January 5, 1990

During the last 10 years traffic in the Borough has at least doubled and all projections call for further increases in traffic density during the next 10 years. In the meantime, the existing sidewalks are deteriorating, some of them to the point of being useless and a danger to walk on. A strong need is perceived for sidewalks in the Borough. The Borough is proposing a continuing long term program to put sidewalks in the Borough, a little bit at a time. The current consensus seems to be to fix the really bad sections of sidewalk on Main Street during 1990 and then in each succeeding year to install about 500 feet of new sidewalk. Legal counsel has advised that the Borough has the authority to install sidewalks in the Borough. No right-of-way is required. No easement is required. 

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The increase in home heating fuel prices hasn’t had much of an effect on the town government or the school system. Although prices have increased sharply since the end of November, the school system signed an agreement November 26, providing for it to purchase 185,000 Number 2 heating fuel oil at 60 cents a gallon. Since prices increased so sharply, school officials said they saved thousands of dollars for the town by having the fixed cost agreement.

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Mike Swift is setting a pace that should even exceed his lofty accomplishments of last year. Swift — who led the Newtown High School wrestling team in pins, and placed second in the Western Connecticut Conference Championships — is 13-0 this winter. The senior co-captain also earned his second tournament title of the young season last week by winning the 135-pound weight class at the Staples Holiday Classic.

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The United Fire company of Botsford has paid $150,000 for the purchase of a nine-tenths of an acre property adjacent to its firehouse on South Main Street. By doubling the fire company’s property, Company President Joseph Cavanaugh said the company will be able to build a horizontal addition to the firehouse and create much-needed parking spaces. Mr Cavanaugh said the company has always wanted to build the addition so that all vehicles could exit onto Route 25, from the front of the building.

January 8, 1965

School Menus: Monday: baked meat loaf, buttered noodles, buttered carrots, pan rolls, butter chilled fruits; Tuesday: hamburg on roll, catsup, relish, potato chips, buttered mixed vegetables, cherry cobbler; Wednesday: at high school, hot chicken sandwich, Sandy Hook, baked chicken, buttered rice, buttered peas, carrots, roll, butter, pear half; Thursday, macaroni wiggle, cheese squares, tossed salad, hard roll, butter, pudding with cream; Friday: baked haddock, tartar sauce, whipped potato, calico salad, bread, butter, spice cake.

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The red flag is up in more ways than one for skating at Dickinson Memorial Park. When the ice is safe, a red pennant is flown on the flagpole at the high school. Would-be skaters are asked to look for this signal or to call the Town Hall, where the telephone operator will have the information. The absence of the pennant should be taken as a red flag of danger — the ice is not safe. Don’t risk a dunking or worse.

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John W. Schwenick is back at his town clerk’s desk in the Edmond Town Hall, following a three-week vacation trip to Florida, where he visited his brother and sister-in-law. A good coat of tan shows that Jack really enjoyed that Florida sunshine.

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Civil Defense Director Clifford Maddox announces that the Newtown CD will sponsor a series of classes in standard and advanced first aid in the CD meeting room at Edmond Town Hall. All members of the CD unit not holding a first aid card are urged to attend and the public is also invited.

 

January 5, 1940

Many residents of the town, particularly those who have acquired property here in recent years, will be interested to know that the legal width of our town roads was set at a meeting of the proprietors of the town, held February 2, 1758. It will be noted that the minimum width is set at two rods (33 feet). Especially should this figure be kept in mind in connection with road work being done. It has sometimes happened that property owners, unfamiliar with the circumstances, have hindered the work by insisting that some tree, bush or other object was on their property and should not be touched. It is hoped that publication will establish in everyone’s mind the legal width of our town roads, so that when improvements are being made along the sides of the roads in the future, people will not think that it is their property which is being touched.

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Hawley Highlights: 1940 has come, bringing plenty to do, including mid-year exams. By the middle of the month, the semi-annual nightmare will have started. Miscellaneous students will rush about with rumpled hair and the light of discovery in their eyes, as intensive review begins. One bit of unfinished business form 1939 is the dedication of this year’s yearbook to Mr Vincent Gaffney. It is a real honor to have him as the patron saint of the 1940 “Bugle.”

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Rev and Mrs John W. Mutton entertained a host of parishioners of Trinity and St John’s churches and many friends, when they held “open house” at Trinity’s newly redecorated rectory on New Year’s Day. Guest were received by Rev and Mrs Mutton and were urged to look over the refurnished interior, in which many changes and improvements have been made.

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The Newtown Chamber of Commerce wishes to acknowledge through the columns of The Bee the generosity of the Danbury & Bethel Gas & Electric Light Company in donating the electric current for the Christmas tree near the Soldiers’ monument at the head of Newtown’s Main street. Strings of vari-colored lights were placed on the tree before Christmas by the local Chamber, and each evening the tree has afforded much pleasure, in its Christmas decorations, not only to local people, but also hundreds of motorists from out-of-town who have passed by. Not only did the electric company supply the current, but their men also strung wires to the tree.

 

January 8, 1915

Edward W. Troy was in Waterbury, Wednesday, and called on John Kelly, at St Mary’s hospital. He found him sitting up, and it is now believed he will recover, although for some days his life was despaired of. C.E. Gilbert, who has been housed up by illness for a week, was able to be out Wednesday, for the first time. Mrs Edward Taylor was so unfortunate as to fall on the ice, inflicting quite a cut on her head.

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H.A. Mooers, the shoemaker, who has occupied the [shoemaker] shop near The Bee office, gathered his tools and belongings together, Wednesday, and brought them to Business Manager Smith of The Bee to place them in keeping. Mr Mooers took the 4:20 train for Bridgeport. Mr Mooers came to Newtown some six weeks after the murder of [shoemaker] Gorr and rented the building. With great solemnity he informed the editor that the building was haunted by ghosts. Mooers said about 9:15 pm, every night, he could hear the ghost of the old man slowly walking over the cement floor and start to come up the stairs. He opened the door to see if there was anyone, but nothing appeared. Mooers claims that he also heard the ghost rattle the frying pan down in the cellar. Mr Mooers admitted to the writer that his nerves were bothering him.

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By order of Coroner Phelan of Bridgeport, Michael Brennan, a well known character about town, was taken into custody, Saturday, at Hawleyville, by Officer Charles B. Johnson and Officer Hurley of the State Polices. He is wanted to know what information he may possess, if any, concerning the murder of John Green, alias Gorr, whose horrible death is remembered. Brennan stoutly maintains his innocence of any connection with the killing.

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In order, if possible, to bring about a deeper interest on the part of the parents in the work of the public schools, The Bee inaugurates a special school department this week, to which all districts and High schools in The Bee’s territory in the three counties are invited to contribute. Notices of school entertainments will be welcomed and other school items of interest. There are many teachers in the small schools who are doing fine work and deserve more encouragement and attention than they now receive.