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Newtown Police Chief Louis Marchese defended his department against fire officials’ claims that the police could have done more at the scene of last month’s gas spill on Church Hill Road. Fire Marshal George Lockwood and other fire officials last week criticized the police department for not sending more men, for not blocking off the roads, and for not evacuating homes and businesses near the spill.

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The public building committee has recommended that if a building program is undertaken at Newtown High School, a permanent freestanding two-story building be constructed instead of the originally proposed portable classrooms. Board of Ed member Ted Haynos said cost of the permanent structure versus that of the portables “is substantially close.”

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Police commission member James Blakely advised the state Department of Transportation to “lay off the flagpole” in a motion which failed for lack of support on March 5. “I’m sick, sick, sick of this whole thing with the state DOT trying to do something with this intersection,” said Mr Blakely. “The people of the community would like the flagpole intersection left as it is.”

 

March 11, 1960

Newtown’s 18-man road crew was busy around the clock last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as one of the largest snowfalls of recent years was recorded here — a fall of 18 inches, whipped by winds into drifts of three and four feet. Every available piece of equipment was used in keeping roads open. There was little sleep for the crewmembers during the 36-hour stretch.

* * *

Persons eligible for jury duty, they must be electors and over 25 years of age, who would like to be listed are asked to write or telephone the Selectman’s office. Jurors are paid at the rate of $8 per day for their services and mileage is reimburses at the rate of $.10 per mile, one way.

* * *

Mrs Olive M. Seaman, who has conducted the Yard Stick Yard Goods Shop at her home in the Hanover District, has moved her store to a new location in the Cianci Block, corner of Church Hill Road and Queen Street. The new and larger quarters will enable Mrs Seaman to carry a larger stock of the same quality yard goods which has made her shop so successful.

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Tentative plans are being made by the Adult Ballroom Dance Club of the Lathrop School of Dance for an invitation dance to be held sometime in April at the Hawley Manor Inn. The Adult Ballroom Dance Club consists of couples who have recently completed 16 weeks of ballroom dance instruction given in the gymnasium of the Edmond Town Hall under the direction of Mack and Ginny Lathrop.

March 8, 1935

D.N. Popovitch, one of Taunton district’s enterprising farmers, had rather a hair-raising experience while delivering milk on Sunday morning. The road which has been in very bad shape leading from his home to the state road corner, completely broke up on Sunday and while trying to make the trip, the road suddenly gave way on one side, letting the truck down far enough to turn it on its side. Mr Popovitch was uninjured. Later in the morning the town truck pulled Mr Popovitch out of the mud. Motorists are cautioned that this road is in bad condition.

* * *

St John’s Church is installing a reconstructed Skinner Organ of 1,600 pipes to fill the requirements of the church. The people of St John’s are happy to see this beautiful organ take shape and they expect to use it for the first time for their Easter Services.

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The Newtown Board of Finance met on Wednesday evening and decided on a recommendation of an 18 mill tax for the grand list of 1934. This recommendation will come before the taxpayers of the town at the adjourned town meeting which will be held in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall on Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock.

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A large audience which filled the Edmond Town Hall theatre thoroughly enjoyed the concert of the Newtown Orchestral Society last Thursday evening. In this concert the musicians played with a sense of confidence not so evident in their previous concerts and too, they played a program of more difficult music.

 

March 11, 1910

The work of double-tracking the railroad from Hawleyville to Derby, a distance of 21 miles, will soon be under way as it is understood that contracts have been let for the work form Hawleyville to Botsford and the rest will be let soon. The work about the Newtown station has involved considerable engineering work, as it is proposed to eliminate the grade crossing at that place.

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FARMERS IN NEWTOWN, BOTSFORD, STEPNEY, SANDY HOOK AND ZOAR TO ORGANIZE Fly Greenblatt, the industrious and able organizer of the Building Trades of New York and Brooklyn, sent out a number of letters to various farmers of nearly every section, asking them to meet at his hotel in Botsford Hill, Sunday afternoon, at 2 o’clock sharp, for the purpose of organizing, and form plans for the co-operative buying and selling of all products bought and sold by farmers in order to increase their profits.

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Hanging on the wall in the Newtown postoffice, Postmaster W.M. Reynolds has his new commission. It bears the signature of William H. Taft, President, and that of Frank H. Hitchcock, the postmaster general. Mr Taft writes a bold hand, abbreviating the William.

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The Hillside Club missed, for an evening for the first time since it was organized, the genial face of Charles G. Peck, last Saturday evening. Mr Peck was ill and under the care of Dr Gale. He was on deck again, Monday, and the piano was going as blithely as ever and the members are all happy again.