February 1, 1991

The US Postal Service plans to consolidate the Newtown and Sandy Hook Post Offices by building an approximately 17,000-square-foot post office on Commerce Road, according to a Postal Service spokesman. Linda Crab, a Postal Service manager for communications, said the Postal Service is entering a 99-year ground lease with Martin Bennett, for a parcel on Commerce Road. Since the new post office will be a federal building, the Postal Service won’t need to seek permits from the town’s land use commissions. Asked why the Postal Service was consolidating the Newtown and Sandy Hook Post Offices, Ms Crab said this would allow for better scheduling, and for the better processing of the mail.

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The Newtown Meeting House will be open to the public on Sunday, February 3. The day’s events will start when the historic Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard in full dress blues leaves its home at Fairfield Hills. The guard will parade up South Main Street to the flagpole. Indoor activities will begin at 2 pm. Ethel Kaufman, at the piano, will start with a selection of patriotic songs. Gary Sheehen will present a magic show, and later, he will blow up balloons in animal shapes. There will be a Period Costume Show. A family sing-along is planned. The Hedrickson Dancers will give a demonstration of the Minuet and will be giving lessons in American colonial dances. Mr Scribbles will be dressed up as a clown. A face-painting artist will be on hand. Then to top off the day, popcorn and cider will be served by Newtown Girl Scouts from Cadet Troop 602.

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It is unknown whether the individuals who took four cars were stealing them or just out for a joy ride, but in any event police say those involved face charges of second degree larceny. The Newtown Police in conjunction with the Bridgeport Police Department recovered all four of the stolen vehicles within three days. Reportedly all the vehicles suffered damage to their door locks and ignitions.

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Now in its third week, the Newtown Gulf War Support group has nearly doubled in size. Twenty-one concerned family members and friends of US Troops serving in the Persian Gulf joined together in the meeting room of the St Rose office building, Wednesday evening, January 30. Throughout the meeting, members discussed the latest happenings in the Gulf, what is good to send to the troops, and how to deal with the stress at home.

February 4, 1966

Business was brisk on the ski lift at Tapawingo in Woodbury. Sunday’s snow brought with it both fun and work in its wake. With the help of high winds, drifts were taller than the people who wielded the snow shovels. Town crews in The Bee area worked round the clock to clear roads but in some cases didn’t win the battle until Tuesday. The classic weather report was again apt: snow followed by little boys on sleds, and big and little snow birds on skis.

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The birdwatchers of the Newtown Garden Club have a new feather in their cap. The blue grosbeak was first seen by Mrs Malcolm McClintock and later by Mrs Seth Brody and reported to the Audubon Society. Mrs Brody also reported a red bellied woodpecker in December. Seven members took part in the summer bird count and Mrs Frederick Bird was the winner.

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Charles Ferris 3d has been named Outstanding Young Farmer of 1965 by the Newtown Jaycees. Mr Ferris, who lives on Robin Hill Lane with his wife, Shirley, and their two children, has been president of the Future Farmers of America and secretary of District 11, Connecticut Milk Producers Association. He is now vice-chairman of the Fairfield County Agriculture Conservation and Stabilization Committee. This Saturday, February 5, Harold Donleavy Jar, Jaycee chairman of the Outstanding Young Farmer project, and Mrs Dunleavy will escort Mr and Mrs Ferris to the banquet in Hartford where the Outstanding Young Farmer award will be announced.

 

January 31, 1941

In order to make library facilities more accessible in a community with as great an area as Newtown and to reach people who find it impossible, because of distance, to come to the Booth Library, an arrangement has been made to open the Sandy Hook Library an additional afternoon each week, under the supervision of Mrs Sarah B. Mitchell. It is hoped there will be sufficient interest in this experiment to make it a permanent policy of the two libraries.

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The persistent little group of members and friends of the Newtown A.C., who have been working day and night and would not give in to handicaps, were handsomely rewarded on Sunday, when the ice at the rink at the Country Club was in top shape. Nearly one hundred people turned out Sunday afternoon to skate and watch the hockey game. It is hoped that lights will be installed at the rink in time for night skating this weekend, which will make the rink available to many more skaters who are not able to use it during the daytime.

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The basketball teams of Hawley school were inactive on last Friday evening, because of the heavy snowfall. They were scheduled to travel to Morris, where they were to meet the girls and boys teams of that town, but the trip was postponed until a later date. On February 7, the Hawley teams will play the Washington High schools at the Edmund Gym.

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Mr and Mrs John C. Cleary of Main street are building a six-room Cape Cod style house on the former Clark property in the Gray’s Plain section of Newtown. The house is designed from a house in Plymouth, Mass., and its sightly location commands a sweeping view of the country in all directions.

 

February 4, 1916

The selectmen drew orders, on Saturday, for the bills for damages to cattle caused by hydrophobia. The orders were drawn to Mrs Henry Gibson $135, John Leavy $137, and Clark L. Page $40, totaling $312. It is expected that this amount will be repaid to the town by the state.

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Newtown had a genuine mad dog scare Wednesday morning. A dog acting suspiciously was seen on Botsford Hill. The dog evidently passed through Berkshire and down through the Glen, by the Black bridge. Richard Carmody was out on the delivery wagon and noticed a dog trailing. When he came out from the Carley residence he noticed his horse had been bitten. In Hanover near E.F. Northrop’s, the dog encountered the delivery wagon of Taylor, Curtis & Co. The dog tried to jump into the wagon. In the course of his running around he bit the horse. Edgar Northrop, by the window, saw the dog. He started to go out, seizing a broom. Changing his mind he secured his gun, but the dog started toward the residence of Michael Cavanaugh. On the way, the dog encountered RFD carrier Nichols, driving a spirited and valuable young horse. The dog succeeded in biting Mr Nichols’ horse in the nose. Mr Nichols drove to Cavanaughs. Dennis Cavanaugh took his gun and went over to Mr Northrop’s. The two men were near the barn when the dog came around the corner. Both raised their guns and fire, killing the animal. During his travels the dog bit a cow…. In passing through Sandy Hook the dog bit the dog of Mrs M.F. Houlihan. The horse of Eli Greenblatt was also bitten. Health Officer Kiernan ordered the horses segregated. Dogs have been running around all over town without muzzles. Orders have been given that dogs at large without muzzles will be liable to be shot.

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The Ladies’ Aid Society of the Congregational church will hold their annual Valentine Sale and Sup-per, Saturday afternoon and evening, February 12. The sale will open at three o’clock and there will be valentines to suit all tastes and purses from the penny postcard up to those delightful creations of lace paper and charming little cupids. Ice cream and cake will be served and a chicken pie supper will be ready at 5.30 o’clock.

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Rev G.T. Sinnott has been housing his ice supply, this week, cutting it on the Foundry pond. The teams of James Egan, Michael Halpine and W.C. Johnson have assisted him with the transportation from the pond to the ice house.