May 23, 1997

UNFURLING THE BIG ONE: The big “summer flag” took its place on Newtown’s historic flagpole Wednesday evening in anticipation of the Memorial Day weekend. Police Lt Dave Lydem enlisted the help of American Legion Post 202 Ladies Auxiliary Chaplain Mary Ann Costogliola, Board of Realtors Treasurer Doreen Kostecki, and Board of Realtors President Melissa Pilchard in raising the flag. Workers and a cherry picker from Total Landscaping and Tree Service of Newtown also helped with the rigging to lower the old flag and raise the new one.

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Classes at Newtown High School were dismissed for the day around 11 am Thursday after the building filled with sickly sweet fumes produced by roofing adhesives being used for the building’s expansion and renovation project. Sandy Hook firefighters brought a five-gallon can of the volatile, highly flammable glue out of the building as streams of evacuating students and teachers walked out of the front door of the school towards the main parking lot. Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead pointed out to construction officials that a label on the blue can clearly stated the substance’s fumes were not to be breathed. Chief Halstead called Fire Marshal George Lockwood to the scene to investigate the case. This was the latest of a series of incidents involving the release of toxic fumes in connection with the school’s expansion and renovation project.

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Herb Rosenthal announced his candidacy for first selectman Wednesday afternoon on the front steps of the Edmond Town Hall. Currently the town’s Board of Education chairman, the well-known Democrat said he joined the race because he feels Newtown deserves better leadership than it is currently getting. He said in recent years he has seen a lack of overall direction for the town. Mr Rosenthal, 50, wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jack Rosenthal, the town’s first selectman from 1976-1988. “As first selectman, my father got his most satisfaction out of helping people. In my family, public service is viewed as an obligation that we all have to give something back to the community,” he said.

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Ryan Thompson kept the offense moving in Newtown’s 4-1 victory over Fairfield on Monday at Treadwell Park. With 22 points so far this season, Thompson moved into fifth place — past Scott Schenzer — on the Newtown High School all-time points chart. Thompson now has 111 career points.

May 26, 1972

PAUL S. SMITH DAY CELEBRATED: Paul S. Smith, editor and publisher of The Bee, had his day on May 23 as he was honored by employees, friends, relatives, residents and civic leaders in town and the state for his dedication to Newtown and his newspaper. When Editor Smith came into The Bee at his usual time on that morning, best wishes greeted him from staff members who had decorated the offices with bright blue stickers proclaiming Paul S. Smith Day. His regular work day went on as usual as he went about his business seeing that the paper would be published this week, as it had been every week without fail for the 40 years he has been on the job. … He left work about five minutes early, to prepare for the dinner being given in his honor by the Newtown Board of Realtors at the Hawley Manor Inn, and when he arrived home, another surprise awaited him. Sitting in the living room were his son and daughter in law, Teddy and Mary Jo, who had come from California to be with him that night. The Hawley Manor Inn was crowded with over 150 persons who had come to pay tribute to Mr Smith, and one of the first to shake his and Mrs Smith’s hands when they entered the door was Governor Thomas Meskill. … The governor later presented Mr Smith with a plaque from the Board of Realtors bearing the legend, “To Paul Smith for magnificent and distinguished service. In honor and with deep appreciation for outstanding vision, ability and time given to his community for over 40 years.”

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Friday evening, May 19, William Julien, Alex Yasensky and Stan Brown of the Newtown Committee on Housing for the Elderly presented preliminary and very tentative plans for multi-family housing — although there are no provisions for this in the Newtown regulations. There are, Mr Julien said, about 4,000 people in Newtown ages 62 and over, taking in all income ranges. At least as long ago as 1964 application was made to the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval to construct garden apartments. At least four applications have been denied or, in the latest case in 1971, withdrawn at the request of the Commission on the basis that regulations for multi-family housing were very near completion.

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Thursday, May 18, the Newtown Woman’s Club had its annual meeting at the Coat of Arms Restaurant, Woodbury, where the ladies elected and installed officers. They are Mrs Alvah Cramer, president; Mrs Walter Silva, vice president; Mrs William Swanson, corresponding secretary; Mrs Paul VanderWende, recording secretary; and Mrs Millard Goodsell, treasurer.

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A lot of heavy work was done in Newtown on Friday, May 19, and one of the jobs was at the Pitney-Bowes building being built on Schoolhouse Hill Road by the Carlson Company. A helicopter, owned by a firm named Carson, arrived at the site early in the morning, and in no time at all it lifted air-conditioning units weighing 1,000 pounds each to the top of the building. Members of the construction crew were equipped with helmets and ear pieces to help ward off the tremendous pressure caused by the vibrations of the chopper’s huge blades which created quite a dust storm.

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Friday, May 19, was moving day for the Newtown United Methodist Church which left its original site on the north side of Church Hill Road and moved to its new location, Wood’s Park, on the south side of the road. The church began its trip at about 10 am, but preparations began long before that. Crew men from the Connecticut Light and Power Company were on the scene at 5:20 am. The Southern New England Telephone Company took its lines down, with their crew arriving at 6 am. The entire operation was under the direction of Newtown Police Chief Louis Marchese. Traffic was not allowed on Church Hill Road from the center of Sandy Hook to the Exit and Entrance of I-84 from 9 am to around 1:30 pm. Ten Newtown Police Officers directed traffic at key locations, and the chief himself was at the actual moving. The moving was in the charge of the A.E. Vining Company of Danbury. It began between 10 and 10:30 am with the church safely across the road by 12:30 pm. As of 4 pm the 122-year-old church was on the site of its new foundation which will now be built up to meet it.

May 23, 1947

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — A VALUABLE LITERARY CONTRIBUTION: We compliment John N. Boyle on his book “Historical Notes and Maps — Newtown: 1708-1758.” Perhaps The Bee’s interest is somewhat personal, since it is the first book of its size printed in our plant. But, much more than that, Mr Boyle has made an important contribution to the printed word on Newtown’s earliest days. Long hours were entailed in the task of searching old records for the data which he has so expertly assembled. The limited edition, numbering only 300 copies, will increase in value over the passing years. Meanwhile to Mr Boyle and to his financial supports, Arthur T. Nettleton and Mr and Mrs Raymond Fosdick, is due an expression of hearty appreciation for their interest in the town’s history — an ever-absorbing subject.

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Miss Jane Hillhouse, daughter of Mr and Mrs Harry N. Hillhouse of Palestine district, is a patient at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

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Donald Crouch, son of Mrs Myra Crouch of Castle Hill Road, is a patient at the Danbury Hospital, where he is under treatment for rheumatic fever.

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The Rosary Society of St Rose church held its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening at St Rose Hall. The speaker of the evening was Edward Finlay of Botsford Hill Road, Sandy Hook, who talked on France. Mrs Mary Boyle, president, presided, and Mrs Catherine Cavanaugh served as program chairman, assisted by Mrs Florence Spatz, Mrs Mary Maurer, Mrs Anne Seman, Mrs Isabelle Smith, Mrs Connie Herring and Mrs Anita Cavanaugh. Refreshments were served during the evening. Meetings have now been concluded, and the next one will be held next October.

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Mr and Mrs Harold DeGroat entertained five tables of bridge at the Newtown Country club on Monday night. Mrs Joseph Smith held high score. Mr and Mrs Joseph Smith will be hosts next Monday night.

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When last Friday evening’s special town meeting was called to order by Town Clerk Mary E. Sullivan, the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall was crowded to the doors, with many others standing in the hallway, unable to enter the room at all. It is estimated that close to 600 people either attended or attempted to attend, making it probably the largest town meeting ever held in Newtown. H.H. Cutler was named chairman and the meeting continued in session for a full two hours after the stage had been opened to make extra space and most of those in the hallway had pushed their way into the already overcrowded and overheated room. A number, however, found it impossible to hear the proceedings and left the meeting, showing obvious disgust at the situation. It was impossible to adjourn the meeting to another room in the building, as the gymnasium was being used for the Junior-Senior Prom, and moving pictures were in progress in the theater. The important item of business before the meeting was revaluation.

May 19, 1922

First Selectman John J. Northrop was a visitor in Stevenson on Monday.

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HATTERTOWN PERSONAL NOTES: Mrs Thomas Bartlett, Mrs Sweet, Mrs Bond and Miss Mabel Bond of Woodbridge were guests of Mrs Harold Tomlinson, Tuesday. | Mr and Mrs John Loucks of Danbury and Mr and Mrs Ernest Ferry of Easton were guests of Mr and Mrs Birdsey Peck, Sunday. | Stephen Hall and Edward Perkins are building the cement foundations for a large windmill and tank which Samuel Goldberg is having erected at his place in Blanket Meadow. | Mrs Thomas Perkins is sick and under the care of Dr Smith. | Mr and Mrs Jackson enjoyed an auto trip to Hartford, last week, spending several days with relatives in the Capitol city.

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Miss Helen Houlihan returned to South Manchester, Monday, after passing a week with her mother, Mrs M.F. Houlihan.

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Benjamin Bassett has been doing interior decorating in the residence of Levi C. Morris.

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LIST OF SOLDIERS BURIED IN THE VILLAGE CEMETERY, NEWTOWN: Charles L. Briscoe, Ferdinand S. Bartram, George B. Blakeslee, Daniel Camp, E.B. Fairfield, Charles G. Hawley, Peter P. Keeler, Hiram Lake, Benjamin W. Matthews, John F. Peck, Albert W. Peck, Nelson J. Peck, Charles Howard Peck, Francis W. Platt, Julius Sanford, John Wood, Leonard J. Wright. It is earnestly requested that if any persons know of any other soldier buried in the Village cemetery that they notify Frank Wright or Allison P. Smith.

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Fred Allgeyer of Brooklyn, N.Y., passed Sunday with his family in Sandy Hook.

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Mrs Bertha Ferris has a new Studebaker Light Six touring car, bought of C.S. Blackman.

May 28, 1897

TOWN TOPICS — THE MUSIC FESTIVAL AT SANDY HOOK: The musical festival given by the pupils of Prof C.S. Platt and Mrs Dr Gordon, assisted by others, which was to have taken place the 12th, came off Thursday evening with great success. The Opera House was full, and the program was carried out with few exceptions. After the concert a dance was indulged in. St Mary’s Literary and Social club, for whose benefit the entertainment was given, realized a considerable amount from it.

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Ex-Senator and Mrs Lyman Catlin of Bridgeport dined at the Grand Central on Monday. They had been on a carriage drive to Torrington, returning via New Milford, where their daughter is attending Ingleside seminary.

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The very complete manual of the summer resorts on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad has been placed in our hands. It is more complete than ever and will be welcomed by the public. A glance at the map contained in this manual will enable any one to see that the extensive territory served by the two systems of the great company comprises substantially all Southern New England, with its almost infinite variety of attractive vacation resorts. … If the tourist cares not for salt water scenery and joys, one may branch off and follow up the fine valley of the Housatonic, the lovely Newtown Hills on either side, and still on among the Berkshire Mountains to Stockbridge. … Additional copies of this manual may be procured at principal ticket offices on the line of the New Haven System, or on application by mail to C.T. Hempstead, G.P.A., New Haven, enclosing two-cent stamp for postage.

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John A. Rapelye of Newtown, L.I., has been a guest at D.C. Peck’s on Mt Pleasant. Mr Rapelye has been in the newspaper business for seven years, at present representing his town for a New York paper. He favored The Bee men with a call on Tuesday.

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Frederick Newton Shepard, the hustling young newsboy, has a new Waverley bicycle, bought of Agent A.S. Hawley. He now expects to make two-minute time between the Depot and the Street, and his customers will not have long to wait in getting the latest news from the Cuban war.

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.