June 8, 2001

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS: The area of Newtown has remained 60 square miles throughout the town’s history, but just 75 years ago, this was a much smaller place. So it was possible for a single local personage to loom large in the transition of Newtown from sleepy burg to thriving village. We still speak today of Mary Hawley’s foresight and beneficence in donating Hawley School, Edmond Town Hall, and the Booth Library to Newtown. And we appreciate her respect for the contributions of those who had gone before, which inspired her contributions and improvements to the Village Cemetery and the Ram Pasture and her donation of a Soldiers and Sailors Monument at the head of Main Street. … Newtown is no longer a small place, and the same 60 square miles is packed with businesses, houses, and roads with an ever-increasing pulse of people and traffic. Even Mary Hawley’s largess would be dwarfed by the current demands for open space and for municipal services and facilities.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Dot Baumert.

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Newtown High School seniors are about to embark on another chapter in their lives. The class of 2001 will cross the stage on June 19, beginning the journey to adulthood by going to college, starting a job, or enlisting in the military. Over 300 students will take the leap June 19. This year 11 students have earned the top ten honors in the class, two tied for ninth place: valedictorian Kathy Deng, salutatorian Stephen Ambrogio, Peter Yemc, Ryan Ignatius, Zachary Miller, Sara Daniels, Sarah Letson, John Fiscella, Tracy Ravetto, Andrew Portnoy, and Matthew Sullivan.

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Joan Bergquist still remembers the first time something of hers was published. It was in the 1978 edition of Conatus, the literary magazine of Western Connecticut State University. … Her satire writing has since then been compared favorably to the work of Erma Bombeck, she has led two writing workshops for Woman’s Club of Newtown, and she has flourished in a number of additional artistic branches. But it took a recent nod from an annual woman’s club contest in the short story writing category to remind her of how good it feels to be called a writer. … Joan Bergquist put a stop to the long-running winning streak by members of New Milford Woman’s Club when she won first place in the statewide writing competition, short story division early last month.

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Painting the Dickinson Park pool each spring is a tough job, but someone has to do it. And this year, the Parks & Recreation Department has handed over brushes and rollers to lifeguards Karlis Griffiths, Ryan Eberts, Joe Blanchard, and Ryan Loring. The pool opens in mid-June. On Memorial Day weekend, the Treadwell Park pool officially opened for the summer season.

June 4, 1976

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — AN IMPORTANT SATURDAY: Posters, collection cannisters, bumper stickers and the like have been evident about town for some time now stressing two very important words — “We Believe.” For that is the slogan of the Connecticut Special Olympics which are to take place in Newtown this Saturday, June 5, at the high school. … For those not familiar with the Special Olympics, it is a series of games for the retarded and handicapped children built into a program of opening ceremonies and entertainment. All will begin at 8:30 am with a pre-game show, followed by the Olympic Parade, torch lighting, and finally the release of balloons. … To the winners will go the medals, but to all will go a feeling of achievement. … Through the Newtown Chapter of the Jaycees, an invitation is extended to one and all to attend the events of this special day in town.

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Two years ago, Ted Braun, head of the maintenance staff at the Newtown Village Cemetery, and his sons, Kevin, Tom, John, Jim and Tim, planted an arrangement of azaleas, rhododendron and Mugho pines in the oval in front of the cemetery vault. This year, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend, all the beautiful multi-colored plantings burst forth in full bloom, offering one of the loveliest spectacles in town. It was a perfect setting to enhance the well groomed and peaceful appearance of the cemetery.

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By better than a 2½ to one margin, Newtown voters resoundingly rejected the $10,746,000 budget adopted at the May 19 town meeting in Wednesday’s referendum. The tally showed 2,353 persons voting against the appropriation for fiscal 1976-77 and 898 in favor. The $10.7 million proposal carried a tax rate of 29.8 mills, 2.9 mills more than the $9.9 million 1975-76 budget. The referendum saw a turnout of 37.8 per cent of the town’s 8,211 registered voters. One hundred forty property owners also cast ballots.

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Members and Auxiliary members of Charles Howard Peck Sr and Jr Post No. 308, Veterans of Foreign Wars, commemorated Newtown’s war dead at traditional ceremonies at the monument on Main Street on Memorial Day, Sunday, May 30. State Rep John Anderson and Jack Rosenthal attended — the latter with young grandson Danny — along with members of the Newtown Police Department and local citizens as a wreath and flowers were laid and prayers said for those who fell in their nation’s service.

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First Selectman Jack Rosenthal has been given new authority over personnel in the highway department by action of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night in executive session — the right to fire. “That’s the way it should have been from the beginning,” commented Mr Rosenthal the next day. At his first meeting with the board in January as First Selectman, he had requested that the selectmen delegate to him the authority to hire, suspend and dismiss town employees as provided for in the town charter. But the two Republican selectmen then gave the Democratic First Selectman only the authority to hire and suspend employees, with approval of the department involved.

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More than 270 guests were in attendance at the Bicentennial Heritage Ball, a gala evening that took place at the Newtown High School on Saturday, May 29. Rep John Anderson accepted the award for outstanding service to the Town of Newtown which was presented to Bertram Stroock by the town’s summer festival committee. Mr Stroock was unable to attend the Heritage Ball.

June 1, 1951

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — DON’T MISS IT: This seems to be one of the busiest seasons of one of the busiest years within memory. Everyone we know and all the people with whom we talk, tell us in the course of conversation how very busy they are. There comes, of course, a sort of satisfied feeling in being busy about some appointed task. … Sooner or later, people will find it futile to be so busy, and more of us should recognize that fact. Just at present, nature is at its loveliest. The warm weather of the past few days has brought forth blossoms and leaves in great profusion. … As spring matures into summer, time should be found amid our busy rounds of work, play and countless appointments, to look around and enjoy the spectacle. There will be other springs, but never another in 1951. Don’t miss it.

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Rain on Monday did little to keep away prospective shoppers and hundreds of well-wishers who attended the opening of Newtown’s shopping center, the Wheeler Block, on Queen Street. Not only did townspeople and residents from surrounding areas come to look, they bought, taking pride in making their initial purchases from the town’s latest merchants. The Newtown Branch of the First National Bank and Trust Company of Bridgeport, the community’s first commercial bank, located in the southwest corner of the premises, did about double the volume of business it expected to do its first day.

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There was a complete sellout of home baked goods on the lawn at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sandy Hook, last Saturday, when the Ladies Guild of the church conducted a food sale for the benefit of the church, bringing a net return of more than $45. Mrs Austin E. Dinkler, Mrs Harold Peterson and Mrs Irving C. Beers were in charge of the tables.

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Benedictine Father Damascus, former chaplain of Regina Laudis Abbey of the Benedictine Nuns, Bethlehem, gave a talk at the vesper service in the abbey chapel last Sunday afternoon to a group of ladies from St. Rose parish and the resident sisters, choosing as his text, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” The pilgrimage was sponsored by the Rosary Society of St. Rose Church and 36 members of the parish took part.

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Measures were passed at last Friday night’s town meeting, held at the gymnasium of the Edmond Town Hall, limiting the sale of fireworks in Newtown to the member fire companies of the Newtown Fire Department. The meeting was well attended, particularly by local firemen. H. R. Geiger served as chairman, with Town Clerk May E. Sullivan as clerk.

June 4, 1926

A large concourse of sorrowing people filled St Rose’s church, Friday morning, at the funeral obsequies of Martin Francis Connors, a young man beloved in his family circle, and highly esteemed in the town, who entered the Rest of the Life Eternal on the morning of the 26th of May. Rev W.H. Kennedy, the esteemed pastor of St Rose’s, officiated at the Requiem High Mass, so impressively rendered by the beloved pastor, and at the conclusion the mortal remains, which in life time had held the spirit of that brave and loving boy, Martin Francis Connors, was borne to the cemetery of St Rose’s in the Glen and laid at rest, where on the morrow, Memorial day, hundreds of people gathered to pay reverence and respect to the loving memory of the many resting there.

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A miscellaneous shower and surprise party was given Miss Helen R. Keniry, on Monday evening, May 24, at St Mary’s hall, in anticipation of her marriage to William E. Duda, of Brooklyn, N.Y., which will take place at St Rose’s church, Wednesday, June 16, at 9 a.m., by the Misses Margaret Ryan, Mary Chura and Anna Connors. The hall was prettily decorated for the occasion with crepe paper and lilacs.

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HATTERTOWN PERSONAL NOTES: Benjamin Fairchild and family of New York were guests of Mrs Ada Parmelee, over the week end. | Irving Waterhouse has a new Ford sedan. | Mr and Mrs J.H. Jackson were guests of relatives in Hartford, over Memorial Day. | Mr and Mrs John Urbanovsky of New York have been spending a few days at the home of his parents, Mr and Mrs Julius Urbanovsky. | Mr and Mrs Clarence Burr, Mr and Mrs Edgar Northrop, Mrs Wheeler of Monroe and Clarence Shafer and family of Danbury, were the guests of Mr and Mrs Eugene Northrop, Sunday.

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Allison P. Smith and Frank H. Trowbridge had the pleasure of dining on Monday at the charming Bonnie Brae farm. Bonnie Brae Farm by the way is located in the lower Berkshires, 25 miles north of Newtown, splendid state roads and fine scenery. Do not cross the bridge at New Milford but keep to the left. Take the Concrete highway along the left bank of the Housatonic River to the farm, 5 1-2 miles above New Milford, where Mrs Everart as hostess will help you spend a restful time in these wonderful hills.

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Mrs James J. Meyers and son, James Jr., were the guests, Memorial day, of Mrs Meyers’ parents, Mr and Mrs F.H. Trowbridge, of lower Main street.

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At the last meeting of the Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurse Association it was decided to increase the fee paid for a nursing visit to 75 cents. This was done on account of the increased cost of running expenses.

June 7, 1901

Hawleyville had quite an epidemic of runaway accidents on Friday and Saturday, but fortunately in all three cases no person was injured. On Friday the horses of O.F. Terrill, driven by Henry Barnum, became frightened at the cars and got beyond his control. The wagon was wrecked. The horse of Charles Lake became frightened at the actions of Terrill’s team, broke away from a post and smashed the wagon. On Saturday Henry Fancher’s peddling wagon was smashed up at Southville, the horses taking fright.

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F.A. Young of Taunton district has a dog which would be bought by circus magnates if they could see it perform. The dog goes after the cows, drives them into the yard and then getting behind the big swinging gate he pushes it together, and locks it. It is “as good as a circus” to see the dog play ball, catching with all the grace of a professional. He has other tricks that he performs and is valued highly by Mr Young.

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Mrs Ernest Wilson and two daughters of New Haven have been visiting Mrs Wilson’s parents, Mr and Mrs A.W. Fairchild, of Taunton district.

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At a special communication of Hiram lodge, F. & A.M., Friday night, the fellowcraft degree was conferred on two candidates. The lodge will have work till the middle of July or later.

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Owing to the illness of the esteemed rector, Rev O. O. Wright, there was no service held at St John’s church, last Sunday.

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 readers of The Newtown Bee. 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.