February 28, 1992

First Selectman Zita McMahon took time from her hectic day to meet with local Scouts to review the functions of town government. Weblo Cub Scouts Andrew English and Robbie Kopchik completed their Citizenship requirements by meeting with Mrs McMahon. Cub Scout Michael English and Brownie Elizabeth English also were present and learned many things about government in Newtown. Weblo Scout leader Bob Kopchik was pleased that the Scouts had such a worthwhile and informative visit.

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Dear Scudder: I've been catching up on back issues of The Bee and I just want you to know that after being handicapped for over 42 years, I'm delighted to see the handicapped parking signs at the town hall and elsewhere. I could not care less if they were not of the latest design. Why, in these troubled times, should we spend money on something that is already clearly marked? Yours truly, Olive M. Seaman.

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Cabin fever sufferers can find relief at the Home Products Exhibition sponsored by the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Fairfield County next Wednesday, March 4, at the Fireside Inn on Route 25. The show will feature more than 50 exhibitors of products and services of interest to homeowners and builders. "We had a better response from exhibitors than expected," said HBA Executive Officer Laura Maksymiw. "All the latest products will be offered." Information will be available on appliances, kitchens, security systems, insurance, closet organizers, vacuum cleaners, stonework, computer estimates of home building, glass, and plumbing. Admission is $5. A buffet dinner will be served. Tickets for the dinner are $25.

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The history of Fairfield Hills Hospital is one of growth and evolution from the large area housing of mentally ill patients to a downsized facility encroached upon by other treatment agencies. According to Administrative Assistant Robert Barrus, who is about to retire from a position which the State Department of Mental Health will leave vacant, Fairfield Hills Hospital was founded in 1931. At its peak in 1969, the hospital served 2,300 patients. During the 80s the adolescent and alcoholic populations came under the supervision of the state department other than DMH.

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You could feel the tension and excitement in the room. Several weeks' work was put to the test - the 200-pound test. It was a risk-taking event, a time to see how well students had been able to apply geometric law to a miniature civil engineering project, a time for students and their partners to see how well they applied what they knew. Parents and students arrived at the NHS cafeteria loaded with miniature bridges. After working with a graduate architectural student from Yale on a bridge-building project, the idea was to put what they had learned about geometric angels to practical use by building the miniature bridges.

March 3, 1967

No Pipe dream. A member of The Bee staff lost his favorite pipe last Thursday afternoon when copies of The Bee were being put into mail bags in the press room. He did not know where it went and gave it up as gone forever. But the postmaster in Watertown, possibly a fellow pipe-smoker, found it when he emptied the bag of Bees in his post office. He thoughtfully returned it by mail. By Tuesday morning the lost pipe was back in the mouth of The Bee's inveterate pipe smoker, who is very grateful to those responsible for its return. Sort of a pipe dream if it had not actually happened.

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The editor of The Bee was pleased to receive a "Thank You" folder in Tuesday's mail from the Brownie girls Troop 109, thanking him for the tour of The Bee of the office that they took recently. The folder, with orange cover and tied with brown cord, contained this carefully written note: Dear Mr Smith, Thank you very much for showing Troop 109 how you print The Newtown Bee. We enjoyed each step leading up to the actual printing of the paper. We hope someday to come back for another visit. The Bee staff says, "Do come back!"

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Newtown Congregational Church women are having a Quiet Day on March 9 in the church house. This year's theme is, "You are the church," and will be a program of worship, reflection, reading, and discussion. Communion will be served. Participants will study selected readings from the Bible, The World's Great Religions, God's Frozen People, and other contemporary sources. Discussion groups led by local clergymen will then meet to examine the roles of laity and clergy in the early Christian church as compared to today's church.

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The Newtown Ski Club enjoyed two days of magnificent skiing on February 23 and 24 on Stratton and Magic Mountain with an overnight spent at Holiday Lodge in Vermont.

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Hawley School PTA plans a sale of "Memory Books" on Thursday, March 9, at lunch time and again on Saturday. These books provide space for a record of a child's school days with space for souvenirs, report cards and pictures.

February 27, 1942

One of the most interesting meetings of the winter was at the Parker House on Monday evening when Newtown Rotary Club members held an open meeting and entertained Naugatuck and Bridgeport Rotarians. Rotary-Anns also attended. Captain Pat Smith, a retired British Army officer, gave an interesting and illustrated with motion pictures of the Philippines.

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Miss Mary Pennell gave a delightful party at her home on Currituck Road last Saturday evening. Her home is an ideal place for a party and all who were there enjoyed her hospitality. A baked bean supper with all the fixings was served. Cards were in order during the evening and Mr and Mrs H.K. Kirby and Karl Minor were the fortunate prize winners.

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The Hawleyville School Glee Club members on Saturday afternoon were privileged to attend the matinee performance of Aida at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Mrs Antoinette Daniels, director of music for the schools, accompanied the party along with Rev Paul Cullens. The very colorful performance was greatly enjoyed by all present, who deeply appreciated the efforts of Mrs Daniels and Rev Cullens in arranging the party, thus enabling them to both hear and see the opera in the famous opera house.

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Defense plans, which have been in the making not only in Newtown but other towns in this part of the state will have their first test on Sunday evening, when a trial air raid and blackout is scheduled for nine o'clock, or thereabouts. There are bound to be hitches and disappointments in the system's efficiency which has been set up on paper, so to speak. That is to be expected; in fact, one chief purpose of this test blackout is to find from actual practice just where the troubles lie and correct them.

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The call to the colors is a call for dollars. Dig deep. Strike hard. Our boys need the planes, ships, and guns which your money will help to buy. Go to your bank, post office, or savings and loan association. Tell them you want you want to buy defense bonds regularly, starting today.

March 2, 1917

The other night as Detective Frank Banks came over from his residence on Gas Street, lantern in hand, he stopped for a minute to gaze into the rushing waters of the Pootatuck as it passed along under the new cement bridge, the pride of Sandy Hook. Pretty soon along came the handsome Arthur C. Crowe, whistling the latest song, "The Girl I Love So Well," when he ran plumb into Frank Banks and nearly sent him sprawling on the ice. "What are you doing here?" said the artful Art with surprise. "Watching the bridge on account of the Germans," retorted Frank. Mr Crowe continued on down to the barber shop, which he found crowded with customers. "Say gentlemen," spoke Mr Crowe, "war has been declared and Frank Banks is guarding the Pootatuck bridge." The honorable Birdsey quietly left the shop and went to the bridge where Frank Banks stood with his lantern. "What are you doing Frank?" said Birdsey. "Guarding the bridge against the Germans and I am getting $3 a night and if Sheriff Beers doesn't get somebody up here before midnight I'm going to quit," came the reply.

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Under date of February 26 at St Petersburg, Fla., Selectman Curtis writes the editor: "This is some live town. Everything in the shape of a place to sleep is full. H.H. Curtis left on his way home today. I am having one fine time. Will be home about the last of March. Pack and the Glovers are still here. Weather very fine."

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On a past card to the editor, Maj E.A. Hull, who is a patient at Grace Hospital, New Haven writes: "Bee received all right. Glad of it. Come in and see me if you come down here. I am getting along finely."

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At Cedar Cliff Farm, H.S. Lang started an incubator February 1 with 120 eggs; tested out five as infertile and on February 22 took out 110 lively White Wyandotte chicks. He also has 10 setting hens, coming off March 7. Some record for Walnut Tree Hill! Mr Lang aims to hatch 1000 this season. He has now two 140-egg incubators, and with setting hens, hopes to get 1000 chicks the first of June.

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J.C. Beers, the Buick car's popular local agent, has a "Little Four" on exhibition at his garage. This is a car that does service as The Bee's representatives, C.F. Cavanaugh and Charles Hammond, gladly testify. The biggest thing about this Four - the Buick "valve-in-head" motor. Very little argument springs from price. The most obvious yet erroneous way to sell these four-cylinder model Buicks would be to call attention to their low cost. In reality it is the last reason in the world why you should buy a Buick, although a reason that has its appeal to a great many people. The best reason you should buy a Buick is its superior design and integrity of workmanship.

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.