December 29, 1989

Kevin Jones, a deputy planning director in Roswell, Ga., has been selected as Newtown’s first economic development coordinator, and was expected to confirm his verbal acceptance of the post, Thursday. If Mr Jones confirms the hiring, he would begin work in early February at a salary of $52,000.

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Richard Crafts, the Newtown airline pilot convicted last month of killing his wife and disposing of her body with a chain saw and wood chipper, is seeking a new trial, claiming that he was the victim of an illegal state police wiretap. Richard Crafts, 51, claims in the handwritten motion that his rights were violated because state police taped his telephone calls made from the Troop A barracks in Southbury and later leaked the tape of these calls to a man who wrote a book about the Crafts case. He claims, among other things, that the state failed to disclose certain information and the trial judge improperly allowed people who knew about the case to become jurors.

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After a rocky 0-4 start, the Lady Indians basketball team finally broke the ice with a scrappy 38-28 win against Ansonia on Wednesday afternoon, December 27. The Lady Indians used their aggressive defensive play to open up an early 11-2 first quarter lead. In a playground style basketball game against an unseasoned Ansonia squad, the game didn’t turn out to be as much of a street brawl as it was when the two teams met last year.

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Asked for a self-assessment on his two years as first selectman, First Selectman Rod Mac Kenzie decided to couch his answer thus: “Personal gratification, versus public satisfaction.” Personally, said Mr Mac Kenzie, he was “extremely pleased” with everything that had happened, including the fact he was leaving office at the end of the month. But as for public satisfaction over his efforts, he acknowledged the reviews were “extremely mixed.”

January 1, 1965

Vacationing Newtown college students found “SHARP” on last Saturday and Tuesday afternoons a good place to work off excess energy and meet old friends. Eighty-five to 90 appeared at those three-and-one-half hour sessions in the gym. Tuesday evenings’ men’s basketball session drew enough for two continuous games being played on the two cross courts. High school juniors and seniors along with the vacationing college students have been invited to come in couples to the December 30 mixed volleyball session.

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Each and every patient at the Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown knows that friends, volunteers, and many organizations cared about them during the holiday season. All were the recipients of gifts, individually and carefully wrapped; Girl Scout troops sent in favors and candy; entertainments and parties were given for them and enjoyed. The many groups who came caroling to the hospital brought the real joy of Christmas.

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Did I Miss Anyone? Good Idea For 1965, Give Subscriptions To The Newtown Bee, a gift that will be enjoyed every week for an entire year! One Year — $5.00.

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A number of neighbors have been happily surprised by the beauty of the big bay window in the Sandy Hook Post Office, since Catherine Conger decorated it with a silver Christmas tree, evergreens, colored ornaments, artificial snow and growing plants. This “labor of love” in the midst of the holiday rush has added a happy note which has not gone unnoticed.

December 29, 1939

The Bee office acknowledges a calendar presented by Arthur W. Carmody of Sandy Hook. The calendar, issued by the Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, contains a collection of handsomely reproduced Currier and Ives prints.

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The Hawleyville volunteer Fire Company are once again sponsoring their New Year’s Eve Dance, to be held on Saturday, December 30, at the Hawleyville Fire House. The song, fun, revelry and good fellowship will get underway to 9 o’clock and is expected to continue long into the night. Music for the occasion will be furnished by the King Street Pioneers, well-known for their playing of old and modern tunes. At midnight, refreshments will be served free of charge followed by more music, and a good time for all. Admission will be one dollar per person.

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A record Christmas mail was handled by Postmaster P.H. McCarthy and his assistants at the Newtown post office. The unprecedented deluge of letters and packages was the largest in the history of the local office. During the last ten days preceding Christmas, over 20,000 – 1½ cent stamps were issued. During the peak of the rush the postmaster and his assistants were forced to labor until late at night. For four days, an extra trip was made from Bridgeport by the mail truck. In Sandy Hook, Postmaster Arthur Carmody reported that the Christmas mails this year amounted to a 15 per cent increase over last year. At the Hawleyville post office, the heaviest mail in the last twelve years was handled by Postmaster E.C. Platt and his assistants. The increase amounted to 25 per cent over that of last Christmas. Only one office failed to show a substantial increase this year. This was at Botsford, where Postmaster Albert Rasmussen and his assistants handled the usual rush.

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With their Christmas Doorway Decorations, Mr and Mrs Ralph Knibloe ably assisted by Vincent T. Sullivan, have transformed the Sullivan house on Sugar Street into one of the most unique displays to be found anywhere. Santa Claus has left his sleigh and reindeer in front of the house, only to have his sack break open as he starts down the chimney — letting loose many of the toy contents to scamper all over the roof. The floodlighting is so enticing that a steady stream of cars brings hundreds of visitors every evening to enjoy the spectacle.

 

January 1, 1915

Ezra Levan Johnson, Newtown’s historian, and its most widely known and best beloved citizen, entered into rest, Sunday, about 1:30 pm. He passed peacefully away, as one laying down to a sleep. Ezra Levan Johnson was born November 11, 1832, the son of Charles Johnson and Julia Merritt Johnson. Ezra Levan Johnson received his early educational training in the Newtown schools. In 1856 he was elected to the Board of School Visitors and served continuously on the board from that date to his death. His attitude toward all the teachers was helpful, rather than critical. In his young manhood, Mr Johnson was an active member of the Congregational church. Later in life, he became a communicant of Trinity church and at the time of his death was its honored senior warden. The citizens of the town are indebted to Mr Johnson for his painstaking work in his local historical writing. Shortly after its organization, Mr Johnson became a member of the Men’s Club. Mr Johnson married Jane Eliza Camp, who survives him with four sons.

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The Christmas program given by Miss Anna Murphy, the efficient teacher of Gray’s Plain school, is worthy of note. The school was prettily trimmed for the occasion. A large tree loaded with gifts, candy, and oranges and real old Santa Claus best of all, came to help make merry for the children.

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Ex-Representative Michael Kilbride, has been housing the ice crop, this week, for the Smith-Scudder families, cutting fine 10-inch ice on Taunton lake. Arthur J. Gallagher had a force of men at work, Monday and Tuesday, harvesting a fine crop of 11-inch ice from the pond above the factory of the Fabric Fire Hose Co.

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Newtown residents were treated to a surprising sensation on Friday morning last, when it became known that William F. Hale, for the past three years and one-half, manager of the Newtown Inn, had voluntarily surrendered his lease to William A. Leonard, owner, and had turned over the hotel to Mr Leonard. Mr Hale is now, we understand, a petitioner in bankruptcy and a trustee will shortly be appointed to wind up his affairs. For various reasons, Mr Hale has not succeeded in building up a paying business. With a modern hotel plant like this, situated on a trunk line state road, midway between Bridgeport and Danbury, Waterbury and Danbury, it would seem that there was a good future for this house if the correct management could be applied.