January 31, 1992

For decades, the collection of red barns on Great Ring Road has been among the most scenic spots in town. On January 28, though, a backhoe tore down three of those barns. And in the near future, the remaining barns will be destroyed as part of a firefighting drill. The barns have been on a 20-acre property at 40 Great Ring Road that once was part of Great Ring Farm, which had spread, on the other side of Great Ring Road, from Route 34 to the farmhouse past the pond. But the 20 acres is also a seven-lot subdivision owned by Gateway Bank and the land is about to be sold to other parties for development. The barns are being removed before that sale. Construction of houses is expected in the spring.

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Iroquois gas began flowing through the newly built underground pipeline this week, but not all abutting property owners are satisfied with cleanup of the right-of-way and land nearby. "We did have an agreement that they signed - not only an agreement to go through with the pipeline but what they would do after," said Suzette Salvano of Jeremiah Road. "They haven't done anything. It's a downer." Mrs Salvano said ruts were torn in her driveway by machines but Iroquois has only covered the ruts in gravel. A stone wall was knocked down but put back into place by shoving rocks into a pile with a backhoe, she said. While she understands that more cleanup has to wait for the spring, the homeowner is perturbed that more hasn't been done to clean up the intrusion to date. Penny Meek of Butterfield Road also has complaints. "I just feel they did a sloppy job cleaning up," Mrs Meek said. "I'm disappointed."

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The Iroquois pipeline formally began transporting natural gas along the entire length of its 370-mile pipeline routing through New York State and Connecticut on January 28. Pipeline construction began in 1991 and was completed in January of 1992. Full restoration of the right-of-way will be completed this spring and summer. "The commencement of services is a momentous event for all of us, and represents the culmination of a lengthy and challenging process to bring a new, secure supply of natural gas to the region," said Robert J. Reid, president of Iroquois, a partnership of 12 US and Canadian energy companies.

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This time it was the real thing. Students and teachers at Newtown Middle School have become quite used to evacuating the school when there is a fire alarm, so they were well prepared when a fire broke out in the school's woodshop Wednesday afternoon. Newtown Hook & Ladder and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company responded. The fire was under control in five minutes. According to Fire Chief William Halstead, the fire was caused by a ceiling fan motor that seized and caught fire.

February 3, 1967

ROAMING DOGS - Within the past week two property owners have reported that sheep have been attacked and destroyed by roaming dogs in the Great Ring Road area of Sandy Hook. John Sedor Sr, dog warden, states that he is patrolling the area, that traps have been set up, and that any dog picked up will be impounded. He advises that state law requires that dogs be kept on the owner's property at all times. In view of the property damage reported, he states that this law will be strictly enforced and owners of roaming dogs will be subject to arrest.

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The town's rolling stock was increased this week with the purchase of a new International dump body truck with a capacity of seven cubic yards. A snow plow, measuring close to 12 feet long and going from 30 to 48 inches high, mounts in the front, and a sander on the rear. With this truck the road crew can now sand the roads at about 35 miles per hour in contrast to six or seven miles per hour with the old equipment.

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Fireplace Headquarters, a new business featuring fireplace equipment, and accessories, has opened up in Sandy Hook Center in the Milot block.

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Miniature Italian donkeys. Wonderful pets for the country estate. Good companion for children. Intelligent, lovable, easy to care for. Call Murial McKinlay, Bethmour Road, Bethany, 393-0847.

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Garden Club of Newtown members have reported sighting 128 varieties of birds in their 1966 spring bird count.

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Miss Kathleen Hopkins, by finishing first in a written homemaking knowledge and attitude exam for senior girls in December 1966, became Newtown High School's 1967 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow. Kathleen is now eligible for possible state and national scholarship awards. She plans to attend college, majoring in psychology.

January 30, 1942

Letter from Mrs Maurice de Harne gives graphic account of Jap raid in Hawaii. Where shall I begin? The last few days have been hectic and today is the first day of ease since the fatal day. The school has not opened and there are still a lot of people doing defense work. Soldiers are still about the place with their machine guns and we are having black-out every night. The hospital is all fixed up with huge red crosses, three of them, we thought it would be a target but international law requires it. We locked our doors and windows for the first time since we have been living here. We are all rationed on gas and food, going to the store and giving our order but only getting so much. I have gotten everything but bread. Tuesday night we thought we would have to evacuate, as we expected a raid on our shores. Our car is ready with blue cloths over the lights and stored with canned goods and clothes in case we have to evacuate. Tears actually came into Maurice's eyes and he said, "I'm sorry I have gotten you into this." Some of my neighbors went to the hills in their cars before night fell and slept in their cars. I did not go as being a nurse, I couldn't run out, and I'd rather be with Maurice and help him out as he is all alone with all this responsibility. I don't know when Dr Davis will be back from the coast.

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Skating is in order at the community rink. We think there is a lesson to be gained from this simple announcement. For Rev Paul Cullens and his small corps of helpers have not given up, despite the recent London fogs, spring rains and melting sun, which descended just as the rink was put in perfect shape for the public use on January 18. In the face of so many unexpected discouragements, credit is due those skating enthusiasts who have been devoting their time and energy to the task of providing safe skating at the rink for the town's young people.

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The fame of Newtown's literary owl who sought rest and quiet at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library has now spread as far as Greenwich, The Newtown Bee editor receiving a postal card from that swank town Tuesday suggesting that maybe "Alfred" would come home if only that awful name could be changed to something like "Madeline" or some such moniker indicative of the gentler sex. From Greenwich came the letter: Dear Editor- I read with interest about Alfred, the owl. Do you know it is hard to tell if an owl is a he or a she? I presume it is a lady who objected to the name Alfred. Otherwise it is hard to understand why Alfred should have left the home of the foster parents. I respectfully suggest that you make known to Alfred that he or she will also be called Madeline.

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Due to a sudden change in weather last weekend the auto races scheduled to take place at Highland Lake, Winsted, were postponed until Sunday afternoon, February 1. "Al" Boyson is expected to be Newtown's sole representative in the field of some twenty drivers with his reliable Chevie roadster.

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Miss Mary Crowe, who has been a patient at Danbury Hospital for several weeks, returned to her home Sunday.

February 2, 1917

Mrs J.C. Bloom is seriously ill, having sustained an apoplectic shock. Dr F.J. Gate attends her.

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HELP WANTED - To correspond with a single man who would like to work a small farm on shares, growing tobacco and other crops. Can shelter three acres of tobacco. Address box 34 R.D. 2. New Milford.

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Charles G. Meeker, who recently underwent an operation at Danbury Hospital, is now able to be about again.

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I FORBID all persons trusting any one on my account after this date, January 30, 1917. George H. Corbin, Brookfield, Conn.

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Miss Victoria Martin entertained a number of her young friends Wednesday evening, the occasion being a celebration of Miss Martin's birthday. Games were played, a fine luncheon served, and the evening's fun wound up with dancing.

Please share 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.