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At the request of First Selectman Jack Rosenthal, Gov William A. O’Neill has ordered his legal counsel to review a consultant’s report that ranks 65 acres of Fairfield Hills Hospital property here as the best site for a 400-bed jail. The review is “a great step forward in our efforts to stop the jail from coming to Newtown,” said Mr Rosenthal.

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Students parking cars at the high school will be charged $10 per year under new parking regulations that will go into effect at the beginning of the current school year. The new regulations disallow freshmen and sophomores from parking in the 468 parking spots available on the school grounds. The money raised from collecting the fees will be put to use for repainting lines in the parking lot, installing signs indicating the designated parking areas, and to give directions to the main office, gym, and other areas and for beautification projects in the rear parking lot.

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Builders are putting the finishing touches on Colonial Park Plaza, a two-story office and retail park on Route 25, which owners hope will attract 12 tenants before the snow flies. Although the owners have no tenants now, a number of as yet nameless storeowners are said to be considering relocating to the shopping center.

August 31, 1962

This week marks the departure of two more stately elm trees from Newtown’s Main Street. The crew of the State Highway Department has been removing trees from in front of the homes of Mr and Mrs Harold DeGroat and Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith. Both trees succumbed rapidly in the past few weeks to the Dutch elm disease. This makes a total of eight elms that have recently gone from the local scene, leaving empty spaces in their stead.

***

James F. Hinckley, superintendent of schools, reminds all parents of schoolchildren that a new bus system will be instituted on the opening day of school, Wednesday, September 5. There will be separate bus routes and school time schedules for elementary and high school pupils. It is expected that some problems will develop with the inception of a new bus transportation system, and it is hoped that parents will bear with the school authorities until they can be worked out.

***

The Town Players serve soft drinks between acts, at a modest fee, and the bottles are stored in a case just outside the theater on Orchard Hill Road. Opening the case in preparation for Friday night’s show, co-producer Ford Cordial found an envelope marked “To Whom It May Concern” and in it were enclosed four dimes and a neatly written note in child’s handwriting, “Thanks for the soda. Here’s your money 4 bottles 40 cents.”

***

The Newtown Board of Education announces the appointment of Alfred A. Lorenzetti of Bristol as supervising principal of the Sandy Hook Elementary School. He is currently studying for his sixth year professional certificate in education at the University of Hartford. During World War II, Mr Lorenzetti served for three years as an engineer-gunner with the Ninth Air Force.

 

August 27, 1937

A good citizen of Newtown has called this matter to the attention of the Editor of The Bee with the suggestion that local drivers be warned to exercise care in the use of their headlights during the coming weeks. It is a suggestion appearing in the Sunday issue of a New York Paper and is one well worth passing on, for our Newtown friend is not the only observer who “has often wondered whether parsimony or stupidity were responsible for failure to light up when morning mists or twilight dim the vision.”

***

A fire broke out on the second floor at the home of Mrs John O. Pitzschler in Sandy Hook, Friday night, believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the wiring of a boudoir lamp. Mrs Pitzschler and her sister-in-law, Mrs Frank J. McGurk of Bridgeport, were attracted by the crackling of the flames. Going up stairs they discovered a corner of the bedroom ablaze, and poured pails of water on the fire.

***

A gathering of more than 100 enjoyed the Centennial Celebration commemorating the great Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, which was held Saturday evening in the Alexandria room of the Edmond Town Hall. The affair was arranged by George Grebenstchikoff, noted writer of Churaevka Village, of Southbury. It is Pushkin’s writings which have been the source of charm and beauty of many of the great Russian operas.

***

H.S. Hinkle of New Haven has sold through Stanley Botsford, Stepney Depot real estate broker, his Sunrise Hotel property on Botsford Hill, consisting of a large hotel building with 118 acres of farm land to the East Side House, Inc, of New York City, who will use the property as a summer home for New York children. Their new property has accommodation for 100 guests. This property was used for some time as a Federal Transient camp, but was discontinued by the government last fall.

 

August 30, 1912

EDWARD W. TROY, JR: Troy’s Building, Sandy Hook, Conn. Furniture — a new line of the Latest Goods. Undertaking in all its branches. Telephone Troy’s Hotel. No 27-2.

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Paul Stevens, the 11-year-old son of Mr and Mrs William Stevens, came near meeting with a fatal accident, one day last week. Some of the troopers going by gave him a package of the loaded blank cartridges and told him to have some fire works. The lad secured a hammer and struck one of the cartridges. It exploded with terrible effect. One of the pieces struck him near the ear, cutting a vein so he bled profusely. It was feared, at first, the lad would bleed to death before he could be gotten to a physician.

***

The Linn Dog Show begins a three-night engagement on C.B. Taylor’s lot tonight, Friday. There will be musical comedies, etc. The most complete and up-to-date wagon show on the road. Free outside show at 7:30 pm. Doors open immediately after. Admission 15 cents; all children under 12, 10 cents.

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The Tenth United States Cavalry, which has been encamped near Newtown since the conclusion of the war maneuvers, started last Friday on its long journey to Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. Friday night, the regiment camped in Waterbury, where they received a hearty greeting. Friday evening, the regimental band gave a concert on the Waterbury Green and thousands of people listened to the music.