Rain cancelled the family Fourth of July picnic at Dickinson Memorial Park, and high winds prevented the fireworks display from being held on Tuesday. As a result, both events have been rescheduled to take place at the park on Saturday, July 8. The townwide picnic will begin at 1 pm, and the fireworks are set to commence at 9 pm.

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The Newtown Congregational Church has activated a 15-member building committee and charged it to “undertake a consolidation of the church’s sanctuary, offices, religious education, and adjunct facilities upon the former Nettleton property,” a ten-acre tract at the corner of Castle Hill Road and West Street. Co-chairmen are Robert Hamilton and Peter Garrett.

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The Legislative Council’s ordinance committee, by a split vote, has recommended that the full council consider bringing a proposed fair rent commission ordinance to a public hearing. If the council does so, this will be the second time around for the proposed ordinance, which the council rejected last December.

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Hawley School fifth graders explored the lives of former Newtowners by making gravestone rubbings in Newtown Village Cemetery during the last full week of school. They were advised to try to choose a stone from the Colonial or Revolutionary era, and learned a lot about the effects of time on stone as they saw many that were too eroded to read.

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Darrin Thorndike proved to have a sharp eye in a contest sponsored by The Toy Box recently as he tossed the plastic disc through a hole in the box six times in a row and garnered first prize — a large stuffed bulldog. Under the rules of the contest, the contestant had to throw the Frisbee through a narrow opening (how narrow depending upon his or her age). If they succeeded, then they stepped back to the next line in the sidewalk and tried again. Initial throw was from about 20 feet. Once the thrower missed he had to stop.

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Robert Booth and his brother David recently found a little naked bird near a friend’s house. “It had no feathers, a really long neck and looked very boney,” says Robert. “We didn’t know if it would live.” They checked the area and couldn’t see a nest so they took the little bird home, let it sleep on a heating pad, fed it with worms and bread soaked in milk and waited for it to grow. Grow it did. Now it stands on its own two feet and peeps for food constantly. It has a new coat of feathers (its first) and tries to fly. As soon as it can pick up food for itself from the bottom of the cage it’s in, says Mrs Booth, she’ll let it go. Until then she’s got a “noisy, demanding” guest to take care of. This isn’t the first bird the Booths have saved. Last summer they found a wren and kept it a month while its wing healed. Then it flew away.

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Next year Newtown High School will be stiffening up on its truancy and tardiness, following the advice of high school principal Alvah Cramer. The new regulations are now being written into the students’ handbooks, which will be distributed at the beginning of the 1978–79 school year.

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Its own proposal for an amendment to the Newtown Zoning Regulations to permit neighborhood shopping centers will be the subject of the Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission’s public hearing set for Thursday, July 13, at 8 pm in its offices in the Congregational Church House, Main Street. The concept of allowing small shopping facilities with stores and services for a localized area has been mulled over for years by the commissioners.

JULY 10, 1953

The balloon man had a field day as Newtown moppets turned out in force, with parents in tow, to view the Fourth of July parade last Saturday morning, staged by the members of the Newtown volunteer fire companies. With the parade starting a little late, he ran out of breath before the last unit had passed and was observed gasping as he struggled to inflate one of the animal creations for a latecomer.

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A new schedule has been adopted by the Summer Recreation Program and the Ten-C Ranch, Hanover Road, to accommodate the large numbers of Newtown youngsters who have signed up as members of the riding club. The schedule was necessarily revised, according to Harold B. Dow, executive vice president of the ranch, when with little warning last Friday 30 young riders descended upon them, all expecting to spend two hours astride their favorite mounts.

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At a meeting of the warden and burgesses of the Borough of Newtown, held Tuesday evening, the resignation of William Hunter as a burgess was accepted and Raymond J. Trimpert was appointed in his place. In order to fill the position of burgess, Mr Trimpert resigned from the Board of Tax Review and Fred Buermeyer was appointed to fill his place on that board.

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The Fourth of July golf contests at the Newtown Country Club produced the following winners: “monkey tournament,” foursome of Miss Mary Hutchinson, Mrs Henry Taylor, Ford Cordial and Al Palmers; men’s medal play net, Edward V. Walsh; men’s medal play gross, George Smart; nearest to pin, Frank Hubbell.

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Professor William Day Smith is spending the week as the guest of relatives in town, staying at the home of Mr and Mrs George A. Writer on Laurel Road. Mr Smith, who is now 94 years of age, spent his boyhood days here, when his father, the Rev Henry Bagg Smith, was pastor of the Congregational Church. Mr Smith is finding much pleasure in visiting his old haunts, recalling fishing trips in most, if not all, of the local streams.

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The Cyrenius H. Booth Library began its first solicitation for funds in three years this week, to meet new demands made upon the book collections and the staff. Nearly 800 new borrowers have made use of the library since the last appeal for funds, in 1950. Mrs Nicholas Moseley is in charge of the drive, assisted by Mrs Richmond Stephens.

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Notice is given that a clean-up squad is being assembled for Sunday morning at 10 o’clock, when everyone interested is asked to report at the Lands End Cemetery in Hawleyville to help clean up the old part of the cemetery. Tools will be needed, as well as workers, to cut the brush and long grass, making that part of the cemetery more presentable and inconformity with the newer part which receives better care.

JULY 6, 1928

Levi C. Morris, the popular and beloved Borough warden, was given a progressive dinner last Thursday evening in honor of his 70th birthday, which occurred on Friday.

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A.D. Fairchild’s telephone number has been changed to 2-3.

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This evening deeds were passed transferring the John A. Carlson property in Newtown Street to Miss Mary Hawley. The property consists of house, several acres of land, garage and barn. Mr Carlson will continue to conduct his garage business at this place.

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The Pootatuck Inn, located in Sandy Hook, is enjoying excellent business, from both local and out-of-town friends. The inn has been completely redecorated, and with its ideal setting, presents a most attractive appearance.

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Contractor Henry Johnson is building on a porch on the Country Club, 16 x 54.

JULY 10, 1903

A good sized crowd was present at the Fairgrounds Fourth of July morning to witness the game of ball between the married and single men. The married men’s nine by wretched fielding and costly errors on the part of the third and second basemen lost the game in the first inning, when the single men piled up 13 runs.

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The front of Taylor’s Hotel at the Hook was nicely decorated with flags on the Fourth. The genial John Dayton was the artist and decorator.

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Frank Banks of Botsford has recently purchased a fine new Victor talking machine. Mr Banks gave an entertainment for the benefit of the Botsford Sunday School, one evening last week, which netted the school quite a good sum.

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The Botsford Hill baseball team received their new suits last Friday, and are now ready to accept challenges from any team in this locality.

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Spencer and Morrow of Botsford Hill will not run their fish cart during the haying season.

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The Fabric Fire Hose Company is having the wood work about their factory and the fences painted. F.E. Burwell is doing the work.

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James M. Blackman has been making extensive repairs on his house in Botsford, putting on new siding and new piazza, besides other extensive repairs.