November 3, 1989

Graffiti and vandalism have been a problem at Edmond Town Hall on Friday nights for the past two decades, but with the advent of recent drug sales parents are calling for immediate police enforcement. Police Chief Michael DeJoseph warns would be drug dealers that if they are caught selling their goods at Edmond Town Hall (or anywhere else in town), they will be arrested and they will go to jail.

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Cleanup has begun of the silt that eroded from the site of a $52 million state jail onto nearby game preserve property during recent rains. At the same time, one federal and one state environmental agency are investigating the situation to determine whether sufficient erosion control measures have been installed at the jail site since seven inches fell here three weeks ago.

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The Heritage Preservation Trust of Newtown has asked the town to apply for $35,000 of state funds to help finance the restoration of the Old Meeting House. The Trust has nearly completed interior work to bring the building up to code and is seeking help to complete work on the exterior of the building. Don Studley, president of the Trust, emphasized the group is not seeking town funds. It has already raised $20,000, and is simply asking the Selectmen to apply for state monies trough the LoCIP (Local Capital Improvement Program.)

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A simulated plane crash in a vacant field off High Bridge Road served as a practice session last weekend for members of the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and was used to help recertify staff at Ashlar of Newtown, a convalescent home, said EMT George Fowler. Two cars represented the fuselage of a downed plane and nurses used different equipment to extricate victims.

November 6, 1964

A malicious prank last Friday night about 10:15 caused Newtown Hook & Ladder Company and Engine No 1 firemen a lot of trouble, including a head-on collision wrecking a two-door sedan owned by Fire Chief Lee W. Glover and some injury to him personally. These trials and tribulations occurred when pranksters threw a homemade Molotov cocktail from the Currituck Road overpass down to the Interstate 84 below. The resulting flames were reported by passersby. Firemen washed down the roadway to clear it and prevent flat tires and accidents. All firemen return to the fire house after an alarm. Chief Glover, driving his own car after leaving the fire house en route home, was involved in a head-on collision when a convertible which was out of control crossed the center line, about 50 feet south of the Newtown Log Cabin on South Main Street.

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The study of Mexico by the grade 5 class of William Foote became deliciously alive on Wednesday noon when the group enjoyed a complete Mexican meal prepared in the classroom. The flavor of Mexico was all about the room with displays of pottery, handicrafts, baskets, dress and foods, the aroma of which also filled the hallways.

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Halloween was a grand night for goblins but a better one for young people of Newtown who had six Halloween parties staged for their enjoyment. There was plenty of other merriment in town, too, with a group of more than 200 young people of high school age making the rounds from the town hall to the shopping center, leaving a trail of shaving cream on cars, shop windows, bystanders, but mostly on themselves. Newtown police, special and elected constables and deputies kept a wary eye on proceedings. Some damage was reported but, on the whole, behavior was better than in years past.

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Nearly all the organizations of Newtown, both secular and nonsecular, will unite in a meeting on November 28 to honor the Rev Paul Cullens, who is retiring this fall after 37 years of service as minister of the Newtown Congregational Church. A proclamation naming that Saturday as “Paul Cullens Day” has been issued by the Board of Selectmen.

November 3, 1939

Mr and Mrs William B. Harris have closed the Maryland Grill for the winter and will leave on next Tuesday for Miami, Florida, where they will pass the winter. Mr and Mrs Harris report that that Maryland enjoyed an exceptionally fine season with several Europeans as dinner guests and tourists from as far west as Mexico, California, and Washington.

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Book Week will be celebrated at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, beginning November 12th and ending November 18th. IN observance of this week, several special attractions will be on display. Book Week, it should be noted, brings around a reminder that books are the universal medium of education in school and out. The slogan challenges thinking people to explore the wide world not alone in scientific, social and economic thinking, but sentimentally as well. Books depict the habits, costumes and personalities of all lands and all times.

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A splendid program is being arranged by the Charles Howard Peck Sr and Jr post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, for the observance of Armistice Day in Newtown. It is with great pleasure that the Post announces that Governor Raymond E. Baldwin will be present as the guest speaker, this announcement alone creating much interest in the ceremonies, which will start with a short parade of local and visiting veterans from the flagpole to the War Memorial at the head of the street. Return will then be made to the Edmond town Hall for an appropriate program.

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Miss Betty Wilson, granddaughter of Mr and Mrs George B. Beers, on Tuesday evening completed her first season as a professional swimmer in “Billy” Rose’s Aquacade show at the New York World’s Fair. Miss Wilson has acted as understudy to Miss Eleanor Holm on several occasions when the former Olympic star was unable to take the leading role.

 

November 6, 1914

State Road Supervisor W.C. Johnson is doing a good job on the state road between Newtown and Sandy Hook, having a force of men cleaning up the sides of the road, preparatory to the approach of winter. This lets the water off the road, and is the correct theory.

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A fire practically started by hunters, broke out, Wednesday on land of Andrew C. Moore in Taunton. It spread to land of Mrs Norman Northrop. Credit is due some High school lads, sons of F.W. Platt, who drove to R.D. Smith’s. Some 20 of the members of the Dodgingtown Fire department responded and after a stiff fight put out the flames. About 50 acres was burned over.

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The supper in the Trinity Guild room, Wednesday night under the auspices of the Pootatuck Grange was largely patronized and netted the Grange treasury $30.80. The supper was an excellent one and included roast chicken, pressed chicken, sparerib, chicken salad and all the trimmings.

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Morris D. Beers has rented the vacant store in the Keating block at Sandy Hook, equipped it with a modern cooler and market equipment. Thursday at noon he opened with a full stock of fresh and salt meats, vegetables, etc. Mr Beers has been in the meat business for 17 years, was a member for the board of selectmen last year, and has a wide circle of friends, who unite in wishing him success in his new enterprise.