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Main Street’s skyline, marked at the center for well over a century by the historic Newtown Congregational Church, may soon change drastically. Following a lively four-hour discussion of the steering committee’s report, the congregation voted to erect a new 5,000 square foot, $1.27 million sanctuary on the Nettleton property. The outcome was a surprise to church leaders. The steering committee had recommended building on the adjacent, former Yankee Drover property.

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Bertram A. Stroock, the founder and longtime president of the Danbury Hospital Development Fund, Inc, who raised close to $30 million for the institution, died May 20 at his home. He was 93. Mr Stroock and his wife, Margaret Graham Stroock, lived on Buckeye Farm on Flat Swamp Road for almost 40 years.

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The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown’s (SCAN) exhibition at the Land’s End schoolhouse is violating zoning regulations, said Zoning Enforcement Officer Richard Baldelli. The town official this week ordered the group to stop the one-artist show featuring contemporary works by SCAN artist Jacqui Georgi until after the Planning and Zoning Commission grants a special exception allowing it. The town official said he was driving through Newtown on May 18 when he saw SCAN conducting an art exhibit on the land, which it bought from Newtown’s Historic District in 1979.

 

May 27, 1960

The spirit of Newtown toward its local American Field Service program was more than rewarded this week when it was learned that Miss Sheila Rafferty, daughter of Mr and Mrs William Rafferty, Cherry Street, had been notified that she, too, had been selected to study in Italy under the AFS winter program. Just two weeks ago, Miss Carol Keating was informed by the New York office of AFS that she was the recipient of a summer scholarship to Rhine, Germany.

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The Lathrop School Of The Dance, in cooperation with and sponsored by the Newtown Rotary Club, will present a special performance of the 1960 Stardust Revue at the Edmond Town Hall Theater. The net proceeds from this show, at which 200 children will participate, will be given by the Rotary Club to the town for the new recreation field area to be constructed in Dickinson Memorial Park.

* * *

The State Highway Department held a public hearing on Wednesday evening at the Sandy Hook Elementary School relative to the recommended layout of Interstate Route 84, between Route 34 in Sandy Hook and the westerly end of Rochambeau Bridge in Riverside. A total of 147 persons attended the hearing.

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The County 4-H Sheep Club met recently at the Taunton Hill Farm of Mr and Mrs James Brunot when Rayle Hamilton, the farm shepherd, gave a demonstration in shearing with two types of equipment and discussed drenching and worming.

May 24, 1935

When Harold Tomlinson of Hattertown went into the Huntingtown cemetery Monday forenoon to mow some lots, he discovered a recent grave had been opened. There were many man-size tracks in the dirt around the grave, showing that more than one person had been connected with the nefarious business. It was found that the lid of the box had been broken into several pieces. The body was in the casket but from its position it looked as if the party or parties had tried to remove it.

* * *

The H. Wales Lines Co, builders of the second unit of the Fairfield State Hospital, were given $77,500 by the Board of Finance and Control as a compromise settlement of a $250,000 suit against the State. Members of the building committee praised highly the commendable work performed by Walter P. Crabtree and stated that the state received a dollar’s worth for every dollar spent. Mr Crabtree testified that there was no basis for any of the claims with the exception of one whereby, due to a State labor law the plaintiff was compelled to employ inefficient labor on terrazzo work and appeared ready to refute each of the claims.

* * *

Plans are complete for the parade and exercises to be held in Newtown on Decoration Day, May 30. This is the first event in Newtown’s Tercentenary Celebration and a record turnout is expected. The exercises at the Edmond Town Hall will be most appropriate to the holiday and in keeping with celebration of Connecticut’s 300th year.

* * *

The flagpole in Newtown’s Main street is shining in a new dress of paint, C.W. Meeks of Norwalk doing the work. The Bee hopes for the day when suitable rotary traffic will be arranged at the flagpole, making our street somewhat safer for all concerned. The flagpole is a distinguishing landmark for our town, but under present arrangements, also a traffic hazard.

 

May 27, 1910

Parties from the surrounding towns visit O.E. Morgan’s pond in Hattertown nearly every day, and enjoy the fishing. Last Tuesday there were three parties on the pond fishing. The Bethel party, among several other large bullheads, captured one that weighed two and one-half pounds. It was a dandy. Mr Morgan has boats on the pond to let to those who wish to enjoy the fishing.

* * *

George G. Reid of Bridgeport, who purchased Eugene R. Botsford’s farm on Mt Nebo in Palestine district, has moved there and taken possession. Mr and Mrs Botsford and family are now nicely settled in their new home in Huntingtown.

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S.A. Blackman, the genial first selectman, has a hen that’s a wonder. It left the hen house and sought the more prosaic barn as a refuge to lay her eggs. In one corner was a box with a new litter of kittens and this hen straight-away sat on the kittens and laid the egg. She continued to do this day after day and is evidently quite attached to her new four-legged chickens.

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The citizens are kindly asked to contribute flowers for the decoration of the soldiers’ graves on Monday, to be left in the morning at the Sandy Hook Hotel. Persons wishing to contribute flowers or loan plants for the service in the Methodist church on Sunday afternoon will be gratefully received on Saturday afternoon between 3 and 6 o’clock. The same will be cared for and can be used on Monday at the cemeteries.