The Way We Were

 

August 31, 1990

The Newtown High School Chorus has received word that the Russian Minsk Pioneer House Chorus will arrive in Newtown in mid-September. The group of 52 youths, accompanied by 13 adults, will be in town through September 21. While in Newtown, the chorus will perform at various schools within the district and surrounding areas. The students will be housed with local residents.

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Rick Mariani was one of several local tradesmen who helped make and install floor trim at the Teen Center on Church Hill Road last week. Ceiling and septic projects remain to be finished at the facility, whose opening has been pushed off to an undetermined date.

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Joel Zeisler had a great year on the ski jumping circuit and on August 17 in California he capped it off by winning his first United States Water Ski Jumping championship. In June, he broke a nine-year-old distance record. He followed that by capturing first place in both the Connecticut State Tournament in July and at the Eastern Regional Tournament in Virginia earlier this month.

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At press time last week, on the morning of August 23, town officials were in a quandary over what to do about a white skunk holing up in a stairwell behind Edmond Town Hall. Later that morning, the skunk was rescued by Mark McCready, Chuck Botsford, Peter Daccolti, George Matern, and Patty Ashlen. By using a long pole, the skunk was prodded into a garbage basket, which was then raised by ropes. After being released on nearby grass, the skunk scampered off without spraying.

September 3, 1965

The severe wind and electrical storm that struck Newtown and surrounding areas at 3:30 am Saturday has been variously described as looking like a tornado and acting like a cyclone. Weather officials identified it as a “whole gale.” Vincent P. Kiernan of the Connecticut Light & Power Company summed it up as “the worst thing to hit us since the ’55 flood.” Trees throughout the area toppled on Saturday, in may cases taking telephone and power lines with them and blocking roadways. Connecticut Light & Power Company reported interruption of service in 6,000 area homes. Some homes were without power for as long as 16 hours.

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Wednesday, September 8, is “S-Day” in Newtown — School Starts. Three elementary schools, the high school and junior high will welcome 2,720 pupils. Last year’s enrollment was 2,502. The high school cafeteria will be open on the first day of school and the charge per lunch will be 35 cents (or a weekly ticket for five lunches may be purchased for $1.75.)

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The Newtown Swim Team and their coaches and families are proud of the three finalists who swam to victory in the August 20 Danbury News-Times Swim Meet. Ennis “Spike” McQuail won a second place in boys eight and under freestyle. Nancy McJennett, another finalist competing in the girls 16 and under, copped a second prize. The team’s first place winner was Linda Leitch, scoring the major upset of the day in the girls 16 and under backstroke. This is the start of big things for the swim team. Interest has mounted among the swimmers and their parents in regard to maintain the group during the winter months.

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The old sugar maple in the front yard of Dr John Miller, close by the Hobby Horse Gift Shop, which is owned by and operated by Mr and Mrs Milton Hull, lost some of its largest limbs early last Saturday morning during the storm which hit the area. The roof of the Hull house received most of the damage, and large beams in the attic were snapped. Strangely enough, not a pane of glass was broken in the house, nor a single item lost in the shop.

 

August 30, 1940

William C. Baxter of Mills & Baxter, local real estate office, reports the sale of the property of Mrs Gale Ross of Sandy Hook to Mr and Mrs John Angel of Riverside Drive, New York City. The property was originally developed into a residence by Baird Hall, making an attractive home of the old mill, which dates back to 1840 when it was known as Warner’s Mill. Mr Angel is a noted sculptor, having been born in England, and studying at the Royal Academy Schools following an apprenticeship of seven years carving marble, stone, and wood. Mr Angel came to the United States in 1925. He made most of the statuary on the Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York City. Mr and Mrs Angel are now located at their new home, part of which will be converted into a studio.

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The “GO” signal has been received by the Newtown Committee for Child Refugees from the United States Committee for the Care of European Children. This means that those residents of Newtown who have indicated their willingness to adopt a child for the duration of the war can now proceed to take the initial steps which will bring a refugee child into their homes. The Newtown Committee was one for the first in the nation to respond to the plight of children in war-torn Europe.

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School children of Newtown will read with mixed emotions this item announcing the start of school on Wednesday morning, September 4, at 9 o’clock. It means the end of summer vacation and a fresh start on the quest for knowledge. For the teachers the year starts on Tuesday, when a teachers’ meeting will be held.

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The second annual ladies’ invitation tennis tournament was completed on Friday afternoon at the Newtown Country Club, when Helen Cullen defeated Rosemary Jameson in the finals by a 6-3, 6-4 score. The event this year had an entry list of sixteen players with some real tennis ability displayed throughout the matches. Appropriate trophies were presented to the Misses Cullen and Jameson by Paul S. Smith, treasurer of the club, following the completion of the tournament.

 

September 3, 1915

Andrew V. Egan has rented the blacksmith shop, house, and land, belonging to the Wechsung estate, taking possession September 1. Mr Egan is a successful blacksmith, having been located in the Meyers’ shop in Huntingtown for the past two years.

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John H. Blackman has gone to Mamaroneck, N.Y., and it is said will embark in the hotel business. Mr Blackman has been engaged in the meat business in Newtown and Sandy Hook continuously for about 35 years. Mr Blackman’s change of business is somewhat of a surprise to his friends, who wish him success in his new undertaking. Deputy Sheriff Morris D. Beers has sold the Blackman market building he recently bought of J.H. Blackman to E.W. Troy.

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The case of the State against Mores Nalevky, charged by the Connecticut Humane Society with cruelty to animals on four counts, extending from July 16 to July 26, was finished at the Town hall, Tuesday. It appeared that on July 15, Nalevky drove his horse, which was somewhat advanced years and in rather poor condition, to Bridgeport. On his return, he turned it on the highway and it wandered to the lawn of Herbert T. Coger, where it fell and struggled all night in trying to regain its feet. Coger telephoned to C.B Johnson to come down. They tried to get the horse up, but it was decided best to put an end to his suffering. The other counts were his abuse of a cow and heifer.

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A very enjoyable moonlight lawn party was held at the home of Mr and Mrs Michael Honan in Taunton on Thursday night. The lawn was tastefully decorated with Japanese lanterns. The evening was spent in playing games, with phonograph, piano, mandolin, and vocal selections, after which refreshments of cake, sandwiches, olives and lemonade were served.