Overturning its finance committee’s recommendation against doing so, the Legislative Council voted Wednesday night to set a mill rate for the next fiscal year in spite of the fact that a referendum on the $12.2 million budget has been petitioned for and set for next Wednesday. The council voted 12-3 to have the finance committee recommend a mill rate figure. Although three of the finance members voted against doing so, Republicans Lyndon Thomas and James Knapp and Democrat Carl Bergquist, the finance committee huddled during a brief adjournment and came up with a mill rate figure of 31.5 mills, an increase of 1.45 mills over the current tax rate of 30.05. This the council approved.

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A town meeting is expected to be called around May 16 or 17 for voters to act on an $83,469 special appropriation which will enable replacement of a portion of the roof of Newtown High School, and repairs of the two other sections of the school roof. The Legislative Council approved the funding Wednesday, to be financed over five years or less.

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Whether or not Planning and Zoning will ever hear a proposal by a New York firm for converting the former Fabric Fire Hose building into apartments is a question which possibly will be answered in the very near future. On Monday, April 24, P&Z was read a letter from the Danbury law firm of McNamara and Hornig which noted their client, General Contracting Corporation of Manhassett, N.Y., wanted a meeting to discuss apartments for the Fabric Fire Hose plant and was negotiating for the purchase of the property which Uniroyal has on the market at the asking price of $550,000. General Contracting is expressing interest in making 60 apartment units of 1,000 square feet each, and also registering the building as an Historic Landmark.

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The General Assembly as approved “An Act Concerning Road Construction” (Substitute Bill No. 490) which appropriates $10 million for a large number of projects including planning for the construction of Route 25 from Route 111 to I-84. To date, funds have only been allocated for a feasibility study of that section of road. The portion of the new bill concerning Route 25 was proposed by Representative Walter Henderson of Monroe.

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The Board of Selectmen at a Monday afternoon meeting directed grants administrator Zita McMahon to make pre-application for a comprehensive $1.2 million, three-year Federal Housing and Urban Development Agency block grant. The money is to benefit low to moderate income families.

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Original records of the Borough of Newtown from the “town within a town’s” incorporation June 15, 1824, have been found among the records of the Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Company and turned over to Borough Clerk Ethel Connor for the Borough archives. The minutes recorded in the historic book will be microfilmed and rebound to protect the old pages, which are in reasonably good condition. The book was among fire company records because the fire company was begun by Burgesses and Freemen of the Borough.

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Highway superintendent Robert Martin wants a $10,000 jib crane installed in the new town garage for hauling motors out of trucks, lifting snowplows for repairs and so on. He’ll have to wait, however, until the Legislative Council public works subcommittee makes a recommendation whether a jib crane or a less expensive A-frame crane should be bought for the town.

MAY 8, 1953

The Girl Scouts and the Blood Bank Committee have been signing up donors at various stores and functions going on in Newtown this past week. Seventy-five donors are needed over its quota next Wednesday, May 13. Mrs Frederick Herring and Mrs John Qubick accepted pledges from employees at Fairfield State Hospital on May 6.

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A near-capacity audience in Edmond Town Hall theatre heard the musical units of the Newtown schools in their annual spring concert last Thursday evening, April 30. Their appreciation was shown by the enthusiastic applause which followed each number as the students went through their repertory, which ranged from Brahms to Sousa marches and included a number of popular pieces.

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Cpl James R. Hunihan of Newtown landed in New York City last Thursday, April 30, from the transport General Hodges. He was one of 17 Connecticut men aboard the ship who have completed their tours of duty with the American forces in Europe.

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As a result of two meetings held by the Town Development Committee, last Friday evening and on Sunday evening of this week, a bill has been prepared to provide a special method of procedure for zoning the 20 districts of the Town of Newtown. Attorney John F. Holian, town counsel, worked with members of the Town Development Committee over the weekend in preparing details of the bill, and Newtown’s two representatives, George M. Stuart and Mrs Sarah Frances Curtis, met with the Town Development Committee on Monday evening to discuss the proposed bill in detail.

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A capacity audience witnessed the annual County 4-H Dress Revue last Saturday evening in Edmond Town Hall. Three girls were chosen from some 100 girls entering garments to represent the county in the State Dress Revue in July. Those girls were Joy Kochkiss, Easton; Carol Landa, Shelton and Joan Greene, Brookfield. Gail Cook of Shelton was named the alternate. Each 4-H girl who modeled her outfit on the stage last Friday received an award ribbon.

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Newtown’s Boy Scout Troop 70 will mark completion of its first 25 years of service in Charter Night exercises to be held next Tuesday evening, May 12, at the Scout cabin on Church Hill Road. All Scouts, former Scouts, scoutmasters and parents are cordially invited to attend the program, which is being planned by the troop committee under Edmund C. Platt, 2d, chairman.

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The Rev Walter R. Conroy, pastor of St Rose Church, will pass the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on June 2. The members of his parish are planning a testimonial in his honor in the church hall on Tuesday, June 2.

MAY 4, 1928

State Engineer Asquist of Hartford was in town on Wednesday and, with Dr E.L. Kingman, made an inspection of the sanitation existing around Taunton Lake, and found it very satisfactory.

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Mr and Mrs H.G. Warner and Mrs Julia Hawley motored to Middletown Wednesday to call on Hobart Warner, a freshman at Wesleyan University.

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Samuel Murphy and family have moved into the Lillis block on Dayton Street.

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The May meeting of the Newtown Hook and Ladder Company, No 1, was held on Tuesday night. It was voted to recommend to the borough authorization of the purchase of the coupling wrenches approved by Acting Foreman John A. Carlson.

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Mrs Joseph Brenner is planning to erect a building, 30 x 60, on her place in the Borough which she expects to place at the service of the Council of Jewish Women of New York, who will send up ten undernourished Jewish children at a time for a summer vacation or outing.

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John R. Peck of Newtown has sold 35 acres of his farm located in the Bare Hill section of town to James L. Schmaling of Port Chester, N.Y. Mr Schmaling plans to build a summer camp on the property.

MAY 8, 1903

The Newtown Driving Club held its annual meeting Monday night, at The Bee office. There was a good attendance and considerable enthusiasm was manifested. The following officers were elected: President, R.H. Beers; Vice President, George F. Taylor; Secretary, P.H. McCarthy; Treasurer, Allison P. Smith; Directors, E.W. Fairchild, W. Walter Finch, C.G. Peck, W.R. Curtis, J.A. James.

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The vacant factory at Hawleyville, known as S.A. Blackman’s Hat Factory, was burned to the ground, Friday morning, about 10 o’clock. The building was owned by S.A. Blackman and contained an engine and boiler, nearly new, and several hundred dollars worth of machinery. A brisk wind was blowing at the time of the fire, and the sparks set on fire two cars, one loaded with coal and another with cotton warp, standing on a siding opposite the factory.

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A.M Tibbetts accompanied Postmaster G.F. Duncombe on a carriage ride to Bridgeport, Saturday.

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Arthur D. Fairchild and son, Arthur Warren Fairchild, were in New Fairfield Saturday where Mr Fairchild placed an order with R. Hatch and Sons for a milk wagon.

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A.F. Moffatt, who formerly ran the blacksmith shop at the head of the Street, has just accepted a position with the Derby Trucking Company, and will have charge of their blacksmith shop in Shelton.