June 2, 1995

Because the site for the joint town-state sewage treatment plant contains areas of potential archeological significance, the layout of the plant has been reconfigured so that the areas of archeological interest will be left undisturbed... because the site selected for the sewage treatment plant on state-owned property at the end of Commerce Road is known to have been an area frequented by prehistoric people, archeological research was conducted there to, at a minimum, earmark those areas which have potential archeological significance and which therefore should not be built upon...

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VFW Post 308 and its ladies auxiliary, American Legion Post 202 and the Newtown High School marching band held Memorial Day ceremonies at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument on Main Street last Saturday morning. As part of the ceremony at the monument, VFW Post 308 Commander Donald E. Monckton dedicated the newly placed Roll of Honor plaque which honors the Newtown veterans of World War II.

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In a dramatic rescue, Newtown’s emergency service personnel converged on the Church Hill Road bridge which crosses I-84, Tuesday morning, to aid a distressed woman who was spotted on the outer ledge of the bridge approximately 35 feet over the eastbound lanes of the highway. Initially, Carol A. Chaussee, 26, of Derby, was reluctant to leave her perch... Patrolman George Sinko was first to arrive on the scene... It was Patrolman Sinko who risked his own safety by walking out on the ledge to guide Miss Chaussee back to the ground.

***

Newtown Scouts and adults participated May 5,6, and 7 in “A Scout Program for Native American Awareness” at the Cullens Youth Association. This educational event was organized and presented by Native Americans and others in a light-hearted and enjoyable setting... Beginning in January 1995, the Scouts prepared for this program by choosing a Native American Nation to study.

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On her trip around the world, Jennifer Nichols spent a lot of time with children many of whom were orphans. She met children from Venezuela, as well as a small monkey named Pepe who thought her beads were candy. In India, the Newtowner actually paid money to hold a boa. On the day she visited the Great Wall in China, it snowed. Jennifer brought bubbles to a SOS Children’s Village in Kenya. It was the first time they had seen them. In India, she toured an orphanage for disabled children.

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A “birthday party” luncheon marked the one year anniversary of congregate meals offered by Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP) at Nunnawauk Meadows. The event, held on May 25, at the newly expanded community building was attended by 60 Nunnawauk Meadows and town residents. Meals are now served on china plates instead of styrofoam... the kitchen is three times larger than the previous one... the building capacity is now 118 seated at tables. Those from Nunnawauk or the community who are 60 years or older may have a hot lunch for $1.25; the meal is $3 for seniors under 60.

May 29, 1970

Branson Sonic Power Company expects to break ground this fall for its new building to be located on an 80-acre site in Hawleyville District. Completion and occupancy of the two-story structure are scheduled for the spring of 1972. There will be 135,000 square feet of floor space. The architects are Norton and Hume of Stamford.

***

The dedication of the addition to the Middle School and the annual spring concert were held May 22 in the Middle School Auditorium... Superintendent of Schools Winthrop Ballard introduced the first speaker, Timothy Treadwell, First Selectman. Dr Russell F. Strasburger, Chairman of the Board of Education and Harry F. Greenman, Chairman of the Public Building Committee also spoke briefly. The prayer of dedication was given by the Rev Alan J. Norrell of St Rose Church.

***

Although a number of important items were covered at the Board of Education meeting on May 26, the highlight came at the close of the regular session, presented by Mrs Joseph Meehan and Mrs Austin Schmitt. Mrs Meehan was concerned about a play which was to be presented the following morning, Wednesday, as part of the visiting artists program sponsored by RESCUE at the Sandy Hook School. The play, Mrs Meehan said, depicted a riot at Sandy Hook School, the closing of school by the superintendent, and the later reopening with a request that revolution be taught. Investigation showed that the play in question was one of four written, produced, and acted by students, not for actual presentation, but to show what the production of a play involved... Some comments indicated disenchantment with the RESCUE program as a whole and it seemed evident that some parents disapproved of the play shown.

***

Confirmation of the price and availability of the Luf property for sale as a school site has been received by the Board of Selectmen. In a letter dated May 26, 1970, the three owners of record say: Gentlemen: This is to confirm our agreement regarding 47.26 acres of property located off of Head of Meadow Road and Great Hill Road... The price being agreed upon being $2,000 per acre, which totals $94,520. This offer will be good until June 10, 1970. The letter is signed by Frederick N. Luf, Mildred L. Smith, and Margaret L. Bowe who are the sole owners of the property.

***

Whole-hearted approval has been given the plan to pave the pond at Dickinson Memorial Park. Applause followed the unanimous vote in favor of the plan Wednesday evening at a special town meeting in Edmond Town Hall.

***

The Newtown Jaycees, in conjunction with TAN, will sponsor Father Daniel Egan, “The Junkie Priest,” who will address the teen-agers and adults of Newtown on the problem of drug addiction. Also, Albert Racine, New England director of “Smart Teen,” will speak to the teen-agers and urge the establishment of a Smart Teen chapter in Newtown. Father Egan earned the title of “Junkie Priest” by his continued involvement to reform drug addicts during the past 20 years.

May 25, 1945

Staff Sgt Donald Stickles, son of Mr and Mrs Ervin C. Stickles of Sugar Street, is Newtown’s first veteran to be honorably discharged from the US Army under the recently announced points system. He entered the US Army on February 6, 1941, and completed 34 missions over enemy Europe as waist gunner with the Eighth Air Force, returning to this country last August. Since that time he has been an instructor at Columbus, South Carolina. He arrived home on Sunday, well deserving his release after contributing so much as his part in the defeat of Nazi Germany.

***

A new agricultural 4-H club was organized in Newtown last Wednesday night at the home of Mr and Mrs Donald Ferris... Miss Beulah Shanley, Assistant 4-H Club Agent, was present to help the members plan a program for the year. The program will include meetings on gardening, poultry and dairy, as well as a trip to a dairy farm. The members plan to take part in the county fair and in other county events.

***

Local sheep-dipping operations for Connecticut sheep raisers, successfully carried out by cooperation of the Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association and the Connecticut Agricultural Extension Service in the past, are being continued this year with the use of a portable dipping tank that is scheduled for set up in various counties of the state in the near future. In 1944, 35 stands were made and 1,700 sheep dipped... Sponsors of the enterprise point out that dipping helps control internal as well as external parasites.

***

On Monday the famous flagpole in the center of Newtown’s Main Street was treated to a new dress of paint and some new halyards. The job was done by the F.J. Dahill Company of New Haven. The morning was a bit breezy when George Christy of the Dahill concern climbed aloft. We know no one who envies Mr Christy his job, though we are all thankful that through his ability the pole is now painted and in shape to fly the Stars and Stripes when V-J Day comes along.

***

Pfc Julius Arnold of Newtown, who is with the Fifth Army in Italy, is credited with having helped persuade 178 Czech soldiers with the Germans to surrender to the 88th “Blue Devil” Division during the Allied offensive which resulted in unconditional surrender of all German forces in Italy.

***

The Charles Howard Peck Post and Auxiliary, VFW, will hold their annual Memorial Day exercises on Wednesday morning, May 30th, at 9:30. There will be a parade from the Edmond Town Hall to the War Memorial monument at the head of Main Street where the veterans’ ritual will be read, after which the group will return to the Town Hall.

May 21, 1920

The microfilm containing 1920 Newtown Bee editions is kept at the C.H. Booth Library, which is temporarily closed due to coronavirus health precautions.

Your memories are the ones we want to share! 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 editor@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.