May 16, 1997

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: We are now close enough to June to feel its warmth, which is a relief since March had somehow managed to punch its chill all the way through April well into May. Life is finally warming and stirring here in Newtown. … Some of the most hopeful signs of renewal to be found are not emerging from the flower beds … They are kids. With another year gone by, they are bigger, more outgoing, a little less dependent, and … better than ever. Last Friday afternoon the Church House behind the General Store was packed with kids receiving Outstanding Youth Awards, presented annually by Newtown Youth Services. Fifty-one youngsters, ages 5-18, who by their initiative, kindness, creativity, talent, good humor, and sheer exuberance, had done wonderful things in the past year, were pulled indoors … for a brief ceremony in which adults, and the community as a whole, told them how much we appreciate them. When it was all over, everyone left with a warm feeling. June seemed a little closer, and March was just a dim memory.

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Members of the Garner Correctional Institution correction officers union staged an informational picket Tuesday at Exit 11 of Interstate 84 to publicize their unhappiness over a stalemate with the state over correction officer pay raises. Correction officer Dennis Lawson said the officers haven’t received pay raises for their dangerous jobs for four years. Mr Lawson said he has been assaulted five times by prisoners while at work. On Sunday, the union rejected as an “insult” the Department of Corrections offer of $4,000 signing bonuses instead of retroactive pay raises, 3 percent raises in 1997-98, 4 percent raises in 1998-99, and 2 percent raises the following two years.

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The railroad bridge over Church Hill Road, which has a prodigious appetite for tractor-trailers, won’t be replaced this year. Thomas Gaffey, state Department of Transportation project manager, said on Wednesday that a meeting was held last week at which the DOT decided to wait until the bypass road through Fairfield Hills is completed before moving ahead with a proposal to replace the railroad bridge. The 12’7” high bridge has been the site of innumerable accidents in which trucks sheer off the tops of their trailers on the low-hanging bridge superstructure.

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A fast-moving Botsford house fire Monday afternoon did an estimated $70,000 of damage to a South Main Street home and forced its inhabitants, an elderly couple, to find another place to live. There were no injuries. Firefighters from Botsford, Newtown Hook and Ladder, Sandy Hook and Dodgingtown responded. They got the blaze under control in about 15 minutes.

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Reaching out to those who are not commonly found sitting within a church sanctuary is part of Newtown United Methodist Church’s Anglican heritage. And last Saturday, they continued this mission by inviting motorcyclists to a Blessing of the Bikers. The blessing was conferred by Rev Terry Pfeiffer assisted by Boyd Saxton.

May 19, 1972

Newtown lost one of its prominent citizens when Otto W. Heise, 77, of Brushy Hill Road died Wednesday morning, May 17, in Danbury Hospital after an illness of eight months. He had been a Newtown resident for 38 years. A graduate of Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, he was from 1918 to 1923 a development engineer for Manning Maxwell & Moore in Bridgeport. From 1924 to 1926 he was a development engineer with Taylor Instrument Company in Rochester, N.Y., specializing in the Bourdon tube. Returning to Manning Maxwell & Moore in 1927, Mr Heise stayed there until 1930 when he formed his own company, the Heise Bourdon Tube Company. During World War II Mr Heise was with the War Price Board in Washington, D.C., and also served in the Manhattan Project which developed the atomic bomb. Since the start of the space age Mr Heise had been deeply involved with the National Aeronautics and Space Agency, NASA, traveling frequently to Houston and to Cape Kennedy. His company’s gauges were considered so fine they were used to calibrate instruments in space vehicles. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, of the Algonquin Club in Bridgeport, a former Justice of the Peace in Newtown, and a former member of the Newtown Republican Town Committee. Among his recent benefactions to Newtown was his gift of $25,000 toward the swimming pool in the new high school which is named in his honor. For many years the Otto W. Heise Science Awards, totaling $1,000 each year, have been made to three graduating seniors at Newtown High School who have a particular interest in physics and intend to follow a career in the field of engineering. Mr Heise’s gifts to the town also included $10,000 for improvement of the Taylor playing field at Hawley School and $30,000 for improvements at Edmond Town Hall.

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More than 200 town officials and taxpayers turned out Tuesday evening to hear and discuss the next steps to be taken for the fiscal year starting July 1, 1972. Last Wednesday’s referendum had defeated the appropriations recommended by the Board of Finance by a vote of more than two to one.

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At the annual meeting of the Board of Burgesses of the Borough of Newtown on May 16 in the Mary Hawley Room of Edmond Town Hall, Warden Willard Christensen expressed his confidence that the mill rate for the new fiscal year would not increase, and he voiced hope for a slight decrease. This was with the proviso that there would be no major rise in utility rates, which absorb a major portion of the Borough budget.

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A reader from Trumbull has the following to say about The Bee as his reason for subscribing and advertising “You have a wonderful paper. It lacks nothing. It has wonderful coverage of the towns, good editorials and wonderful ads. Thank you for a good job done all around.”

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Between May 2 and May 12, 141 new voters were added to the registry list. This was due, the Registrars believe, to the high interest in the referendum on the budget and the upcoming special election on June 28. Mrs Barbara Parker, Town Clerk, reports an enrollment of 100 people during this period, with 50 enrolled on the day of the referendum.

May 16, 1947

Newtown looked forward to an idealized town administration last Saturday morning when an entirely new slate of “town officials” elected by and from the student body at Hawley High School took possession of the various town offices with the peaceful acquiescence of previous incumbents. Among those to take office were Patricia Perry, Second Selectman; David Eaton, Third Selectman; Mary Pat Carroll, Town Clerk; Gloria Rasmussen, Town Treasurer; Marie Cavanaugh Helga Doehne and Lois Ferris, Assessors; Kenneth Pelletier, Manager of Edmond Town Hall; Lee Glover, Fire Marshal; Joyce Billings, Postmaster; Joan Weeks, School Board Member; Mary Lou Bradley, Judge of Probate; Ralph Bowen, Town Judge; Curt Chappuis, resident state police officer; and Henry Taylor, Health Officer.

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Henry W. Simon, wife and daughter, Patsy, have reopened their home on Taunton Lane, after having spent the winter in New York City. Mr Simon, senior editor of the book publishing firm of Simon & Schuster, appeared as guest expert on several Saturday afternoon opera broadcasts this past season; his latest book, published last fall, is “A Treasury of Grand Opera.” Mrs Simon, who signs herself R. MacDonald, is The New Yorker cartoonist.

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Miss Katherine Payne is a patient in the New Haven hospital, recovering from a major operation performed on Monday morning.

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Mrs John Perry of Botsford Hill road has been a patient at the Bridgeport hospital since Saturday, where she is under treatment for a dislocated vertebra. Her condition is reported to be improving and it is hoped she will be able to return home in the near future.

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Last Friday Mrs James Ogg of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, arrived aboard the Queen Elizabeth to spend the summer with her brother and sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs William Hunter of Sunset Hill. This is the first reunion which Mr Hunter and his sister have had in 32 years.

May 12, 1922

NEWTOWN TAX PAYERS — Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the town of Newtown that the taxes on the list of 1921 are due and payable on May 1, 1922, and I will be at the following places to receive same: At the rooms of the Dodgingtown Fire Department on Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. At the store of W.A. Honan at Hawleyville on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and same day at the store of H.G. Warner & Co., Sandy Hook, from 1.30 to 4 p.m. Saturday May 27, at the Brick Building. Taxes received at all other times at my residence. After June 1st interest at a rate of 3-4 per cent per month must be added dating from May 1st. P.H. McCarthy, Collector. Newtown, Ct., April 14, 1922

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Abraham Singer, a cattle dealer, of Granville avenue, Danbury, bought a large bull of R.D. & H.A. Smith of Dodgingtown. On Monday he sent men to drive the animal to Danbury. They were instructed by Mr Singer, it is said, to keep off the state road, and were also strongly urged by R.D. Smith to take the back road. Instead, the men drove or attempted to lead the animal by the state road through Elmwood. When the bull got as far as Judd’s Corners he jumped on the buggy of George Fidner, the occupants of the vehicle being Miss Laura Sherman, daughter of Mr and Mrs Fred Sherman, and Misses Evelyn and Marie Fidner. All three were thrown out. Miss Sherman struck on her back and head, and Miss Evelyn Fidner is said to have sustained a sprained ankle. The young ladies were, of course, badly frightened. It is hoped their injuries will not be of a serious nature. Mr Singer’s mistake, it appears, was in sending men after the bull who did not obey orders or take sensible advice.

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Realizing that the best of equipment is none too good for the motoring public, the Carlson Brothers, of the Liberty Garage, have installed in their repair department a ten ton Arbor press, and an up-to-date welding outfit. Few of the larger city garages can boast of the latter equipment. It is the Carlson Brothers aim to give satisfaction at all times.

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Mrs O. Kraplein and son, Edward, who have passed the winter in California, have returned to their home in Botsford. The trip West was started on November 15, by way of the Union Pacific. The return trip was made by Mrs Kraplein via Southern Pacific and her son returned by way of the Panama Canal. While in California trips were made to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and to Mount Lome. The latter place is 6,000 feet above sea level. A daily newspaper is printed at the place. The day Mrs Kraplein and son were at this place, several other Connecticut people were also visiting there. While in California, Mrs Kraplein was greatly impressed by the old missions. Mr Kraplein brought home several fine hats from Panama.

May 21, 1897

Cards are out announcing the marriage of Arthur Judd Smith, business manager, secretary and treasurer of The Bee Publishing Co., and Miss Frances Carolyn Scudder, to occur on Wednesday, May 26, at 3 p.m., at the Congregational church. Miss Scudder is the daughter of Mr and Mrs S.S. Scudder of Dodgingtown district. Mr Smith is the youngest son of the late Rev. Henry B. Smith, once pastor of the Congregational church of this town. They will have the abundant congratulations of a wide circle of acquaintances.

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The supper and entertainment given under the auspices of the Hawleyville Union Chapel Association, last Friday night, was a pronounced success. From 5 o’clock in the afternoon to late in the evening the refreshment tables were crowded, over 200 being present. Much praise is due A.G. Baker, who generously opened the basement in this store for the use of the ladies. All the ladies of Hawleyville worked like beavers, and as a result about $70 was netted for the chapel fund. An entertainment was also provided consisting of a farce by the ladies of Hawleyville, and selections from the graphophone.

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Three of Newtown’s staid and popular citizens, Messers Levi C. Morris, C.B. Taylor and Arthur T. Nettleton, visited the Buffalo Bill show in Bridgeport on Thursday. There was no little boy to take along. William Otto Shepard passed Sunday and Monday in Bridgeport, attending the Buffalo Bill show on the latter day.

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Congratulations are being showered on Merchant Hobart H. Curtis, of the firm of Warner, Taylor & Curtis. It is a daughter, born on Friday last, and mother and daughter are doing well.

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L.C. Gilbert has bought of Walter H. Glover, agent for the Appleton Manufacturing Co., manufacturers of implements, a Success two-horse tread power. Mr Gilbert says he wants the best and will have the best. Mr Glover has also recently sold a Success Tread Power to Howard Peck of Brookfield and to George A. Gale of Ansonia, who are well pleased with them.

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Miss Sadie B. Minor has a new Fenwood bicycle, bought of Robert H. Beers. Miss Emma Goodsell, daughter of J.B. Goodsell, rides a new wheel, purchased of Marcus Burr of Redding.

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.