mr Hubbell states that he stopped and listened, but heard no whistle. The horse was on the track when he discovered the engine right upon him. The engine struck the carriage and threw Mr Hubbell some distance to one side. Mr Hubbell sustained a bad gash over one eye, and was painfully bruised. He was driving a horse belonging to W.H. Prindle, which was uninjured. The carriage was completely wrecked.

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W.C. Johnson of Newtown is gaining quite a reputation as one of the humorists of the House. He is a rigid and consistent upholder for the rights and dignities of the small towns and will get up at the drop of the hat to scrap with anybody, or over anything that takes on the aspect of hostility to the country towns. He has a knack of saying the things he means in such a manner as to leave no doubt in the minds of his hearers, and a species of dry, caustic and irresistible humor pervades his remarks.

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Charles Hawley, the veteran Sandy Hook stage driver, was the victim of a painful runaway, Wednesday afternoon. A spirited and handsome team of horses took fright at the Newtown railroad station and ran on to the track, throwing Mr Hawley out. The horses ran as far as the creamery ice house. The wagon was more of less wrecked. Mr Hawley showed his pluck by hitching the horses and driving them to the next train.