June 22, 2001

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — SUPPORT A FRILL: THE MEETING HOUSE PIPE ORGAN: If you believe a community should spend money only on necessities, don’t read this. If your personal vision for Newtown has no frills, avert your eyes. If the frosting on the cake offends you, you’re in the wrong place. For this week we are talking about the merits of spending money on something we could do without — the 1924 Hall Pipe Organ in the Newtown Meeting House. The organ was badly damaged by water in September 1999 during Hurricane Floyd, compounding problems it already suffered at the hands of age and use.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Dana Robinson.

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The Newtown High School Class of 2001 could not have asked for a better day as they culminated their four years at the high school Tuesday night under clear skies and a blazing sun during the commencement ceremony honoring over 300 graduates. As graduates entered the high school stadium in their royal blue caps and gowns, cheers followed them from family and friends. The audience of over 1,000 made more noise than the graduates. Balloons, miniature fans, and silly string brought left to the Class of 2001 as they waited for their big moment. The students remembered the two classmates, Greg Chion and John Ullo, who died this year by wearing gold star pins on their gowns.

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The Robinson family has double the celebration this graduation year. Mother Donna graduated from Northeastern University June 16, while son, Dana, received his diploma from Newtown High School Tuesday night. The two see it as an especially poignant time in that it came about because of a tragedy long ago. Mrs Robinson was attending Northeastern University in the mid-1970s studying journalism when she and her friends took a trip to Rhode Island to see about getting internships at a television station. During that trip, a drunk driver crossed four lanes of traffic and hit her car, killing one passenger and seriously injuring Mrs Robinson and a friend. “Instead of getting the jobs,” she said, “we became the news.”

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This year’s Labor Day Parade will celebrate Newtown’s most precious resource, nature. And the selection of residents Al Goodrich and Mary Mitchell to serve as parade marshals, according to organizers, was only natural. So on Monday, September 3, Al and Mary will step out of the woods and put away their hiking gear as they lead the line of march down Main Street in a celebration of “Newtown’s Natural Beauty.” Trailblazers of sorts, Al and Mary may best be known for the creation of the Newtown Trails Book and Touring Newtown’s Past, two books that have helped enlighten people about some of Newtown’s lesser-known natural treasures.

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The Legislative Council Wednesday voted 6-5 to call a town meeting to approve the sale of the town-owned Queen Street properties. First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said the town meeting would be held sometime this summer. If approved by voters, the six homes and a handful of vacant lots will likely be sold at a public auction. Up for sale will be all of the former state-owned lots, except for three one-acre lots most known for the scenic rolling hills and meadows behind them. The town plans to keep those properties.

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Bob Carroll has a basic philosophy when helping an expectant mother give birth. “You just hold out your hands and let the baby slide in. And don’t drop it,” he explained Monday. Of course, it’s not really that easy, but leave it to Bob to downplay one of his many heroic deeds as a longtime member of the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Bob has been with the corps since 1973. On Saturday, Bob lent a helping hand in the birth of baby number four in the back of an ambulance just as it arrived at Danbury Hospital. Bob was literally still pulling the newborn out as the back doors of the ambulance were opened.

June 18, 1976

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THE STATE MOVES ON: In recent years the residents of Newtown have won two out of three contests with the State of Connecticut. We are going to get the second bridge spanning the Housatonic River, despite the public’s cries against both the need and the costs. However, we did not get the rest area along Route 84, and we are not going to be blessed with a signal tower on Mount Pleasant Road. The state’s plans for a tower on Johnny Cake Lane came to our attention last week and much has happened in a short period of time. Our intent was to oppose the project, but now that will not be necessary as the Department of Transportation is seeking a new site. Public opinion against the tower construction rallied quickly, and the state listened.

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The “Sunshine Crew” was hard at work this week clearing the brush and tall grass out of Taunton Cemetery. Using lawnmowers, scythes, sickles and bare hands, the ten man group under crew chief Bob Merrill made the cemetery strollable again. The Sunshine Crew consists of Bob Merrill, Jim Demeter, Scott McCulloch, Jim Crouch, Joe Pratt, Joe Prorock, Janice Hewitt, Bill Kayfus, Paul Martin, and Walter Knopf. These are all paid with CETA Title I funds. Assisting were Bob DeJoseph, Jack Honan and Jason Stevens. John Beardsworth directs the crew overall.

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A handsome new addition to Newtown’s business community celebrated its grand opening Sunday when an invitational preview took place at the Gordon Fraser Gallery Ltd plant on South Main Street and Peck Lane. The 30,000 square foot building is Gordon Fraser’s new American distributing headquarters for its world-wide line of products, including greeting cards, stationery, napkins and gift wrap. Mr Fraser was in the country for the opening of the new headquarters, and was clearly delighted with the new plant — which includes living quarters for himself when he visits.

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The Liberty Bell Dog Tags have not been an overwhelming success to date and the office of Town Clerk Mae Schmidle announces that the Newtown canine population has been very reticent in applying for their new accoutrements. Perhaps it may be due to the “dog days” we are having in June instead of August this year, but nevertheless all hounds and other dogs who wish to remain legal and in compliance with the General Statutes are advised to be sporting a Liberty Bell before the First of July when the State of Connecticut will impose a fine on all recalcitrants.

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On June 28, members of the Waterbury Bicentennial Commission’s “Rochambeau Army” will camp in Newtown as part of the re-enactment of the march of French troops under the command of a man who has been called America’s neglected Founding Father, Comte de Rochambeau. The actual encampment of Rochambeau’s army in Newtown was June 28, 1781. … The troops will enter Newtown over the Rochambeau Bridge up Riverside Road to Church Hill Road to their campsite on the top of Castle Hill Road.

June 15, 1951

Action was taken at the special town meeting held last Friday night at the Edmond Town Hall, making it possible to admit the United Fire Company of Botsford to membership in the Newtown Fire Department. Alvin B. Coger presided as chairman of the meeting when [a] resolution was presented by First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson, examined, in detail by Fire Marshal Walter L. Glover and passed without opposition.

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The American Red Cross first aid instructor’s course, which has been holding weekly sessions in Hawley School since March 7, graduated a class of 34 last Thursday night. Included in the list of graduates were ten from Fairfield State Hospital, 20 Hawley School teachers and four from local industries and homes. Charles Barnes, director of first aid and safety of the Bridgeport Chapter, American Red Cross, has been the instructor, with Harold S. DeGroat as Newtown Red Cross representative.

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A most worth-while exhibit of paintings and drawings by patients at the Fairfield State Hospital is now on exhibit in Bridgewater House and will continue through June 25, the two O.T. rooms next to the chapel being open daily from 1 to 5 p.m. Townspeople generally are cordially invited to call between those hours to see the work done by patients under the direction of the occupational therapy staff. Oils, water colors, finger paintings and crayon drawings are featured.

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On Wednesday evening the season’s final meeting of the Rosary Society of St. Rose Church took place in the church hall with Mrs Raymond Jandreau elected president for the coming year; Mrs Frank C. McGlinchy, vice president; Miss Mary Flaherty, secretary; Mrs William A. Honan, Jr., treasurer. Announcement was made that the society’s scholarship award had been made to Thomas Digilio, son of Mr and Mrs Anthony Digilio of Sandy Hook.

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The Charles Howard Peck Sr. and Jr. Post and Auxiliary, VFW, served a roast turkey dinner last Thursday night in St. John’s Church social rooms to more than 200 residents. The committee from the auxiliary was headed by Miss Alice Mary Carey and Mrs George A. Powell, co-chairmen, assisted by other auxiliary members. Comdr William Slocum of the post headed the VFW committee in charge.

June 18, 1926

The local community was plunged into mourning, Saturday morning, by the announcement of the sudden death of Dr Walter H. Kiernan, the beloved physician of Sandy Hook, who passed away as the result of a heart seizure, about 5 o’clock, and before the arrival of Dr D. Chester Brown of Danbury, who had been quickly summoned to the bedside of the stricken physician of Sandy Hook.

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BUSINESS NOTICES: Get your fire works at the Liberty Garage. We have a full line of all kinds, and many other attractions for the Fourth. | Order one of those Nesco Perfect oil stoves, two, three, four or five burners. Thirty day trial or no sale.—H.G. Warner. Adv. | Dutch Boy White lead, turpentine, raw linseed oil, Kyanize floor finish.—Corbett & Crowe. Adv. | Our best blend of coffee, fancy tub butter.—H.H.G. Warner. Adv. | Perfection oil cook stoves, in two and three burners, oil stove ovens, lawn mowers, hammocks, Snuggler sythes, snaths, hay rakes, hay forks, Rubber roofing, barbed and plain wire.—Corbett & Crowe. Adv.

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Dr C.H. Peck of New York passed a few hours at his summer home on Mt Pleasant, Sunday, coming here from Boston, Mass.

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The Little Brown House on The Boulevard, Newtown, Conn., opened its third season, June 15, to overnight and week end guests. Special chicken dinners and luncheons will be served and a dainty menu, in the attractive tea room, afternoons. Appreciating the co-operation of the Newtown people the past two seasons, it is hoped The Little Brown House may continue to serve and please a still greater number of former patrons and visitors to our Berkshire regions this season.

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Mrs Jennie Kannipe of Elmira, N.Y., is passing the summer with her cousin, Alfred Walker.

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Rev and Mrs G. Herbert Ekins entertained at an informal musicale on Thursday evening last. Walter T. Burke and F. Arthur Ekins of New York, Dorothy Dinkler and Ruth Ekins of Newtown contributed vocal numbers. George B. Beers gave an exhibition of old time fiddling and played for dancing. The guests included Judge and Mrs J.G. Shapiro, Philip A. and Mrs Carlson, Mr and Miss Landes of Bridgeport, A.J. and Mrs Smith, Earle Smith, George B. and Mrs Beers, Mrs Sarah B. Mitchell, M.J. Phelan and the Misses Read, Hurd, and Flewelling of Newtown. The party enjoyed music, dancing and refreshments.

June 21, 1901

The North Center school district, which has been the scene of some hot school fights, had another lively meeting, Saturday evening, when the efficient and popular teacher, Patrick H. McCarthy, was re-elected by the very handsome vote of 41 to 31 for his opponent. The result is highly pleasing, not only to Mr McCarthy’s friends, but to nine-tenths of the parents sending children, many of whom while supporting Mr McCarthy’s opponent for political or family reasons, privately expressed to one and another the wish that Mr McCarthy might succeed, as their children were taking a deep interest in the school and their studies.

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A capital game of baseball was played on the Fair grounds, Saturday afternoon, when the Sandy Hook nine under the captaincy of Hobart G. Warner were defeated by a nine from Shelton, the score being 8 to 7. Features of the game were the “three-bagger” by Schielke and the winning catch of a fly ball by Hawley.

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A week ago The Bee referred to improvements Messrs Albert W. and Arthur D. Fairchild had made about their residence by the removal of the picket fence. Now they have added to the appearance of their attractive place by grading in front of the house, and on the sides and in front of the gardens, located north and south of the house, they have erected light galvanized iron fences which came from Winchester, Ind.

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Mrs William Sturges and child of Danbury, Mrs S.W. Dibble and child and Mrs Frederick Andrews, were all guests of Mrs William Maynard, one day last week. There were four generations present at the gathering. Mrs Edward G. Terrill is the great-grandmother and lives with Mr Maynard.

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Thomas F. Bradley of Jersey City passed Sunday with his parents and children, who reside near the Tunnel.

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.