August 12, 1988

Two prop men, a make-up girl, two models, a set coordinator, a photographer, and a photographic assistant all descended on Jane Cottingham’s Antiques shop on Monday, August 1, bearing brightly wrapped presents with elaborate bows, poinsettias, wreaths, garlands and lots of colorful ribbon. It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas, despite the fact that it was August and the temperatures were in the 90s. The large crew was on location for a Christmas issue photo shoot for McCall’s Magazine.

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The culmination of many hours of work by the Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) finally came to fruition Tuesday morning when a hard-fought for brick-like sidewalk was laid over the Sandy Hook Center bridge. In creating the brick-like walk, workmen with Connecticut Bomanite, Inc spread a pigmented hardener over the surface of the not-quite-set concrete, which added color and additional strength. An antiquing color was dusted on, and a releasing agent was applied. Stamps were gently tapped into the surface and finally hand tools were used to deepen the impressions.

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Jill Maher and Jon Ives of Newtown were two of the 56 swimmers who recently competed in the Tenth Annual Lake Candlewood Challenge. The marathon swim of Candlewood Lake was a benefit for the Western Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross. Ives completed the ten and a half mile course with a time of 10:01. Maher came in seventh in the five and a half mile swim with a time of 4:13.

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Quality Cleaners and the Newtown Shopping Center, where the store is located, have completed the first part of a pollution abatement order, and expect to have the site free of contaminants by October 1989. “It’s no crisis,” said Steven Hitchcock, director of the hazardous materials management unit at the state Department of Environmental Protection.

August 16, 1963

A parakeet evidently loose from its usual captivity and somewhat bewildered by the rigors of freedom, appeared several days ago at the homes of Miss A. Lachaise and Mrs Robert Beebe in South Center District. The two ladies fed the bird on its frequent visits and finally enticed it with bird seed and bread crumbs into a cage. The parakeet now seems quite content, even though it has now surrendered its freedom. If anyone is missing a parakeet, Mrs Beebe asks that she be contacted by phone, 426-2637. So far, the parakeet refuses to talk — even to giving its name and address.

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Discovery was made this Thursday morning that during the night the gates had been lifted at the dam, allowing all of the water to flow out of the swimming pool at Dickinson Memorial Park. Water is now being taken from the artesian well to refill the pool, but there is little available water in the brook at the present time. It may be Saturday before the pool is sufficiently filled for swimming. The town feels that such acts of wanton destruction must be stopped.

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A plea for “reasonable and desirable transportation” was made to the Newtown Board of Education Tuesday night in the high school library by the six members of the Hillview Association, Inc. Noting that 22 children will be going to school this fall from this area versus 17 last year, parents are concerned over their children’s safety because of traffic hazards and lack of warning signs for drivers along Route 34. Parents desire a road to be extended seven-tenths of a mile so that school buses could make a complete circle off Route 34. Presently, children wait on Route 34.

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The biggest innovation this year in the Newtown Progress Festival will be the Band Concert to be held Sunday afternoon, September 1, between 3 and 5 o’clock at the Town Park. This committee, headed by Charles Gehring, has been eminently successful in its endeavors to obtain a band of national repute as it has secured the New York District Navy Band. This will be an afternoon long to be remembered. The Navy Band will be placed on the tennis courts at the Town Park in such a way that the audience can sit on the surrounding hill and get a clear view and unobstructed listening pleasure.

August 12, 1938

During Friday’s electrical storm a bolt of lightning entered the living room at the home of W.C. Johnson in South Center district. An electric cord was burned and a baseboard charred, but no other damage done. Mr and Mrs Johnson were in the room at the time.

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The meeting called for last Thursday evening at the Edmond Town Hall, to discuss zoning in the First District exclusive of the Borough, drew an attendance that practically filled the Alexandria room to capacity. Scarcely had the meeting opened when a number of residents arose in opposition of zoning. Others wished more specific information about it. The suggestion was made that a later meeting be called, when a person well qualified on zoning might be engaged to come before those interested and present the advantages and disadvantages. During the meeting, as is the case with most such meeting in New England towns, one or two speakers became rather heated and expressed themselves perhaps in a fashion that they did not intend.

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“Ez” J. Hall of Sandy Hook has moved his belongings from the Troy building which he has used for a number of years, to the Hurd Old Mill building which will be his new place of business. He will be found at his new location, where all his plumbing and heating goods are now located. It is good to note that “Ez” is still in the game.

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The Boy Scout baseball team of Newtown, with a few additional members, will play a baseball game this Friday afternoon at the estate of Lowell Thomas in Pawling, N.Y. Mr Thomas’ son is on the team and is proud of the fact that they play with a hard ball. All boys between twelve and fifteen are invited whether they are in the troop or not. Bring a glove and a bathing suit, as there will be opportunity to go for a swim in the pool before the game.

 

August 15, 1913

Borough Warden C.G. Peck and Frank A. Blackman had the big catch of bass of the season at Taunton Lake, Tuesday, getting 22 weighing from three-quarters of a pound to three pounds each.

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Agent Holian received word from Hawleyville the other night that a dog bearing a Newtown tag was taken off the train at Hawleyville. He began to inquire around and much to his surprise found the dog compared favorably with his own. He hitched up a team and drove to Hawleyville where he found his pet dog awaiting him. It is a mystery to Agent Holian how the dog boarded the train. We wonder, too.

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Had it not been for the prompt attention of H.G. Warner and H.H. Curtis and Master Marty McNamara, two girls, Anna Toohey and Julia Hefferan, would have drowned in Niantic pond. The girls were learning to swim by aid of some boards, and got beyond their depth. H.H. Curtis, coming out of the Brick store, saw their plight and with H.S. Warner hustled to their aid. Warner did not wait to remove his clothes but waded in up to his shoulders and extended a fishing pole toward McNamara, who seized it and drew the girls up out of the water. The Hefferan girl was unconscious when place on the bank. She was carried to Mrs McNamara’s and Dr Kiernan summoned at once. Mssrs Warner and Curtis and Master McNamara are all deserving of Carnagie medals.

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A firemen’s fair and carnival under the auspices of the Dodgingtown volunteer Fire company, will be held August 14 and 15. Go take your friends and have a good time with them. Admission Free… The Dodgingtown Fire Co. are certainly to be praised for their enterprise. They have now 35 members and have a neat hose house, equipped with piano. The officers are Foreman I.W. Andrews; secretary William Gower; treasurer LeRoy Barnum; 1st assistant foreman Valentine Freese.