April 10, 1992

Newtown has a long history of putting off the inevitable. Debate of whether the town should appropriate money for sewer lines came a century after long discussions about installing water lines. The Newtown water company was granted a charter by the state in December 1893, but it wasn't until 1910 that plans for actually laying pipe were finalized. Concern over water quality has been an important part of the sewer debate, but it appears that water quality was not an issue at the turn of the century. Rather, the loss of several properties from fire - because of lack of water to fight them - was the impetus for finally installing the pipes. It's interesting to note that an argument from sewer proponents, a business incentive, was also offered by advocates of the water company. A story in the June 16, 1905 issue of The Bee apparently was the catalyst in an eventual decision to go ahead with the $21,675 project.

***

Youth Officer Michael Kehoe led Sandy Hook and St Rose Pack 170 Tiger Cubs and their siblings and parents on an informative tour of the Newtown Department of Police Services Monday afternoon, April 6. Several tour highlights included the holding cells, the processing room, and the armory. As the tour ended, cubs learned about the emergency 911 system from dispatcher Linda Rasmussen.

***

The Newtown Junior Woman's Club is holding its annual baby-sitting class. Certificates will be presented upon completion of the course to be given at the Middle School May 5, 6, and 7. The program is open to boys and girls age 11-13. A $5 registration fee is payable at the first session.

***

Newtown High School's boys' varsity tennis team splits its season-opening matches, falling to New Fairfield on April 9 before defeating Abbott Tech on April 15. The Indians were at 1-1 on the season going into their match against Brookfield on April 16. On April 9 the New Fairfield Rebels defeated the Indians in a cold, rainy set of matches. Every match except for the No. 2 doubles was completed, and while the coaches for both the Newtown and New Fairfield agreed to give Newtown a win credit for No. 2, which was rained out before it finished, there is a possibility that the match will have to be completed later in the season.

April 14, 1967

In our opinion, storm signals are flying in Newtown. And it is the townspeople who are paying little head to the warning. The town is approaching a biennial election on May 2. The Board of Finance held a budget hearing Tuesday for budget requests from the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education for the coming year. Aside from those present who hold some public office, or are connected with the town government, there were surprisingly few people in attendance. Public apathy was disgustingly obvious, despite the size of requested budgets. Perhaps funds to operate the town are becoming too astronomical for analysis and understanding by the average citizen. The BOE is asking for $2,150,000. The BOS is asking $701,339. We believe that citizens must take a more active and intelligent part in local government.

***

Safe at home? In 1964, one out of 45 persons in the US was disabled one or more days by injuries received in home accidents. You never know when or where an accident or illness will "strike you out." That's why it's smart to have a Life & Casualty Accident & Sickness policy on your side. Get details from Newtown Insurance Service.

***

Clifford Mitchell, 12-year-old son of Mr and Mrs Alexander Mitchell Jr of Sky Top Drive, was awarded an "Excellent" by the Connecticut Federation of Music Clubs following his piano solo at the National Federation Junior Festival on Fairfield on April 1.

***

The Sixty Plus Club meeting April 5 in the undercroft of Trinity Church was very interestingly shared with Newtown's AFS students. Marcia Donoso of Ecuador presented a slide lecture of that country with its many outstanding buildings and churches. Banana growing is one of its important industries. Carlos Barquero also showed slides and talked about his home country of Costa Rica, which offers mountains and a climate suitable for many retired folks to establish their year-round homes. This country also grows bananas and its large crops of coffee beans make coffee one of its chief industries.

April 10, 1942

On Friday night, April 10, the Young People of Newtown Congregational Church are sponsoring a square dance. The Ramblin Rangers of Easton will play from 8:30 to midnight in the Edmond Town Hall. This is the third in a series of Square Dances sponsored by the Young People. Tickets are 44 cents per person. The money made goes toward sending delegates to the Summer Conference.

***

Big or little, all the scraps help rout Japs. Much to his amazement, Salvage Inspector Carl A. Besenbruch discovered an abandoned 100-ton locomotive, which will soon be on its way to a cannon factory. In the first week that Mr Besenbruch was loaned by the state Highway Department to the state Salvage Committee, he turned up 800 tons of scrap in the New Haven area and secured the owners' promise that it would move out to defense industries at once.

***

Believe it or not, "Ed" Beardsley, genial tax collector, has a pullet that lays pink eggs. On Saturday evening, Mr Beardsley, while gathering the eggs, was amazed to find one with a decidedly pink shell. He at first thought that some prankster had colored the egg. But imagine his surprise when, after thoroughly washing the egg, the shell remained pink. He bought the pullets from Mrs Walter Brunet of Woodbury last fall and is making a record by gathering 19 eggs from the 19 pullets each day.

April 13, 1917

A large crowd was present at the Brick Building last Saturday, when the case of Thomas Dring of Half Way River district, charged with assault upon Charles Pinder, was heard before Justice P.H. McCarthy and a jury of six. The examination of witnesses was very spirited at times and took most of the afternoon. The jury, after being out more than an hour and returning once for instructions, were unable to agree, and were discharged by the court. The case grew from an attempt of Dring's to keep Pinder and John B. Downes from digging earth worms on land adjacent to his property, and which he claims to own.

***

On Tuesday night Joseph Ronan of Bridgeport drove to the residence of A.P. Smith, expecting to return home the same evening. A cold, bleak wind made a traveler uncomfortable and Mr Smith urged Mr Ronan to put his horse in the barn and stay the night. After the evening meal, Mr Smith and his daughter were upstairs dressing to go out for the evening when Mr Ronan called up that the house was on fire. Soot had accumulated in an old oven and burned through a wooden door. Mr Ronan secured water from a nearby sink and put the blaze out. Mr Ronan was of an opinion that within the space of 10 minutes the fire would have eaten through to the floor above. Mr Smith naturally had a grateful feeling toward his guest. It was "bread cast upon the waters," but it returned in measure overflowing.

***

The play, "Romantic Mary," received a spirited and fine presentation in the town hall by members of St Rose's Dramatic society. The stage scenery and flowers, carried by the cast's ladies, were furnished by Hon W.H. Egan, master of Pennsylvania Station in New York City. He also provided patriotic programs printed in red and blue. He was present at the entertainment and was thanked for his generosity.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.