March 7, 1997

In the eyes of Newtown High School students, Jeff Chuongvan’s nighthawk logo was the one they wanted. Jeff’s logo design survived three separate rounds of voting during the narrowing-down process. First there were 20 designs, then five, then two and then, last week, Jeff’s design — an illustration of a nighthawk’s head, in the middle of the capital letter N, with a full moon in the background behind the N — was voted the winner.

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Remington, Sheba and Mollie have each reached the ripe old age of 126. They have, that is, if you multiply their 18 calendar years times 7 — the standard equation for converting dog years to a comparable human age. As the oldest dogs on record at the town clerk’s office, the Yorkie/Chihuahua mix, springer spaniel mix and yellow golden retriever are the official elders of Newtown’s canine community.

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Emergency service personnel had some anxious moments Monday afternoon after learning that a live stick of dynamite might be positioned in a rock ledge outcropping in the Rollingwood subdivision. United Fire Company of Botsford, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, Building Inspector Al Brinley, and town police initially responded. A bomb expert from CT State Police Troop A and a technician from Shoreline Blasting Corporation of Madison also responded. After an investigation, no dynamite was found, only wiring used in blasting that had become embedded in a boulder.

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The applicant for The Estates on Taunton Hill, a 19-lot residential subdivision proposed for 60 acres off Taunton Hill Road, has sued the Planning and Zoning Commission, seeking to overturn the P&Z’s rejection of the project. In legal papers filed in Danbury Superior Court, Damota LLC seeks to have the court order that the subdivision be approved.

March 10, 1972

The monthly meeting of the Newtown Visiting Nurse Association Board was Tuesday, March 7, at the Cyrenius Booth Library with Mrs Francis Honey presiding. Karl Epple, chairman of the Volunteer Board of the United Way; Stanley Borner, executive director, and Clarence Ziemann were presented. Mr Epple spoke on the concepts and approaches of the United Way. A question and answer period followed. The VNA Board discussed the pros and cons of joining the United Way; voting on this issue will take place at the April meeting. Mrs Hiney spoke about the publicity local radio station WLAD is giving the VNA, a letter was read from Community Action and Teen Action on the upcoming working on teenage concerns, the Fund Drive total currently rests at $3,371, and Mrs Robert Hall reported that the Loan Closet is in good condition with all work having been completed.

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A new convalescent home will open its doors officially, Monday, March 13, when Buckingham Gardens located off Toddy Hill Road in Sandy Hook, begins accepting patients. The home offers complete convalescent care and will take patients from age 18 and up. On March 3, The Bee paid a visit to the home, which is tucked away in a beautiful wooded setting off Toddy Hill Road. It was a dismal, wet morning, but the moment we entered the building, all the gloom of outside was dispelled by the cheerfulness inside.

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The sum of $1,522 has been contributed to date to The Timothy Treadwell Memorial Fund to be used toward a Youth Center in Newtown. Nelson Denny, who is acting as treasurer of the fund, states that donations continue to reach him at the Connecticut National Bank. Town Counsel Robert Hall has filed an application for tax exemption, so that gifts to the fund may be taken by the donors as charitable deductions. It is of interest to note that the New Milford Republican Town Committee is sending a donation to the fund in recognition of Tim Treadwell’s service as First Selectman. Those still wishing to add to the fund should mail or deliver their contribution to Mr Denney at the Connecticut National Bank.

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Robert J. Olah of Sugar Street, an industrial design major in the University of Bridgeport College of Engineering, was announced a winner in the 16th annual Rigid Box Design Scholarship Competition at the University, and judged by professional industrial designers.

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Those who arrived a minute or two late for the Republican Caucus on Thursday evening, March 2, in the Edmond Town Hall found standing room only since an estimated 200 residents turned out. It was a warm night, but just after the caucus began everyone got a chance for a breath of fresh air when the building had to be evacuated because of a bomb threat. Nothing blew sky high, however, during the evacuation period or caucus. Business was conducted in short order with only three challenges to the recommended slate of 50 candidates for membership on the Town Committee.

March 7, 1947

John Lorenzo of Riverside-on-Lake Zoar, son of Mr and Mrs Louis J. Lorenzo, who are at present residing at their winter home in Stuart, Florida, was confined to the Danbury Hospital for several days recently as the result of a skiing accident which occurred in the hills near his home. While coming down a slope, his ski stick stuck into the snow at an angle which caused a strain and dislocation of the cartilage of his knee. His pal, Jack Watkins, who was with him, assisted him to his home. On the advice of Dr Egee, he was removed to the hospital. A cast was applied to the injury which for several weeks will keep John off of his skis. In his last letter to his mother in the South, John said he was “having a lot of fun in the snow and would not change places with his family in a million years.”

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A public hearing was held by the Zoning Board of the Borough of Newtown on Monday evening at 7:30 o’clock in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, on an application from George F. Wheeler, in which he requested a change in the classification of his property on Queen street from residential to business. Some fifty or more Borough residents and interested persons attended.

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Mr and Mrs George F. Wheeler of Queen street, announce the engagement of their daughter, Lorraine, to Robert Arthur Leibold, son of Mr and Mrs John W. Leibold of Palestine district. Both young people are graduates of Hawley High school. Miss Wheeler is an operator at the Newtown Telephone Office. Mr Leibold was in the U.S. Navy for over two years, where he served as a Gunner’s Mate. He received his discharge in May, 1946, and is now employed by the Big Y Feed Store in Stepney. The couple will be married in the Newtown Congregational Church on Easter Sunday afternoon.

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Hawley Warner and Nelson Curtis left Saturday to spend two weeks enjoying the skiing in Colorado. They intended to travel by air, but unfortunately their plane was grounded at LaGuardia Field because of the weather, and so they took the train to Chicago, hoping to be able to fly from there. Though The Bee has not heard since, an enjoyable two weeks was in prospect for these two ski enthusiasts.

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Notice is given that those who wish to be taken off the jury list should notify First Selectman Stanley J. Blackman. Also, anyone wanting to have his or her name placed on the jury list should make their desire known to Mr Blackman. Any changes in the present list must be made during the month of March. There are 102 names on the list at present.

March 3, 1922

Sandy Hook village enjoyed a visit some time, Monday, in broad daylight, from a young deer. It came off from Eagle mountain and ambled across the garden on Robert Banks’ place and then across the Dayton street bridge. The deer shortly retraced its steps and made for the hills.

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A visit to the new Hawley school, Wednesday, showed that splendid building nearing completion. Superintendent Hunt says that he expects his men will be out of the building in 10 days. The laying of the floors has been completed, the doors are all hung and the painting and varnishing nearly finished. The work of fitting up the coat and wrap apartments is now in progress. As one inspects the fine, light and airy school rooms, with the broad and light corridors, the large and attractive assembly hall and the school gymnasium, he is impressed deeply with the magnanimity of Miss Hawley’s gift to the town. While the School Board have not definitely decided on any date for occupancy, Secretary Peale of the Board informs us that it is the plan of the Board to move in during the Easter vacation. The blackboards, which do not come under the contract of the Hewlett Construction Co., have not arrived, but they can be put in position in short order as soon as they are in town.

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The Colonial tea and food sale, held at Mapleton, last Friday afternoon, for the benefit of the Sandy Hook library, was a great success. The house was prettily decorated with flags and red, white and blue streamers. Miss Stowe, in colonial costume, made a charming hostess, Mrs C.A. Peale and Mrs Hobart G. Warner were also in costume and presided at the tea table with old-time courtesy. It was estimated that about 150 were served. At the food table was a fine array of cake, pies, cookies, crullers, biscuits and bread. Everything was sold and about $75 was added to the library treasury. The committee wishes to thank all who helped to make it such a success.

March 12, 1897

Charles Morehouse, aged 94 years, two months and 21 days, died on Saturday afternoon at 1.20. He had been ill for about three months, but retained his faculties till within a few days of his death. Mr Morehouse was the oldest person in Newtown, and his passing away severs one more chain with the past. By trade he was a joiner and carpenter, and had a fondness for mechanical work of all kinds. He had charge of building the Episcopal church on Redding Ridge, St John’s church at Sandy Hook, and many other buildings in town. Mr Morehouse had resided in Newtown the last 35 years. In his religious connections, Mr Morehouse was an Episcopalian, being a warden in Trinity church for some years. He was a devout man, and took comfort in his religious beliefs. The last years of his life he has been cared for by Mr and Mrs George A. Northrop, and up to within a few weeks of his death he seemed to enjoy life keenly.

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Mr and Mrs I.B. Goodsell celebrated the 25th anniversary of their marriage last Saturday evening, by a very enjoyable gathering of the immediate family relatives and friends at their pleasant home in Palestine district. About 40 were present to assist in the celebration and the evening passed all too quickly with social intercourse, games and music. A bounteous luncheon was served and the guests departing wishing Mr and Mrs Goodsell many happy returns of their wedding anniversary. They were the recipients of a number of handsome and useful presents. Guests were present from New York, Westport, Danbury, Redding and Newtown.

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Maj C. Thurston Greene of Brookfield organized a chapter of the Brotherhood of St Andrew in St James parish, Danbury, March 4. The chapter starts off with 19 members. Maj Greene is coming to Newtown and will endeavor to start a chapter in Trinity parish.

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Mr and Mrs R.G. Warren of Bridgeport have been passing some weeks with Mr and Mrs George A. Northrop, assisting in the care of the late Charles Morehouse during his last illness.

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Miss Jennette Abercrombie, who has boarded for some time at George W. Northrop’s in Palestine, has returned to her home in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Edgar F. Northrop is having a horse barn built on his place in Hanover, 26x28 feet. George Northrop is doing the carpenter work. Carpenter Northrop has also taken the contract to remove the two remaining poultry houses belonging to F.S. Andrews, to the premises of L.S. Mason on Mt Pleasant and Rev Frank Hawley’s on Whisconier.

Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.