***

Ben V. Feola of Huntington will officially become Newtown’s new postmaster May 30. He replaces Robert E. Huber of Bethel, who is retiring after 38 years of postal service. Mr Feola, 59, is now supervisor of postal operations in the Newtown office on Queen Street, a position he has held for over a year.

***

After five photo taking sessions were over about 150 dogs had shown up with their owners to enter the King/Queen contest being held by The Bee. Dogs of all shapes and sizes came by the office and the staff is now in the process of printing the pictures and arranging them on pages for viewing. Voting will begin as soon as the pictures are published and a king and queen will be named a few weeks afterwards.

***

Whether sewers will be recommended or not, for parts of Newtown with subsurface septic system disposal problems as the result of a four-year-long study, was cast into question Monday night as the Newtown Health Department said it wanted to review the consultant’s information and make its own recommendations.

***

In contrast to last year when the Newtown High baseball team lost its last four ballgames of the year to fall from contention for the league title, this year’s team won its last four ballgames to gain the only remaining Western Connecticut Conference playoff berth. Coach Zyg Olbry’s Indians are playing clutch baseball. In the space of two weeks, the locals walloped Abbott Tech (the only other team vying for the final playoff spot), beat Wild Division titlist Immaculate, clinched a berth with a 7-3 decision over Brookfield, and gave themselves a psychological boost by defeating playoff-bound Bethel 9-6, Tuesday.

***

Lightning is blamed for a freak fire on May 16 at 3:49 pm. According to Hook & Ladder Fire Chief Bill McCarthy lightning struck the Koup home on Ridge Road, causing a two-foot hole in the roof. “The lightning followed the wiring down through the roof to a television set causing a small reaction. The ground must have been affected then because it traveled through the house wiring and ignited the bedroom.”

***

Newtown residents in support of educational funds for the Board of Education portion of the town budget were on hand at the Legislative Council meeting Wednesday to offer full support for preserving education dollars. Many who addressed the council offered a bleak picture of Newtown youths if further cuts were made. Visions tossed out ranged from youths with a lack of direction in life, drinking and drug problems, and even some being pushed toward jail terms or institutionalization.

 

May 25, 1956

Specifications for new or replacement sidewalks, curbs and driveway approaches in the borough of Newtown may be obtained at the office of the town clerk at Edmond Town Hall, or from the borough clerk, William H. Walsh, Jr, Queen Street, according to Dr Russell Strasburger, warden. The new specifications apply to all streets in the borough, but will be of particular interest to residents of Main Street because of the emphasis being placed by various borough officials on uniform curb placement as a safety measure.

***

With the simple push of a button, Governor Abraham Ribicoff started the huge turbine at the Shepaug Dam on the Housatonic River Wednesday afternoon and officially dedicated the Shepaug Hydroelectric Development of the Connecticut Light and Power Company with the fitting statement, “I hereby dedicate Shepaug Dam to the service of the people of Connecticut.”

***

Annual Memorial Day services, sponsored by Post 308 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be held in Newtown at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and the Newtown High School grounds on May 30 at 5 pm. Commemorative exercises will be conducted at the monument with a parade to follow leading to the high school flag pole, where retreat will take place.

***

Eight couples from Newtown and Bethel have been named by the Connecticut Child Welfare Association to receive citations “in recognition of generous and devoted service to children,” on Foster Parents Day which is being celebrated throughout Connecticut this Sunday, May 27. The day will serve the dual purpose of publicly honoring those who have opened their homes to homeless children and to draw attention to the need to find homes for children now in institutions.

***

Dr James B. Tobey of Sunset Hill, Newtown, spoke on the legal status of the addition of fluorides to water to reduce dental cavities in children, at the annual meeting of the Connecticut Public Health Association on Wednesday, May 9, at Cheshire. Dr Tobey is the author of a standard textbook on public health law, and lectures on the subject at Yale University.

***

If you sell merchandise or services to the town of Newtown, you must have a purchase order if you want to be paid, warns the Board of Finance in a notice in this issue of The Bee. The practical reason behind the use of purchase orders is keeping track of town funds. The new accounting system was authorized in the town meeting of October 5, 1955.

 

May 22, 1931

ST JOHN’S CHURCH, SANDY HOOK Contract Let For New Church It is with great joy that we can say that our new church building has now begun, and our vision realized. Ever since the old church was burned down, it has been our desire to build upon the old foundation which the old pioneers of Sandy Hook laid, and it is a site which is hallowed and held sacred to each and every one of us, for the memories that we hold in connection with St John’ church.

***

At the special town meeting on Saturday, about 200 residents were present. Robert Clark of Hawleyville presented two resolutions, the first one authorizing the selectmen to accept the appropriation from the state for dirt roads… and the second resolution named the places where the road money should be spent. The first section of road to commence at Fairchild’s corner in Middle Gate district…the second section to start at the corner near the residence of Charles S. Cole in Sandy Hook…. The third section is to commence at the foot of Lyon Hill and to run south and west into Taunton district, as far as the money will allow.

***

A Church Bus Running From Hawleyville A large bus holding 40 people each Sunday morning, bringing people to church and children to Sunday School. As there is plenty of room, those who attend St Rose’s or Trinity are invited to ride. After the children have been left at the Congregational church, the bus will continue on to St Rose’s and return directly after Sunday School.

***

 Martin McGrath of Danbury, formerly connected with Liberty Garage, will open in the Blackman building in Newtown on the Sandy Hook road, an up-to-date garage on June 1, which will be known as the Central Garage. A complete stock of parts and accessories will be kept on hand at all times.

***

The state highway department has completed new fencing, posts and cable, on the west side of the state road from the Plastic Molding shop to the Highland division railroad station. Charles G. Burkhardt is acting as inspector for the state. They are now working on the Southbury side, along Lake Zoar.

***

The Old Fireplace Tea Room, located just south of Newtown on the Bridgeport state road, has opened for its second season under the capable management of Mrs Page. The place has been completely renovated and will feature chicken dinners with all home cooking. Orders will also be accepted for home made pies and cakes.

 

May 25, 1906

Eagle Rock Circle, F.O.A., are planning for a grand sociable to be held in St Mary’s hall, Sandy Hook, Wednesday evening, May 30. First class music has been engaged and a good time is promised to all who attend.

***

Alonzo Pixley was brought before Justice E.D. Briscoe, Wednesday, on the charge of Sunday liquor selling, the evidence having been gathered by the State police. John A. Flynn, a State policeman, testified he bought beer and whiskey at Pixley’s on January 7 and March 4. Complaint was made to Chief Egan by the Railroad company.

***

There is an excellent prospect that the telephone line will soon be extended to Half Way River district, thanks to the energy of Manager Beers of the local exchange. The enterprising citizens of that section are taking a lively interest in the matter and several have the matter under advisement. Hanover district is soon to enjoy telephone service. H.N. Tiemann, Mrs Dennis Cavanaugh, Edgar F. Northrop and William McNamara will have ‘phones placed in their residences.

***

Last Friday afternoon at the Newtown Inn, Miss Lilian Courtwright, the well known musician and pianist of Bridgeport, gave the ladies of our town a most delightful and instructive talk on “The Musical Kindergarten.” Miss Courtwright is the talented inventor and developer of this system of teaching. It surely is a privilege having this rare opportunity of unique delightful training in music for our children and the chief beauty and benefit to be derived is its quick practical application.

***

Should the time ever come when Newtown history will be compiled and brought down to the present time, one of its most interesting chapters will be Newtown’s part in the military service from the Colonial time for the French and Indian war of 1757 down to the close of the Spanish American war of recent date. Newtown was credited with between two and three hundred volunteers from April 24, 1861 to the close of the war.