The auditorium at the high school has been sealed off for a week now, and there is no indication yet as to when it will be open again. “There are many ifs,” said building inspector Wayne Smith, who ordered the room sealed on Thursday, March 11. There are many “ifs.” And questions remain to be answered on many aspects of the water trouble in the auditorium. The cause of the leak is a large crack in the roof along the flashing on one side. What caused the crack is not yet known, but Larry Cole, head custodian at the school, and Principal Alvah Cramer think it may have been from weather conditions, a continual freezing, thawing, and freezing.

***

 The nation’s first Girl Scout, Mrs Daisy Gordon Lawrnece, now a resident of Buckingham Gardens in Newtown, was honored by area Girl Scouts Friday, March 12, the 64th birthday of the Girl Scouts of the USA. A “Flames of Freedom” luncheon took place at the Stony Hill Inn, and Mrs Lawrence, niece of the Girl Scout founder, Juliette Gordon Law, was presented with a special gift: a parchment scroll containing 1,171 signatures of members of the 1975 National Convention. Signatures were obtained at the Washington, D.C., convention last October, representing 313 Girl Scout Councils from Florida to Alaska.

***

As part of the Bicentennial concert the Newtown High School Music Department will present on March 26 and 27, the school chorus will perform various works of America, including the Civil War song “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” which will be sung in concert style. Also, authentic folk songs such as “Shenandoah,” “Sweet Betsey,” and “Skip to My Lou” will be performed in a special arrangement called Americana. Several spirituals depicting the deep south will also be depicted. At the end of the concert, the band and chorus will combine to perform the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and Charles Ives’ “Circus Band.”

***

Spent nuclear fuel rods from Brookhaven National Laboratory traveled over Connecticut roads Monday, with no incident, but dissatisfied some citizens in localities along the route. The spent fuel from Brookhaven’s research reactor, encased in two lead and steel casks lashed to a flatbed truck, passed through Newtown at 4:45 Monday, in the process going by a small group of local protesters.

***

“The job starts now!” Earl J. Smith told the Democratic Town Committee following his reelection for two years as its chairman on March 11. “This is going to be a committee of workers. Take a leave if you can’t work.” Also reelected were Mrs Ethel Connor, vice chairman; Harry Rishor, treasurer; and Janet Hollander, secretary.

***

First Selectman Jack Rosenthal didn’t feel this week that a proposal from the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Highways for improving the intersection of Glover Avenue and Queen Street was justified. Last year, then-First Selectman Frank DeLucia had initiated the DOT study on the intersection, as federal aid was available for the work. But Mr Rosenthal said the cost for improving the intersection, estimated at $25,000 to $40,000 – with a ten percent town participation – was not justified. He said the DOT told him that five accidents occurred at the intersection in 1975. “In my opinion I don’t think the hazard, if you want to call it that, justifies spending $25,000,” said Mr Rosenthal.

***

Newtown will get its senior citizen dial-a-ride mini-bus in July or August, if no further delays take place on the state level. The Newtown Fund applied for the 15-seat, $12,650 vehicle by the federal Urban Mass Transit Administration last March. Word was received in the fall that Newtown’s application had been approved. Since then target dates for actually getting the vehicle have moved back and back, largely due to red tape in Wethersfield with the Department of Transportation.

MARCH 23, 1951

Last Thursday evening’s adjourned session of the annual town meeting set a tax rate of 20.5 mills on the Grand List of 1950. This is a reduction of 5.2 mills from last year’s rate of 25.7 mills. Taxes which become due on May 1 will be levied at the new rate of 20.5 mills. W.W. Holcombe, chairman of the Board of Finance, presided at last Thursday’s meeting, which drew an attendance of less than 50 taxpayers and voters. As the first item of business, a resolution was offered by H.H. Cutler, member of the Board of finance, directing that the sum of $5,000 be transferred from Surplus to the New School Building Fund as recommended by the Board of Finance.

***

Danny Lawler, golf pro, returned with his family on Saturday from their annual migration to Florida. He says that the coming season at the Newtown Country Club looks like a good one. The course is in fine shape and should be ready for use late in April. Meanwhile Danny is booking lessons for all those who want to brush up on their game, or for beginners. He can be reached at Newtown 597 or 190. Danny mentions a fine if somewhat chilly season in Florida this year. Two Newtown couples were his visitors in the South, Mr and Mrs Frederic H. Duncombe and Mr and Mrs Bayard C. Hoppin.

***

Mrs Paul A. Cullens was the speaker at the meeting of the Women’s Federation of Newtown Congregational Church last Thursday afternoon when she told about the 10,000-mile motor car trip taken by her family last summer. Miss Mary Cullens was accompanied by a classmate. They were equipped with a tent and sleeping bags and their travels took them to the West Coast and through several of the National Parks. Hostesses for the meeting were Mrs Arthur Gies, Mrs Hastings Morse, Mrs Renwick Brown, and Mrs James Peck. During the meeting Mrs Floyd Nash gave several solo numbers, accompanied by Mrs Edna L. Patterson.

***

Volunteer solicitors for the Newtown Ambulance Association will call at Newtown homes and business houses in the near future soliciting funds for the new ambulance. Telling the association’s growing service to the community and the need for the new equipment, Henry L. McCarthy, a board of trustees member, stated this week that in 1941 the ambulance averaged answering a call once in five and one-half days, and that in 1951 it averages one call in 37 hours, a more than 300 percent increase in frequency.

***

Of considerable added interest at last Thursday night’s performance of Light Up the Sky was the announcement by Ford Cordial that Town Players had completed arrangements earlier that day for the purchase of an acre and a half of property on which to build a small building which will serve as a rehearsal hall for all those interested in amateur theatre activities, as well as a much needed storage place for properties and costumes. The property, which was selected after consideration of several, is located on the north side of West Plains Road in South Center District, about 1,500 feet in from Route 25, and was purchased from Mr and Mrs Harold F. Smith.

***

During the past week volunteer workers on the Red Cross fund drive have been engaged throughout the town in soliciting gifts toward Newtown’s $4,000 goal. With the annual roll call officially ending March 31, Mrs Bradley Randall, local campaign chairman, is urging volunteers to make as complete reports as possible during the next week. Mrs Randall observes that while “Mobilize for Defense’’ is the American Red Cross slogan this year, there is also the burden of maintaining already established year-round activities which have been mounting with the years, making a double task for the coming 12 months.

***

Hawley High school athletics are in a tight spot as they face the spring sports schedules. Funds are low and whether they can field the girls’ softball, the junior high school baseball and the varsity baseball teams is a problem. Also, whether they can afford to continue football next fall is another real question facing the committee of home room members who are to try to recommend to the Hawley AA how to raise funds to face this serious situation. Transportation costs are high in the causes of red ink. The fact that the basketball teams did not always play their games at the same time doubled some of this expense.

 

MARCH 19, 1926

At the adjourned annual town meeting on Saturday afternoon, Borough Warden A.T. Nettleton was made chairman and Judge Oscar Pitzschler did the honors as clerk. A vote was passed authorizing the selectmen to borrow the sum of $12,000 from the Newtown Savings Bank until such time as the taxes on the list of 1925 become due and payable.

***

Professor and Mrs Frank H. Johnson delightfully entertained a party at bridge at their home on Newtown Street on Tuesday night March 16. The house was very daintily decorated in St Patrick colors and everyone had a chance at the grab bag, with many different green hats, whistles, etc.

***

David C. Bacon was 98 years old on Thursday. He is the oldest member of Hiram Lodge, F & AM, and held in the highest esteem.

MARCH 22, 1901

Arthur Ray, a brother of Stage Driver John Ray, has hired out to Landlord Leonard, for the hotel season, beginning April 15. He is now working for Mr Leonard and drives the stage when the genial John is otherwise engaged.

***

E.E. Nettleton moves his saw mill, this week, from the lot near the depot to the Bidwell property on Walnut Tree Hill, near Mr Corey’s.

***

John Blake, the former president of the Walnut Tree Hill Club, was attacked by a large cat, savage for want of food. Mr Blake ran for help, and Mr Hedderman, hearing his cries, seized his gun and ran to his aid. The cat was killed after a severe struggle.