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The Board of Selectmen on February 13 voted unanimously to apply for $375,000 in federal grants to build a pool at Treadwell Memorial Park on Philo Curtis Road. If funding is approved, the federal government would pay for 50 percent of the project, while the state and town would each fund 25 percent of the cost. Cost estimates for a 50-meter pool could go as high as $750,000.

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Newtown placed five wrestlers — only one school had more — in the finals of the Western Connecticut Wrestling Tournament in New Milford last Saturday. The Indians took three first places, two seconds, two thirds and a fourth. Senior Kyle Turoczi, his younger brother Chad, a sophomore, and junior Brian Voland won for Newtown while Tyler Renkert and Scott Behan took second places.

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When the sun rose on the morning of Monday, February 2, it was a welcome sight, following the weekend snowstorm and early morning temperatures which fell to 10 degrees below zero. Later in the day, the temperature reached a high of 27 degrees.

 

February 19, 1960

Friends of Edward J. Coleman, former first selectman, numbering approximately 125, paid tribute to him at a Lincoln Day dinner held last Friday evening at the Hawley Manor Inn. Arranged by the Republican Town Committee, the dinner was a personal testimony to the man who had served as Newtown’s first selectman for four years, from 1955 to 1959.

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SALE: Contents of OLD BLACKSMITH SHOP Washington’s Birthday, Feb 22, 1960, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Rain, Snow, or Sleet. Old Hinges, Latches, Misc. Iron, Tools, Jugs, Ox Yokes, Wheels, Sleds, Corn Sheller, etc. Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook, Off Hammertown & Rt 34 Rds. Wear Your Red Flannels!

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Everything is in readiness for the annual Pre-Lenten Card and Games Party for the benefit of St Rose Church which will be held at St Rose Hall on next Friday evening, February 26. A large attendance of parishioners and friends of St Rose is hoped for.

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The trustees of the Newtown Savings Bank at their morning meeting held Monday, February 15, voted to increase the regular dividend rate payable to depositors on their savings from three and one half percent to four percent. The present four percent rate places the Newtown Savings Bank in a position of leadership as it has consistently led the way to higher dividends for the past six years.

February 15, 1935

The Board of Selectmen have purchased a new snowplow that has been attached to the town truck. With this new implement it will be possible to open roads after a snowstorm in much quicker time than the tractor plow that has been used in the past.

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Thanks and much praise are due Mrs William M. McKenzie for her long and wonderfully executed task of preparing the additional six boxes of Newtown Insects, which she has presented to the Cyrenius H. Booth Library and are now on display at the library. This increases the collection to fifteen boxes. The total number of insects shown is nearly 500 and all but about ten of them were collected here in Newtown.

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Pohtatuck Grange held one of the most interesting meetings of recent months at the Beach Memorial library, Tuesday night. Miss Julia Stowe entertained with a humorous reading, which was followed by a whistling contest between the Brothers and Sisters of the Grange, and maybe those girls couldn’t whistle! They whistled “Yankee Doodle” in a manner that brought the “Spirit of 1776” right into the room. The judges awarded the prize to the women.

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A Ford roadster belonging to people from Patterson, N.Y., became overheated and caught on fire, Wednesday afternoon, on Mt Pleasant. Passing motorists, with the aid of a shovel, put out the blaze by throwing snow around the engine, though the car was quite seriously damaged.

 

February 18, 1910

W.L. Mershon has shipped in two Huber printing presses, weighing 24,000 pounds each, and they have been placed on the first floor of the Niantic mill. Machinists will soon begin the task of setting them up. Mr Mershon has opened a skating rink on the top floor of the Niantic mill at Sandy Hook and the boys are enjoying the sport.

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The fact that the Newtown Bee did not show up on the delivery of last Friday morning’s mail did not create a Panic on Wall Street. It does not follow that there were no queries raised as to “what’s the matter with the Newtown Bee?” It was too cold a day to expect Bees to swarm, yet by actual count, a swarm of 4,350 left the hive early Saturday morning. The Bee force are to be congratulated upon the dispatch with which the broken part of the press was replaced and thus the delay called off. —E.L. Johnson

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A party made up of the girls from the lace factory at Hawleyville went to Danbury on a sleigh ride on Tuesday night. The sleighing was fine and the moonlight added to the pleasure. The sights of Danbury were taken in and thoroughly enjoyed and the return home was made in time to get to work on Wednesday morning. Matthew Mullane’s team furnished transportation and Mr Reardon held the ribbons.

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The Board of Governors of the Automobile Club has decided to hold the opening meeting of 1910, which has been repeatedly called off on account of bad weather, on Friday evening, February 18, rain, shine, a blizzard or a second flood. No matter what kind of weather on that evening be sure and come, because others will be there and the board has some matters to mention for consideration.