June 9, 1989

Construction of the new playground at Dickinson Park began in the rain on Wednesday, as boom augers drilled hoes in the muddy earth for support posts. Despite poor working conditions, volunteers dressed in slickers and mud-caked boots pressed on with the work, and just about everyone was wearing a smile on his or her wet face. “We need more volunteers to show up,” said Ed Frankamont, one of two supervisors supplied by the Robert Leathes architectural firm, designer of the playground. An opening ceremony has been tentatively planned for Sunday, June 11, around 5 pm.

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There were 11.95 inches of rain during May, according to Mel Goldstein, meteorologist with the Western Connecticut State University Weather Center. The average normal rainfall for the month is 3.5 inches. So far in June, 1½ inches of rain have fallen, he said. The long-range forecast calls for cooler than normal temperatures during the next 90 days.

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New stop signs, a cross walk, pedestrian right of way signs, and new traffic lanes all will be in place soon on Queen Street, in front of the Newtown Shopping Center. Motorists should realize that if they’re driving on Queen Street, from Church Hill Road towards Mile Hill Road that when they reach the shopping center they either must drive in a right-turn-only lane or in a lane for traffic headed straight or turning left.

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In a high school softball game as fine as they come, Newtown defeated Torrington 1-0 in the state Class L quarterfinals on Friday of last week at Community House Field. The victory put Newtown in the semifinals against Ledyard on Thursday, June 8, in Clinton. April Ertl of third-ranked Newtown and Terri Bambakidov of sixth-ranked Torrington hooked up in a classic pitchers’ duel. Newtown’s only hit was a home run and won the game.

June 12, 1964

The Newtown Combined Fire Companies announced that rescue markers will be made available to the residents of Newtown to be placed on the homes of the infirm, blind, bedridden, and handicapped citizens in the community. These markers will prove most valuable when fire equipment arrives at a home where such an emblem is displayed. Faster rescues will be possible when firemen spot these attractive florescent emblems.

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Twenty-three inches and six and one-half pounds worth of large mouth bass was fished from Lake Lillinonah last Sunday by Howard Jackson of Wills Road, Newtown. The fish, the largest of many seasons for Mr Jackson, is destined for the nearest taxidermist.

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The Second Annual Jaycees Field Day was conducted on Saturday, June 6, at the Sandy Hook School, with over 200 boys and girls participating. The contests conducted for all classes were: running, broad jump, standing broad jump, 40-yard dash, and distance ball throwing. Distance and team relay races were conducted for the heavier weight classes only, while the lighter weight classes participated in target ball throwing.

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On Saturday, June 6, some of the children of the Taunton Lake Drive area presented the “Mid-Spring Recital.” The recital was held in the Torbush garage with admission five cents. The proceeds were $3.05. All of it goes to the Newtown Fund.

June 9, 1939

In their second game of the season, played last Saturday afternoon at the Fairfield State Hospital, the Hospital team lost to the Catholic Sokals of Bridgeport, 19-7. The game was much closer than the score indicates, until the last inning. The games at the Hospital, while played mainly for the entertainment of the patients, are open to visitors. The team is fast rounding into shape, so that Richard Sperling, who acts as manager, expects a string of victories. Visitors at the games are always assured a good brand of ball.

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The Bee moved desks into its new addition, last Friday, upon completion of the work by Contractor Vincent T. Sullivan. The room itself is done in knotty pine, with rock wool insulation throughout. The plumbing was installed by Alfred Penovi, and the lighting by Ben D. Smith. On Friday, the new room was adorned with a generous bouquet sent to The Bee with the congratulations of the Sunset Tavern.

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The commencement exercises of Hawley High school will be held next Tuesday evening, June 13, at the Edmond Town Hall Theater, starting at 8 o’clock, with no seats reserved after 8:30. This year’s graduating class includes seventeen members.

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Captain John D. Craig, who might well be termed “the mystery man of the movies,” comes to the Newtown Congregational church for a Young People’s Forum on this Friday evening, June 9, to relate some of his adventures while making scenes that have made you gasp in most of the screen features of recent years. He has at his command a band of youthful movie technicians who can and dare do almost everything. They can shoot both camera and gun, know how to knife a shark or drop a charging tiger. When Hollywood needs some background material, either of scenery, natives, or animals, Captain Craig and his harum-scarum bunch are sent to get it.

 

June 12, 1914

The flag pole committee of the Men’s Club have let the contract for a pole 100 feet high to be erected not far from the old location, to Corbett & Co., of New York City, and the pole will be in position by July 1. Corbett & Co. are specialists in erecting flag poles, having erected the pole on New Milford Green, old Milford, New Haven Green and the public library in New York City.

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John Keane and assistants have done a good piece of road improvement, beginning at his residence and around to the Gray’s Plain school. In addition to the usual road work, gravel has been put on in places and rocks dug out. Selectman Johnson has decided to have the good work continued on toward Botsford, we are informed.

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Charles Pickett and Patrick O’Dea had a narrow escape from being burned up. In some way, their beds got on fire in the Carroll house. Thomas Wright, who lives in a part of the building, smelled the smoke and going in, put out the fire with a Pyrene extinguisher.

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The Congregational church is making plans for a fitting celebration of its Bi-centennial, October 11, 12 and 13. Sunday morning, October 11, will be the opening service, with sermon by the pastor, Rev T.J. Lee. At 3 pm, will be a service in which it is hoped all the clergy of the town will have a part. Monday afternoon will come the historical service. Monday evening, organ recital and musical program. Tuesday morning, the Fairfield association of Congregational church will meet with the church at 11 o’clock. Tuesday at 2 o’clock will be a public service with addresses by men prominent in denomination.