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The Cyrenius H. Booth Library is kicking off its 50th anniversary jubilee with a giant book sale over the Labor Day weekend. In addition, the Newtown Jaycees are working on a special birthday float which will celebrate the occasion in the parade on Monday. Events and exhibits will continue throughout September and conclude with a gala birthday party on the library lawn on October 2.

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A tall-case clock, attributed to the famous Willard clockmaking family of Grafton and Roxbury, has been presented to the Newtown Historical Society by Addison Metcalf. The gift was made in memory of his father, Willard Metcalf, a well-known American Impressionist painter.

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Coliform levels at the Newtown boat launch settle to well within normal limits last week according to samples taken August 24 by the Lake Lillinonah Authority. Samples from the boat launch on August 18 were 1,800. Water containing total coliforms of over 1,000 per 100 milliliters can cause intestinal problems in humans if swallowed.

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Progress Days, a Labor Day celebration designed to keep people in Newtown over the holiday, turned into a very progressive idea over the past twenty years. Spinning off eventually into the Newtown Summer Festival, the celebration enables residents to enjoy several activities spread out over the summer months, such as the picnic and fireworks on July fourth. The last official event on the schedule is the Labor Day Parade.

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Newtown will have three polling places for the Democratic and Republican primaries scheduled for Tuesday, September 7. It will be the first time that the new voting districts resulting from the 1981 reapportionment will be effective.

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According to the Newtown Social Services department, the response from Newtowners to the plight of Wilbur Platt has been “really very nice.” Mr Platt’s home on South Main Street was burned to the ground in May. Thus far he has received a bed, kitchen table and chairs, dishes, pots and pans, sofas and easy chairs, and other miscellaneous items.

 

September 6, 1957

Two of the happiest boys of the outing of the Newtown Babe Ruth League and Little League All-Star teams to Ebbets Field, August 25 were John Saputo and Fred Beris. They were selected by lottery to visit the Brooklyn Dodgers’ dugout before the game with the St Louis Cardinals. The other boys were introduced to the major leaguers after the game and had a field day obtaining autographs and tips on baseball.

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Newtown school enrollment increased nearly 15 percent over last year as classes began this Wednesday with a total enrollment of 1,591. Expanding enrollment figures are reflected in the Board of Education budget request for the coming year. The Board is asking for a total budget of $570,025, compared to the current budget of $465,907.

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William B. Jones of Sugar Street, music supervisor in the Newtown schools, is sporting a handsome sun-tan, the result of two weeks in the West Indies. He and Mrs Jones flew from Idlewild to St Croix in the Virgin Islands, which they found more unspoiled and less cluttered with tourists than Puerto Rico, where they also visited.

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At the Jaycee’s recent meeting members discussed youth fitness and auto safety programs and talked over the possibility of holding a turkey shoot this fall and of a possible program of placing trash baskets in prominent places in Newtown.

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The United Fire Company’s annual picnic was held on Sunday, August 25, in spite of the rain. The site of the picnic was transferred from Patmore’s Grove to the fire house in Botsford. In between showers, horse shoe contests were held. During the rain games were played inside, as hot dogs, hamburgers, and drinks were served. A delicious chicken dinner was served at 6 pm.

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Members of the League of Women Voters were in attendance at Town Hall recently to demonstrate the use of voting machines to new voters. They will be present for the same purpose on September 7, 14, and October 5, the next date when new voters will be made.

 

September 2, 1932

FIRST NATIONAL STORES: BUTTER, Brookside rolls 2 lbs. 43 cents; Land O’ Lakes rolls or prints 2 lobs 49 cents. Bacon, sliced, sugar cured lb. 16 cents; EGGS Henfield selected doz. 19 cents; Sugar Jack Frost Fine Granulated 10 lbs. 45 cents; Flour Gold Medal or Pillsbury’s 24½ lb. bag 79 cents; Peaches Large Fancy Eberts bkt 25 cents; Tea Golden Rose or Homeland ½ lb. pkg 19 cents.

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Representatives of the New York & New Haven railroad have been to Hawleyville, the past week, sounding out the businessmen relative to closing the Hawleyville station. It is said they have decided to close the station, probably within 30 days. The Bee looks upon the action of the New Haven road in closing this important station as a real and vital mistake for the railroad and the public also. There is a real and vital need of the railroad service in these small communities.

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Wednesday morning when the rain began to descend heavily in Newtown practically every adult resident was visibly disappointed, for they had been anxiously looking forward to seeing the eclipse. Along about 2:30 pm the sun began to peek out of the clouds and by 3 o’clock there was every evidence that the storm was over. The sun continued to shine throughout the afternoon, and the smoked glass and used photo films were brought out. The sun became a gradually thinning crescent, and — in the path of totality — was blotted out altogether for a period of about 100 seconds. Sun gazing was the business of the hour Wednesday afternoon.

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Last Saturday Robert Leahy gained the distinction of making the first hole-in-one ever made at the Newtown Country Club. His drive dropped into the cup on the first hole, giving him a psychological as well as a numerical advantage in strokes over his opponent, Taylor Duncombe. The club is pleased that someone has at last gained title to the exclusive Hole-In-One Club.

 

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After a most successful season, the final bi-monthly auction will be held at the Newtown Auction Barn on Wednesday, September 7, at 10:30, d.s.t. The auctions, which have been conducted under the direction of Wilton Lackaye, Jr, have drawn hundreds of people within a radius of several hundred miles.

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A few days ago while walking down a wooded road toward Half Way River, we startled a large bird. It flew past, and we were surprised to see such a bird in this section of the country. The wing spread was at least two and a half feet, its body a light gray. It looked like the eagles we had frequently seen in New Hampshire. We knew of no other bird so large and wondered if it had come to pass judgment upon its likeness on the new silver dollar. — Evelyn M. Hart

September 6, 1907

There seems likely to be little or no opposition to the vote for good roads at Saturday’s town meeting under the state aid law. Everyone recognized the great need of having the trunk line between Newtown and Bridgeport put in fine condition. Let Newtown carry on the good work to the Monroe line and then in a short time, probably our neighboring town will take up the good work.

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Saturday’s Town Meeting Votes to Unite Middle and North Center Districts Into One District, TO BE KNOWN AS MIDDLE DISTRICT. The town meeting, Saturday, to act on the question of uniting the Middle and North Center districts, was attended by about 100 voters, mostly from the two districts. T.J. Corbett arose and briefly stated his objections to the union, and one other voter, Mr Brennan, wanted the old order of things to remain. These objections had little weight, apparently, with the meeting, for the vote in favor was almost unanimous.

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Owing to the unusually dry summer the Salmagunda Co. has not been able to gather but a small part of the gherkins they expected to, but have gathered already and pickled 250 bushels. Should the moist weather of the first of the week continue, they may be able to get more.

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H.M. Knapp has a new automobile. He had so much confidence in his ability as a chauffeur he tried to run it up alone from Bridgeport. He got along all right until he reached the Botsford flats, when his machine swerved and plunged into the woods. The machine tried to climb a tree.

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As Mr and Mrs Fairchild of Taunton were driving to their home, Wednesday night, from Newtown Street, a man sprang at their horse and seized the bridle when near the pond road. Three other men made the night hideous by yelling. Mr Fairchild hit his horse sharply and the animal sprang away from his captor. The following night parties tried to hold up Alonzo Cree as he was returning from prayer meeting. Can we not drive abroad in the night without being held up?