July 24, 1998

Animal Control Officer George Mattegat has reported the refrigerator at the animal pound has stopped working. The refrigerator is used to keep carcasses of dead animals, such as raccoons and opossums, that are suspected of being rabid prior to shipping them to the state lab for testing. Officer Mattegat is hoping that someone in town has a spare refrigerator that they would be willing to donate to the pound. Any size will do, said Officer Mattegat. “It’s just got to be big enough for a couple of raccoons.”

* * * * *

Joseph M. (Jay) Maher III of Glover Avenue was sworn in as a new burgess on the Borough Board of Burgesses by Borough Clerk Darlene Spencer on July 14.

* * * * *

Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) members July 16 unanimously approved Pond View LLC’s application for New England Heights, Section II, a 13-lot subdivision planned for 30 acres off Bradley Lane and Great Ring Road in Sandy Hook, near the Monroe border. As a condition of the approval, the applicant will post a $250,000 performance bond to ensure that work planned for the subdivision is completed.

* * * * *

The Board of Trustees of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library installed a new slate of officers for 1998-99 last week in a meeting and reception at the library. The new officers are James Larin, president; Kevin Tepas, vice president; and Joseph Humeston, treasurer. Marilyn Alexander and Bernard Reidy were also installed as two new trustees.

* * * * *

Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell of Brookfield paid a visit July 16 to The Cullens Memorial on Taunton Lake Road to talk to the Boy Scouts of Troop 70 on civics, government, and her role as the second in command of the state government. Ms Rell spoke in the lodge at the scouts’ nature area.

July 20, 1973

At first they thought someone was racing up and down their road on mini bikes, but Earl A. Cabral and family soon discovered that the loud buzzing they heard was coming from a swarm of honey bees that had begun building a large hive on the trunk of a tree in front of their home on Toddy Hill Road. National Geographic magazine says it’s very rare for bees to build an exposed hive. The bees, thousands of them, came about a month ago, and Mrs Cabral thought they’d go away, but they’re still there. “At first we were nervous,” says Mr Cabral, “but they haven’t stung anyone yet. Now they’re getting interesting, and I don’t think we’ll get rid of them.” The hive clings about twelve feet up on the tree trunk, and all the activity is clearly visible from the front door of the Cabral home — unusual summer entertainment for the Cabral family.

* * * * *

Congressman Ronald Sarasin paid a visit to Newtown on July 14, and many constituents came to talk with him in his bright red, white and blue bus “office” parked in the Wheeler Shopping Center. Topics discussed ranged from benefits to the blind, pensions, the high cost of lumber and of course Watergate. Arrangements for the visit were made by Robert Hall, who was Congressman Sarasin’s field director during his campaign. The stop was scheduled from noon to 1:30 pm, but was extended until 3:30 because of the number of people wanting to talk with Mr Sarasin.

* * * * *

“Henceforth it shall be called the Matthew Curtiss House.” This action to “re-christen” the house of the Newtown Historical Society on Main Street, formerly called the “Belden House,” was taken by the vote of the society’s board of directors at a meeting held on July 10, 1973. This new name has evolved from the result of research carried on to determine when the house was built and who may have been the first occupants.

* * * * *

The summer outing of the Horticulture Club of Newtown was held Saturday afternoon around the pool at the home of Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith of Currituck Road. Bob Kalbaugh and Tom McClintock acted as chefs at the hamburger grill. Following the picnic supper, Mrs Kalbaugh conducted in able fashion the usual auction of plants, vegetables and many miscellaneous items, providing fun and funds for the club.

* * * * *

Friends of Ford Cordial will be glad to know that he is showing good improvement following emergency surgery which he underwent on Monday evening, June 16, at Danbury Hospital.

July 16, 1948

On Wednesday evening the Newtown Combined Fire Companies’ Annual Carnival got under way at Taylor Field and drew a crowd estimated at between five and six hundred persons. The weather was ideal for such an outdoor affair, and the smells of carnival cookery, the lights, the traffic on Route 6, the spiel of the barkers, all intermingled to make the evening a pleasant one. Although through traffic was slowed in progressing by the entrance to the carnival site adjacent to Hawley school, firemen were on hand to see that it moved slowly and cautiously in the vicinity. Patrons to the show itself were able to park their cars either on the highway or in Taylor Field. The consensus of opinion seemed to be that the firemen are giving the public its money’s worth this year.

* * * * *

Followers of Town Players productions are not unaware of the work of some of its members, one being Ruth Baridon who has given some remarkable characterizations, particularly her Mrs Fisher in “The Show Off” performed early this year. It is therefore gratifying to learn that Mrs Baridon is among next week’s cast members at Jack Quinn’s Southbury Playhouse, Route 6, Southbury. This summer theatre group is performing Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” the week of July 19, its featured players being Ann Driscoll, Thomas Palmer, Diane deBrett and Johanna Douglas.

* * * * *

Friends of “Nick” DiSesa, proprietor of Green Acres, South Center district, will be pleased to know that he returned from Presbyterian Hospital in New York City last week. Having undergone medical treatments there a number of times this year, “Nick” plans to return at an early date for further treatment.

* * * * *

Fire of undetermined origin burned the interior of a sedan on Tuesday which was parked at the rear of the Newtown Farm Supply Company building. The car is owned by Jesse Bailey of Dayton street, Sandy Hook. Chief Engineer Basil Bartram responded to the still alarm with two pieces of Newtown Fire Company apparatus.

* * * * *

Mr and Mrs Claude H. Lewis were guests of honor at a dinner party held at the Pines Inn, Saturday evening, July 3rd. The dinner, given by their children, was in celebration of Mr and Mrs Lewis’ 25th wedding anniversary. In attendance, besides Mr and Mrs Lewis, were Mr and Mrs William Lewis, Mrs Martha Lewis, Kenneth Canfield and his mother, Mrs Ethel Bolmer, Miss Jeanette Lewis, Miss Marion Lewis and Charles Lewis.

July 13, 1923

The Lake Zoar Motor Boat races were held, Sunday afternoon, at 2 o’clock, the races starting at Bennett’s Bridge and ending at the same place, after a sail up the lake, when they circled a signal opposite Robert Mitchell’s place, for their return, Robert N. Lattin of this place winning first with his 20 foot boat powered with a light Twin Elto Outboard motor. The second place was won by F. Layno with his 15 foot boat, also powered with a Light Twin Elto motor. The race was carried at 10 miles per hour, Mr Lattin winning by one minute and 45 seconds over the second crossing the line. Boats in this race were powered with the Elto Light Twin Outboard Motor, the Everide, and a French Twin Motor. Races will be held next Sunday at 2 o’clock at Bennett’s Bridge.

* * * * *

The wedding of Miss Genevieve Andrews, daughter of Mrs Birdsey Dean of Berkshire, and Claude Lewis, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J.C. Lewis of this place, occurred Tuesday evening, July 3, Rev Herbert Brown of Bridgeport performing the ceremony. Mr and Mrs Lewis will make their home at Astoria, L.I.

* * * * *

THE HOTELS — ARRIVALS AT THE PARKER HOUSE: Bishop and Mrs F.F. Johnson, St Louis. Mo.; W.F. Soule, Bridgeport; George Roberts, Bridgeport; Mr and Mrs Herman Oppe, Greenwich; Mr and Mrs F.H. Standt, Aurora, Ill.; Nance Standt, Aurora, Ill.; A.J. Standt, Philadelphia, Pa.; J.B. Simpson and family, Newark, N.J.; J. Spencer Voorhees, Pomfret; Dr George I. Finlay, New York; G.S. Scott, Mystic; G.O. Lines, Bridgeport; Mrs Belle B. Leonard and family, Brooklyn, N.Y.; W.J. Atchison, Sherman; Miss Margaret Atchison, Sherman.

* * * * *

David H. Mackenzie, Charles Bitzer and Robert D. Goddard of Bridgeport have negotiated with Mrs F.H. Mitchell for 46 acres of land on Lake Zoar and six acres from the Connecticut Light & Power Co., which they will develop into building lots. The plan is to have about 30 men interested in fishing, erect nice bungalows for their summer homes. This land is situated about a half mile north of the Housatonic bridge at Sandy Hook.

* * * * *

Among the recent July marriages, which took place at St Rose’s church, was that of Miss Mary Gabor and Martin Shannon. The ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon, Rev Father Regan officiating.

* * * * *

Allison P. Smith was in Middletown, Wednesday, attending the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State Hospital. Willis Arndt and Miss Ella Fairchild of Taunton accompanied him on the trip. Mr Arndt and Miss Fairchild were entertained at dinner by Dr Waterman, the assistant superintendent. Joseph Porter of Portland was elected chairman of the board and W.W. Wilcox secretary. All the members of the Board were present at the meeting with the exception of T. McDonough Russell of Middletown, who was appointed to the Board to succeed his father, Samuel Russell.

July 22, 1898

Work for the Allen laundry should be left at Sandy Hook on Monday instead of Tuesday, as heretofore.

* * * * *

E.C. Platt, the Hawleyville hustler, has had remarkable success with his McCormick machinery, this season. He has sold 200 machines and was 50 machines short of filling his orders.

* * * * *

O.E. Morgan is putting in a new counter-shaft to connect with the grater for the cider mill. Everything will be completed in a week, and he will then be ready to hustle business.

* * * * *

Henry Johnson has been quite seriously ill for 10 days with inflammatory rheumatism.

* * * * *

Miss Mary Falls of Dodgingtown has been a recent guest of her sister, Miss Della Falls, in Danbury.

* * * * *

Mrs Harry Platt of Huntingtown, who has been for a year in Woodbridge, has returned and is now with Mrs Thomas Perkins.

* * * * *

H.A. Pratt reports business booming at his shop in Hattertown. Close attention to business and good work are the factors in the problem.

* * * * *

P.W. Bates of Norwalk erected, last week, in the Newtown cemetery a fine Quincy granite monument over the grave of Mrs Jane Eliza Briscoe. He is also to place a fine monument in the Berkshire cemetery, this week, to the memory of Mr and Mrs George Katzenmeyer. In the High Ridge cemetery they have placed a monument of Barre granite for Curtis Morgan and wife, one in a private cemetery in Redding for the late James Sanford and one in the Five Mile River cemetery at New Canaan for Andrew J. Raymond. In the Norwalk cemetery he has just placed a Quincy granite monument, 12 feet high, surmounted by a cross, for Mr and Mrs Thomas Madden.

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 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.