July 28, 1989

At what seemed to be the quickest endorsement ever, Monday, July 24, members of the GOP unanimously chose Joseph E. Borst, Sr, for the office of first selectman and K. Michael Snyder as his running mate. Although Mr Borst was on vacation and not present to thank his fellow Republicans, he stated his thanks in a letter to the committee. According to First Selectman Rod Mac Kenzie, he was not at all surprised by the committee’s choice. “I didn’t expect to receive their nomination,” he said. However, Mr Mac Kenzie says, “I will go on to caucus and my name will be place in nomination. It’s a sad day when the town committee refuses to acknowledge the accomplishments that have been done,” he said.

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On October 22, 1988, the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard had a dedication ceremony at Fairfield Hills Hospital, in the old dairy barn where the Company planned to make its new home. The Company already had a sign erected out front, and at the time, it appeared that following the necessary renovations, the Company would move in this past May. In an interview this week, however, Major John Costin said he didn’t know when the renovations would be made, and when his unit could move in. “Ultimately we will be out there [at Fairfield Hills],” said Major Costin, “but when, we don’t know.”

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Jo Anne Klopfenstein and Drew Arnold continued their success on the Newtown tennis circuit, each winning a singles crown at the Second Annual Mid-Summer Classic. It marked the fourth town-wide singles championship for Klopfenstein in less than two years and her second straight win in the Mid-Summer. Arnold, who took the singles title last fall, downed Mary Williams 7-5, 6-1 to win the Mid-Summer crown.

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Newtown’s entry in the Danbury Girls’ Summer Basketball League took a major step toward returning to the championship game, which it lost last year to Danbury, as the Lady Indians, competing with the bare minimum of five players, topped Brookfield 38-21 Wednesday, July 26, in the opening round of the playoffs. Newtown, coached by Kathy Keating, moves into the semi-finals.

July 31, 1964

As the annual Labor Day week-end draws closer, the plans for the Newtown Progress Festival are beginning to firm up and all signs point to a rousing good time. Charles Gehring, festival chairman, has announced that the schedule of events will be much the same as last year — a block dance on Saturday, band concert on Sunday, a mammoth parade will take place as usual Monday morning followed by the athletic events at the town park.

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It all started when Earl Meyers’ cash register broke down in the Newtown General Store. After three hours of intensive searching in its innermost innards the trouble was located. One tiny gear tooth had broken off. With customers waiting for change and receipts, something had to be done fast, so Earl resorted to the attic. There he found what is probably the original cash register used by Levi C. Morris in his store, which once stood at the rear of the Morris home on Main Street. The store burned in a disastrous fire, after which Mr Morris joined forces with the late Rodney P. Shepard in the present building of the Newtown General Store. Substantial, dignified and venerable, the old cash register serves the store and customers today as well as it did some 80-odd years ago.

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The athletic events of the Town Park Recreation Olympic Week got underway at 10 am last Monday after lighting the Olympic lamp at the park flag pole. Competition has been held each day with events arranged for each age group.

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A capacity audience enjoyed the Fairfield Hills Hospital Talent Revue presented by a large group of patients a recent Tuesday evening in the auditorium of Plymouth Hall. Weeks of rehearsals culminated in a show of 30 acts, which featured vocal numbers, dance routines, instrumental numbers, poetry readings, folk dances, and songs.

July 28, 1939

The make-believe ballroom dance held last Saturday evening at the Edmond Town Hall proved quite popular with the many local and out-of-town couples who attended. It was an innovation in Newtown and the continuous dancing to the recorded music of the world’s most famous orchestras gives this type of dance many advantages. The gymnasium was artistically lighted with large red and blue spot lights at either end, creating a pleasing atmosphere.

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Ralph Holcomb, local oil and coal dealer, has just received a permit from the Motor Vehicle department, licensing him as a distributor, which entitles him to buy in wholesale quantities and to sell either to wholesale or retail trade.

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The extended drought which has gripped the Northeastern states for the past month has made the menace of forest fires extremely serious. Last Sunday evening the Newtown Fire Company was called to the Cedarhurst section of Lake Zoar to fight a forest fire. Newtown and Sandy Hook firemen have been fighting the stubborn fire for the past four days. In its path, the fire consumed the old water shed, which stood on the hill in the rear of the Sandy Hook district.

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Attorney J.H.A. Symonds, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce committee in connection with the proposed sidewalk to be laid from the Flagpole in Newtown to Sandy Hook, has received during the past week road maps from Hartford, outlining a walk on the north side of this proposed route, with an alternate route to be laid on the south side in two places where it is deemed necessary. According to Mr Symonds, his committee of Chamber men are to meet to plan the next move toward making this sidewalk a reality.

July 31, 1914

The editor wonders if the so-called tango shade, so popular this season in the ladies’ costumes, was not copied from the “Butterfly Weed,” or pleurisy root. In a drive through the Hopewell woods the other day, we found some nice specimens. It is not very common, found in rocky, dry places, and occasionally seen in sidehill meadows. The roots have been believed to be a cure for pleurisy. The plant is also called wind-root and orange-root.

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The Sandy Hook baseball team played the Long Hill team, Sunday. The Sandy Hook boys were victorious t the tune of 17-1. This week the local team meets the Walnuts of Bridgeport at the Knoll.

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There will arrive at Janvier farm on Mount Pleasant, this week, a herd of Aberdeen-angus cattle, bought of James M. Osborne of Butler, Ill. The cattle were bought for Mortimer Smith, the genial proprietor of Janvier farm. The slogan for Mr Smith’s farm is going to be “Beef and Potatoes.” Mr Smith’s idea is to have the cattle pay the cost of running the farm and the potatoes will bring the profit. He has three acres in potatoes this year, and they are looking fine. As a side line, Mr Smith is raising Poland-China pigs and is having good success.

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John Costigan, a man in the employ of Mortimer Smith in the care of his horses, in showing off some of the tricks he has taught the intelligent animals, attempted to crawl under the horse. The horse, no understanding the move, kicked Mr Costigan and fractured a rib. Dr Kennedy was called and attended to Mr Costigan’s injury.