April 12, 1991

This article has to do with pound keepers, haywards, and wardens. It involves street lights, fire hydrants, and The Flagpole; as well as bans on gunfire, Sunday movies, and bicycle-riding on sidewalks. It pertains to the history of the borough of Newtown. It all started in 1824 when the General Assembly allowed the borough's incorporation. The borough consisted of a board of burgesses, and a clerk, treasurer, and bailiff. Among the earliest borough regulations were requiring that all dwellings have a "convenient scuddle" or "a suitable ladder"; prohibiting disturbing of the peace after 9 am; and stipulating that nobody "shall wantonly" fire a gun on Main Street except during the militia training or on July 4.

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With the town's social service department getting busier as hard times set in for more families, the Legislative Council on April 10 approved $30,000 for the department's accounts. This included $20,000 for welfare and $10,000 for medical expenses.

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The traffic island at the corner of Queen Street and Church Hill Road was changed April 10 when the highway department removed a small crabapple tree, two large yews, and a small mugo pine. Borough clerk Ethel Connor said borough officials have been concerned about sight-line problems; while Barbara O'Connor, horticulture chairman for the Town and Country Garden Club, said the club wanted to redo the overgrown island and will plant a new tree and shrubbery donated by Planter's Choice. The yews and pine were replanted at the highway department.

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The Zoning Board of Appeals has approved the United Fire Company of Botsford's application for a variance allowing it to have a flea market at its fire house on South Main Street. Joe Oliva, the town's zoning enforcement officer, originally denied the company's request. Borough zoning regulations allow flea markets on a permitted basis, but regulations don't make any provisions for tag sales.

April 12 was a busy day for the Newtown fire companies. Two alarms at almost the same time called the Sandy Hook Truck, and engineer Ed Casey, and Engine One driven by Lou Lewis to a grass fire on Gray's Plain Road. Chief Glover and The Hook and Ladder Company, the Stevenson Volunteer Company, and the Newtown Forest Fire Crew all answered a call on Great Ring Road. Days such as this are costly, and the public must be reminded that a permit is necessary for burning and a great deal of care must be exercised during this dry season.

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On a clear April day about 200 dogs were presented at the Annual Dog Flower Show in Danbury. Trophy tables were filled with the plants of Easter and the prizes that the dogs were vying for in various classes. Winners from Newtown were Debbie, a Boston terrier, owned, trained, and handled by Mrs Elmer Freeman.

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The study of transportation, airplanes in particular, resulted in the construction of models by members of the fifth grade at Sandy Hook School. Three of Miss Pereira's students and their work were Dwight Presnell, Keith Saad, and Robin Palmer. They made papier mache planes.

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As a direct response to information that the girls of junior high school were exposed to very little recreation after school in the past two seasons, the newly former junior advisory committee of the regional YWCA has issued forms for a ten session gymnastics to begin on April 25. Coach Owen J. Gallagher of the elementary school physical education staff will be in charge.

The annual election of officers of the Charles Howard Peck Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary was held in the firehouse meeting room last Thursday. Mrs Ida Fairchild was unanimously elected president. She and other officers will be installed at a ceremony with the Charles Howard Peck Post 308 on Thursday evening, April 17. The public is cordially invited to attend the ceremony.

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Over 180 persons witnessed the production "Family Portrait" presented by the Town Players, this time for the benefit of Belgians in Britain on Monday evening at the Edmond Town Hall. The play, originally produced last December, was well received by the benefit audience. With but few changes, the original cast of nearly 30 did a splendid job with the somewhat heavy play.

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Hey, hey! Wot cha doin' a week from Wednesday, that's April 23? Nothing, huh? Well, how's about you and a lady friend strolling over to St Rose Hall to attend a dance put on by Newtown A.C. Swede Stolt and the Hayseeders who will be on hand to play modern and square sets, and a swell time is assured to all. The Athletic Club wants you, and you, and especially you, to be there. Proceeds will help towards putting the Pine Grove Park into shape for use by the A.C. and Hawley School ball clubs.

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A grass fire was started at the residence of Bert Carey of Sandy Hook on Tuesday and spread to the Briscoe lot adjoining. Several neighbors and passing motorists assisted in extinguishing the blaze. Mr and Mrs Carey wish to express their thanks for the help rendered.

A Card of Thanks - I desire through The Bee to thank my friends and neighbors and especially the members of the Sunshine Society for their kindness during the illness and at the time of my late husband Henry Myers's funeral; also to those who so kindly contributed floral arrangements. -Mrs Henry Myers, Sandy Hook.

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It is about time the state awoke to protect the state roads from being torn to pieces by heavily loaded trucks, while the roads are in a soft condition in the early days of April. The damage done to the state roads by heavily loaded milk trucks passing over them daily will go into thousands of dollars. If Commissioner Bennett has no authority now, the next Legislature ought to give it to him of preventing these great trucks on our roads until they are settled. Motorists everywhere are tremendously aroused over the matter. As the practice now is the trucks are doing a wicked lot of damage.

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N.L. Martin of Rye, N.Y., has bought the place of Mr C.B. Glover on the Boulevard. Mr Martin's household goods were brought by automobile to Newtown Monday. They made the journey as far as George B. Beers' corner all right, where they were forced to unload them onto wagons and cart them the few thousand feet to their new home.

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William McNamara of Hanover had a cow die from the rabies last week. It is supposed the cow was bitten at the same time the other cow he lost some months ago. It is said there are a good many dogs running about without muzzles, although the period of quarantine for keeping dogs muzzled has not yet expired.

What is now a classic Chevy sedan mid-1950s model sits outside the Methodist Church before it was moved across Church Hill Road to its present location. Two men use a ladder and scaffolding to reach areas where they apply fresh paint.