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There are 9,848 registered voters eligible to cast ballots in the municipal election on Tuesday, November 3. Voters will decide on offices ranging from first selectman to Board of Managers of Edmond Town Hall. When it’s all over, the town will learn whether it has decided to stick with three term Democratic First Selectman Jack Rosenthal for the next two years or turn to Republican Cordalie Benoit, or independent petition candidate Robert B. Ruland.

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Five years ago the Town of Newtown purchased for $60,000 a beautiful 24.3-acre parcel of land from the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, located off Huntingtown and Orchard Hill Roads. No one has since tried to do anything with the property, which has a large meadowland, a stream and a waterfall, but the Parks and Recreation Commission would now like to gain jurisdiction over it. The Board of Selectmen agreed Monday to designate the property for Parks and Rec use, with the provision that the selectmen would determine it is within their authority to do so. The second condition was that a mandatory referral be made to the Planning & Zoning Commission on the use of the Orchard Hill Road land.

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The development of Town Hall South, Newtown’s need for sewers, how the town should plan for its road repairs, and traffic safety at the Main Street flagpole were topics for Newtown’s candidates for selectman and first selectman at a debate before the Rotary Club on Monday night. With Republicans criticizing Town Hall South and the $1.1 million cost, Democratic incumbent First Selectman Jack Rosenthal maintained the office/police complex which was developed last year was “an excellent buy for the town,” which will meet its space needs for at least ten years.

* * *

The Superintendent Search Committee has narrowed its range of possibilities for the superintendent of schools position from 120 to 11, committee chairman Alan Martin announced. The search committee was formed last Spring to recommend a replacement for former superintendent Dr Albert Brinkman who retired from the Newtown School System on July 31 after serving in the position for eight years.

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A request this week by the Head O’ Meadow School PTA to use a 220-foot length of rope owned by the town gave Selectman Jack McAuliffe an opportunity to vent his frustration about the school principal Edgar Rodriques’s policies on use of Newtown’s newest school facility. Mr McAuliffe asserted that Park and Recreation officials are hesitant to consider allowing recreation groups to use Head O’ Meadow School. “Park and Rec doesn’t like to deal with them because of the principal,” he said. “If we’re going to be generous with them, that attitude of that school has to change. That particular individual feels the school belongs to him and it belongs to the taxpayers.”

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All townspeople are invited to the 44th Annual Anniversary Ball of the Newtown Scholarship Association on Saturday, November 14. One of the premier events on the Newtown social calendar, this year’s ball will take place at the Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury. Cocktails start at 7, with dinner at 8. Dress is optional.

 

November 2, 1956

Business Zone On Church Hill Is Turned Down: The Zoning Commission submitted two reasons for its ruling: 1) That the creation of a business area at the corner of Wendover Road and Church Hill Road would tend to depreciate the values of residential properties on Wendover Road. 2) That the creation of such a zone would, to all intents and purposes, extend the existing business area to include both sides of a major, heavily trafficked highway.

* * *

The Gala Buffet Dance of the members of the Democratic party at the Yankee Drover Inn Monday night brought out more than 100 to dance and dine and listen to speeches by candidates for office on the Democratic ticket. Visitors from neighboring districts report that the Newtown meeting was the best attended and the most enthusiastic of any in this area.

* * *

About 50 voters appeared at a special town meeting held last Friday evening in Edmond Town Hall and approved a resolution authorizing the Board of Selectmen to extend Johnston Drive in the South Center District of Newtown for a distance of approximately 450 feet, to provide an access road for the F.W. French Tube company, which company, according to present plans, intends to construct a factory on the 22-acre A.A. Stowe property.

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The Hallowe’en parties conducted by the fireman’s auxiliaries, the firemen and others of the Newtown recreation organizations were very well attended Wednesday night in spite of the rain. At this writing the total trick or treat funds to be sent into United Children’s Fund stands at over $125 with much more coming in at the schools and also the sum collected at the Hawleyville Fire House, which had not been counted.

The Mured High Fidelity Studios of Danbury and Newtown are presenting an afternoon of high fidelity music on records in the Berkshire Auditorium, Danbury Teachers College, at 3:30 this Sunday, November 4. Invitations are available without charge at the Newtown Music Shop, or the studio on Route 34 in Sandy Hook. A brief discussion of high fidelity will be given by Lon Edwards, president of Mured, before the concert.

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Newtown High School Notes: Mr Sweeney’s world history class enjoyed an interesting program, entitled “Social Customs and Family Life in China” on October 25. It was televised on Channel 8 from 9:30 to 10 am by the Connecticut State Department of Education. The boys and girls could see this program by a portable television set which was brought into the classroom.

 

October 30, 1931

The basic net pool price to be paid for September milk produced by members of the Dairymen’s League Cooperative Association, Inc., is $1.75 per 1,000 pounds for 3.5 milk. This is eight cents per 100 pounds higher than the return for August milk, 23 above July return, and 41 cents above June. Tremendous milk production all through the New York Milk Shed, and a low ratio of fluid consumption, are largely responsible for the fact that the September return is lower than it has been during some years.

* * *

Mrs Margaret Lester of Hanover district is the owner of a remarkable dog. It seems this dog is in the habit of meeting the dinkey car at night, when the conductor aboard throws off an evening paper, which is retrieved by the dog and taken to the home of his mistress. With hunters late in the afternoon, the dog miles away suddenly left the hunters and disappeared. He immediately started for the railroad crossing in time to pick up the evening paper and carry it to his mistress.

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The Hewlett Construction Co. are making excellent progress on the new Cyrenius Booth Library. The building is now completed to the first floor and bricklayers and carpenters are busy. Clarence L. Hunt is superintendent on the job for the Hewlett Co. The dimensions of the new library are 70x70 feet.

* * *

John Doyle of Waterbury had the misfortune of having a 200 pound engine drop on his hand while he was working at Riverside. The injury was so severe that he was taken to Dr Desmond’s office in Sandy Hook where two fingers were amputated by the Doctor.

* * *

Eden Hill is the scene of extensive improvements lately, particularly to the big barn where weekly Saturday night dances are being held. Walls have been lined and electric heaters installed to the comfort of the dancers on future cold nights. As there is to be a big masquerade barn dance next Saturday night, Hallowe’en, the entire barn is being decorated appropriate for the season and from all reports a record attendance is assured.

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Last Friday there was a serious automobile accident on the road to Mr Pleasant. A hit and run driver pushed the car in which were Mrs Austin Russell and Mrs Arthur Hawkins over a bank, breaking Mrs Hawkins’ arm. The injured ladies were treated by Dr Desmond.

 

November 2, 1906

Twenty carloads and more of iron for the new bridge across the Housatonic river near Sandy Hook have been unloaded near the spot where the bridge is to be built, and the Boston Bridge company, which is to build the structure for the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, will shortly commence the real work of erecting the bridge. The new bridge is to replace the old wooden one that was destroyed by fire about a year ago. It will be a three span structure, about 480 feet in length, and of the most modern pattern.

* * *

As this is the season for burning leaves, care should be taken that the children are kept a proper distance from the blaze. Only yesterday two or three little girls were seen playing around a small bonfire and jumping across the blaze, while another little girl was trying to fan the flames with her skirts.

* * *

There is said to be a possibility that Hawleyville may have another hotel. Mrs Carrie Simpson has bought the large barn, west of the highway and north of the Highland division tracks, of Fred Schultz. Her plans are not fully made up as to what she will do with the property.

* * *

See the goat and live happily ever afterward. You will miss the time of your life if you do not embrace the opportunity to view this lively animal. Her name is Philacomanchelinicolia, which signifies ability and willingness to butt-in. November 8, 1906, Masonic Temple, Sandy Hook.

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The 25 horse-power Nash gasoline engine, manufactured by the National Meter Co, was transported from the railroad depot to the engine house of the Newtown Water Co, last week Monday, under the direction of Hermon H. Peck, who had the teams of Arthur L. Peck, E.S. Lovell and the others to assist. On Thursday last the big Gould pump was transported to the engine house from the freight station. The engine weighs about four tons and the pump the same, and both were landed at the power house without accident.