July 7, 1995

Sixty years ago, Josephine Corrigan and her husband, Morris, a dentist, were taking a Sunday ride through New Fairfield and spotted a charming little trailer-diner out in a field. It caught their fancy, so they bought it and moved it to road-front property at their home. Thus, the Sandy Hook Diner was established.

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The state Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is starting to organize a new ad hoc committee intended to monitor future uses of the Fairfield Hills Hospital campus... Closing Fairfield Hills is targeted for January... State planning for the care of Fairfield Hills psychiatric patients is the top priority in terms of closing the institution and putting Fairfield Hills to new uses... The panel will be known as the Fairfield Hills Implementation Oversight Committee... The oversight panel will work to ensure that the future uses of Fairfield Hills meet the social, economic and environmental needs and concerns of the surrounding communities, the region, plus the economic needs of the state.

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Three and even four generations of families were lunching together when Nunnawauk Meadows hosted a Bring Your Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren To Lunch Day on June 30. Entertainment included the Carnival of Clowns from the Danbury Senior Center.

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POG, a game reminiscent of the Our Gang era, has caught on with the electronic highway generation. Toy stores, convenience stores, ice cream shops, even coin dealers are selling them. Kids buy collectible milk caps that have cool designs on one side, and are blank on the other. The game involves stacking milk caps and slamming larger discs at them in an attempt to flip the milk caps to their blank sides. If you flip it, you get to keep it.

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In the latest in a continuing series of legal actions against the borough and town, a Main Street resident unhappy with a Borough Zoning Commission decision has filed a complaint with the Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC) alleging the borough zoners violated the state’s right-to-know law when they approved the Booth Library expansion.

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When he was twelve, Scott Kneeland found something that would enrich his life forever. He didn’t find it on a street corner or in a bottle washed up on the beach. He found it in a karate dojo. Now 24, Kneeland, one of Newtown’s newest entrepreneurs, wants to give back to the sport of karate what it gave to him. At his new karate school, Karate Connection, at 97 South Main Street, Kneeland plans to live out his dream and teach the martial arts.

July 3, 1970

Many children were on hand at the Town Park this week signing up for the recreation and swimming programs that will begin after the Fourth of July weekend. Director this year is Bonnie-Jean Buckett. Programs will include tennis, arts and crafts, Indian lore, creative drama, swimming, sports, and games. As far as the swimming program is concerned, life saving will continue as planned with “ground” drills and the remainder of the instruction will begin at the completion of the pool.

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Champ, a handsome jet-black, half shepherd, half labrador, ordered out of Waterbury for wandering, by the State Dog Warden, was delivered to Open Gate Farm on Monday morning, June 29, by owner John Carol. Distraught by the thought of leaving his lifetime master, the dog escaped from his kennel, and refused to return or even stay at the farm despite efforts by the farm staff. The dog has been wandering since then all over Newtown in the fruitless search for his master. Any information concerning his whereabouts would be welcome. Please call Open Gate Farm, 426-9521, or the police.

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The appointment of Dr Tetsuro Takahashi to the staff of Fairfield Hills Hospital as a psychiatric resident was announced this week. Dr Takahashi, a native of Japan, received his medical degree from the University of Tokyo Medicine. Dr and Mrs Takahashi and their two children will reside on the hospital grounds.

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Members of the United Fire Company of Botsford can be found amidst the noise, dust and confusion of jack hammers as they busily prepare for the new truck, which is due in 1971. Botsford’s building committee decided the best way to make room for the truck was down, and therefore the old floor is going out in order to lower it one foot.

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The annual Knights of Columbus Carnival at St Rose Church has been enjoying a great attendance since it opened on Monday. Despite the “snowstorm” of Linden moths, children of all ages have been enjoying the many rides, booths, and goodies available on the Carnival grounds.

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Two mailboxes belonging to Hans Taeger and George Renda on Birch Hill Road were heavily damaged by vandalism on June 25 and 26. According to police, an explosive device of some sort was thrown into the boxes, and one was flattened on top and blown approximately ten feet clear of its post.

June 29, 1945

The Air Raid Warning Service was initially organized in Newtown on September 2, 1941, with the appointment of Mr George M. Stuart as Chief Air Raid Warden by the Newtown War Council. The unconditional surrender of Germany and the termination of the war in Europe removes the danger of air raids and as a result your service group was ordered disbanded, on a statewide basis, as of June 16th of this year by the Connecticut War Council... NEWTOWN WAR COUNCIL, Herman R. Geiger, Chairman, George M. Stuart, Chief Air Raid Warden.

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The station wagon of the Newtown Red Cross Motor Corps is resplendent in a new dress of paint, and also boasts a general overhauling and reconditioning of its mechanical parts, so that it is now in “top” condition.

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Another view of what our fighting men are really doing in Europe since the collapse of German resistance is contained in the news that First Lieut Thomas D. Howson, son of Mr and Mrs Roger Howson of Taunton district, is now teaching business English at an Eighth Air Force Bomber Station in England. This is in addition to Lieut Howson’s other duties as assistant base adjutant... Before joining the Army Air Forces, Lieut Howson received a bachelor of science degree in English at Bowdoin College.

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Charles Howard Peck Sr and Jr Post and Ladies Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will present a benefit entertainment at Edmond Town Hall, Thursday evening, July 12, at eight o’clock with an outstanding presentation of talent. Two radio personalities will appear in person, Frank Parker of Newtown, now being heard in “Friday Night On Broadway,” and Jane Dillon of Easton, “the first lady of radio,” a daily guest in the homes of Newtown people who listen over their morning cup of coffee to the “Good Morning Neighbor” program... The profits will be equally divided, the Auxiliary share going into the hospital fund, the share for the Post to be set aside in the building fund.

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The summer programs of sports, games, fun and recreation developed for the children of Newtown, under leadership of Harold DeGroat, Newtown’s director of physical education, although only five days old, is off to a good start. Day camping, playground activities, swimming, hardball, softball, tennis and other sports have all enlisted their share of devotees.

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FOR SALE — peas for freezing or canning. Now ready to pick. Phone order to assure fresh lot. L.E. Pelletier, Huntingtown District, Newtown, Conn. Tel. 86-4.

June 25, 1920

The microfilm containing 1920 Newtown Bee editions is kept at the C.H. Booth Library, which is temporarily closed due to coronavirus health precautions.

Your memories are the ones we want to share! 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 editor@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.