July 29, 1988

The Heritage Preservation Trust of Newtown, Inc was formed July 27 in a historic action. In less than an hour, with about 30 persons present, incorporation papers and by-laws were ratified and an executive board of directors was elected. The trust was set up to assure the preservation of the 180-year-old meeting house at the head of Church Hill Road.

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State Attorney General Joseph Lieberman said this week he had filed a lawsuit against the Curtis Packaging Corporation on Route 34, in connection with the company’s alleged violations of laws in its disposal of hazardous wasted on its property. The company makes cardboard folding cartons. The hazardous waste involved was methyl ethyl ketone, a cleaning solvent. Donald Leavitt, president of Curtis Packaging, said July 27 he was shocked at the lawsuit because, he said, his company has been cooperating with DEP since the problems were found.

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A shortage of dispatchers has amplified the Newtown Police Department’s already existing problem of not having enough men to adequately patrol the town, creating a situation in which only two officers patrol the entire town on more than half of the shifts. Two of the department’s five dispatchers quit recently, leaving only three, and so with 21 eight-hour shifts per week, patrolmen who would otherwise be out on the road are often forced to “man the desk.”

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A break in the damp weather on Monday provided just enough time for Joseph Gargano and his crew to put a fresh coat of paint on Lovell’s Garage. The building, owned by The Bee Publishing Company, will eventually be torn down to make room for a proposed complex which will include two buildings, one on the site of the garage and the other in back for the actual printing of the firm’s three newspapers.

August 2, 1963

One feature of this year’s Newtown Progress Festival will appeal particularly to the girls of the town — and to everyone else who admires feminine beauty. It is the Beauty Pageant, which will be conducted by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The contest is open to single girls, residents of the town of Newtown, who have graduated or will graduate from high school by June 1964. The contestants will be judged in three classifications — attired in cocktail dress and swim suit and according to talent.

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The combined fire companies of Sandy Hook and the Hook and Ladder Company will conduct a fire drill on Sunday morning at 10 am, when they burn a house and barn on the site of the new Cloverleaf Shopping Center, Church Hill Road. The firemen will simulate an actual fire, by setting the fire in the attic of the house, and they will then ladder and vent the attic, as if it were a regular fire.

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Bulldozers were in progress on the Vitramon property on Route 25, north of Dead Man Curve, leveling off the area and making it more presentable in appearance. When this piece of property was rezoned by the town for Vitramon, Inc, for industrial use, Barton Weller, president of Vitramon, stated that this landscaping work would be done. A more even grade is being created, so that the area can be seeded to hold the soil from washing and cover the barren spots with vegetation.

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The Platt Lumber Yard Dodgers, as a result of winning two straight games, captured the Newtown Little League Championship for the 1963 season. At an awards picnic last Saturday, the large team trophy was presented to the Dodgers and individual trophies were awarded to each member of the winning team.

July 29, 1938

In an effort to maintain the best possible service in delivering rural mails, thus facilitating the work for the carrier and avoiding any interruption in the delivery of your mails, Postmasters P.H. McCarthy of Newtown, and Arthur Carmody of Sandy Hook are urging that all owners of rural mail boxes cooperate in “Clean Up Rural Box Week.” Unserviceable and unsightly rural mail boxes both retard the delivery of mail and detract from the natural scenic beauty of the highway.

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Into the office of The Bee hurried a fellow resident, intent to ask of this paper medium for expression of his question as to why the American flag does not fly daily at the top of our familiar flag pole. Without a flag, our pole seems to him no ornament at all, and might better not stand in the middle of our street. We reminded our friend that it is a rare occasion when the flag is flown from many poles. We also suggested it would cost a little hire for someone to raise and lower the flag each day. But surely money is often spent in much more foolish ways, than to display our patriotism. Yes, we finally agreed, Newtown’s flag pole deserves an American flag floating from its top each day.

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Most people, in complaining of the prevailing spell of bad weather, remark that they never saw so much rain. To J.H. Nettleton of New Milford, The Bee is indebted for a few facts and figures. In New Milford, during July, Mr Nettleton reports the rainfall has been 9.13 inches, which is almost 248,000 gallons (1000 tons). In the seven days ending Sunday, July 24, the rainfall was 7.60 inches. No wonder the weather has had us all feeling a bit depressed!

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The Building Commission of the Borough of Newtown met last Friday evening in regard to the operation of Robin Hood Dell golf driving range operating on the Wheeler lot opposite Hawley School. Motion was carried that the secretary seek from the Borough Warden a legal opinion as to procedure to take in this case and whether the building commission was responsible for the policing in this matter. At Tuesday evening’s meeting, the Building Commission discussed the matter further. The Building Commission decided that although the Zoning Board did give permission to Robin Hood Dell to proceed, they did not have the power to grant the request without consent first from the Building Commission. A factor in the situation against Robin Hood Dell is the petition recently circulated and signed with 123 names, asking removal of the establishment. The Zoning Board withdrew their permit, but the establishment has not yet been closed.

 

August 1, 1913

On Wednesday afternoon, the editor enjoyed a visit to the orchards of Newtown’s peach king, Newton M. Curtis, on Curtis hill, a mile east of Sandy Hook village. Mr Curtis has now about 45 acres devoted to peaches, and a rough estimate, barring accidents or a hurricane, would place his crop for this year at 10,000 baskets. He picked his first peaches, four baskets of an early variety, on Wednesday, and they were eagerly sought after by many buyers.

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J. Edmond Skiff, assisted by Misses Maline Banko, Frances Sonin and Marguerite Wildman, L. McCoy and Master Clarence Skiff, gave a most interesting and delightful concert at the Town hall, Newtown, Thursday evening, July 29. It was a shame that the people of Newtown did not give better support to a concert of such high order. Dancing followed until a late hour, music being furnished by Woodhull’s orchestra.

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William C. Knapp, proprietor of Sunshine cottage, has made decided improvements at his hotel in Hawleyville, which makes it an attractive place for tourists and those seeking comfort and rest. His place has been completely renovated and a fine porch on front and swings and easy chairs about the grounds have been added.

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Miss Jennie Susman, little daughter of Louis Susman, was badly burned, Wednesday evening, by having a cup of hot coffee spilled over her body. Dr Frank J. Gale was called and attended to her injuries.