Newtown’s best-known landmark, the flagpole on Main Street, will soon lose its scabby appearance as the town’s purchasing authority opened bids this week on painting the pole.

***

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company personnel, under the direction of Chief William Halstead, were at the scene of a summer cottage fire in Pootatuck Park for two hours early Monday morning. Muddy road conditions caused problems with the company’s tanker, although Chief Halstead said the incident ended up not having much of a bearing on the operation.

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“Main Street was Main Street long before its ‘state highway’ designation and the Department of Transportation must respect the town’s responsibility to the people who live here,” Governor Ella Grasso has been told by Newtown’s Historic District Study Committee. The quote is from a letter which the committee sent to the governor telling her to have DOT keep its cotton pickin’ hands off Main Street’s flagpole and let it stay where it is.

***

“So many people ask when they can see me that I thought I’d let them know when I’ll be on,” said Edwin Cooper during a recent visit to The Bee. Mr Cooper, a veteran character actor who lives on Parmalee Hill Road in Newtown, will appear in a Cool Whip commercial several times during the next week.

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The Poverty Hollow Pony Club, under the direction of co-district commissioners Mrs Donald Fox and Mrs Joseph Ball, presented another annual cross country event starting from Open Gate Farm on Hanover Road last Sunday, April 27. Over 60 riders and horses completed the well-planned, flagged course.

***

It didn’t take long for the Sioux Tribe of YMCA Indian Princesses and their fathers to gather 20 bags of trash last Saturday on Botsford Hill Road as part of their effort in the Newtown Beautification Committee’s spring cleanup drive.

***

“It is incredible that with such an amount of vandalism occurring that there must be witnesses to some of these depredations, yet no witnesses have come forward to assist our investigation or help in any way. I strongly urge anyone with information concerning these events to please call the police department and all information will be kept confidential.” The words are from Newtown’s police chief, Louis Marchese, who has issued a harsh statement concerning the number of incidences of vandalism to mailboxes, street signs and traffic signs in town.

May 6, 1955

Attorney John F. Holian, Church Hill Road, was nominated last week by Governor Abraham Ribicoff for judge of the Newtown Town Court, a post which he filled from 1949. Named to serve with him as deputy judge was attorney Paul V. McNamara of South Main Street, a member of the law firm of McNamara, Kaufman and Jones of Bridgeport and Danbury.

***

A request of the Newtown Board of Education for an appropriation of $4,900 to provide four temporary classrooms in existing space at Hawley School and necessary equipment for them will be acted upon in a special town meeting next Friday night, May 13, at 8 o’ clock in Edmond Town Hall gymnasium.

 With a definite need for standardized identification tags for the US civilian population accepted by Civil Defense authorities as a consequence of this atomic age, a food manufacturer is now cooperating with federal authorities to make tags available to all men, women and children. The tags, which cost 25 cents each, are made of stainless steel with a steel ball necklace. Instruction sheets are being distributed in grocery stores to aid persons in ordering the tag.

***

 The music department of the Newtown Schools, under the direction of William B. Jones, supervisor, is presenting its annual spring concert May 6. This is an “appreciation” concert to the town, and there will be no admission charge.

***

The death of five dogs owned by William Gradowich of Cedar Hill Road of strychnine poisoning last month is the subject of investigation by state and town police. State policeman James Costello and police officer Hiram Hanlon are investigating the mysterious events of the death of the dogs and the finding of poisoned meat on Cedar Hill Road.

***

Newtowners who attended the Spring Gala of the Danbury Hospital Auxiliary April 23 carried home more than their share of prizes. Mrs James Fluharty won a new hat as a door prize and Mrs Russell Strasburger and Herbert W. Janzer also took door prizes. Mr and Mrs Charles Hamburg were acclaimed winners of the waltzing contest, while Mrs Gilbert Aikens number came up in the lucky number drawing.

***

A fire of unknown origin destroyed an unoccupied house owned by First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson on Old Green Road, near Walnut Tree Hill early last Saturday morning. The house and a quantity of heirlooms and antiques stored there was a total loss.

May 2, 1930

 On Tuesday, accompanied by Mr Boyle, the popular and capable superintendent in charge of construction of the H. Wales Lines Co., we looked over the commodious lobby of the new Edmond Town Hall, the finishing touches on which are now being made. Over the entrances to the corridors, is some very handsome hand carved trim, and this with the beaded glass in the arch, makes a very rich and beautiful appearance.

***

 Harold Francis Mann, well-known decorator of New York City, has purchased a rare old Salt Box type house together with 55 acres of land in Newtown, from Mrs C. A. Hillman of East Orange, N.Y.

***

Richard Botsford, a Newtown boy, who has gone into aviation, is now flying a tri-motored plane between New York and Providence. Mr Botsford recently addressed a meeting of the Danbury Aero Club on his flying experiences.

***

Al Bevans is adding to the beauty and attractiveness of his property at Old Cabin lunch, including a kiddies’ park with little house, swings, etc, comfortable nooks in which auto parties may eat the ice cream and lunch.

***

What do we know about the ways of tramps? This question as many other questions dealing with the lives of that wandering class of men known as tramps, will be answered at the forum, next Thursday evening at the Congregational church. The speaker will be Prof William Bailey. Dr Bailey is not only a most interesting and attractive speaker, but his works have a genuine ring of authority. For many years it has been his hobby to spend his vacations disguised as a tramp and to make a thorough study of their mode of living.

***

Just received a shipment of imported bridge prizes from 50 cents up. Call and look them over. Ye Apron Shoppe, Church Hill, Newtown.

May 5, 1905

A Word From Congressman Hill: I am in receipt of your letter of the 21st, and if I am in the country on the date of your Bi-Centennial it will afford me great pleasure to be with you. I congratulate you on the celebration of this Bi-Centennial.

***

The Woodbury Brass band will render a concert in the Town Hall, Newtown, Friday evening, May 5, commencing at 8 o’clock and lasting about two hours. If decidedly stormy they will postpone it till a week from that night.

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Newtown’s Bi-Centennial: It has been decided to open the celebration, Friday night, August 4, at the Town hall, with a Colonial ball. A committee of young people to arrange the affair has been named by the executive committee, whose names will be announced as soon as they have been conferred with.

***

Hon F. J. Naramore has been beautifying his lawn by setting out a number of ornamental shrubs and flowering plants.

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H.C. Fairchild, founder of the Ozone Soap Co., has just returned from his 13th winter sojourn on his orange plantation in Florida. His reasons for wintering in the South is to regain his health that he lost while introducing his soap between Philadelphia and Boston, but that soap is now known in the Western and Southern states.

***

S. Rosenberg, a tailor, has opened a tailor shop in the building of Patrick Gannon, next to The Bee office, and solicits orders for new work and repairing. A tailor is a handy man to have in town, and The Bee hopes he may be favored with good patronage.