August 12, 1994

Town workers this week began the restoration of the historic Dayton Street Bridge, a project funded largely by federal funds and viewed as part of the revitalization of Sandy Hook Center. A crew from the Department of Public Works ripped up the rotting wooden deck of pressure-treated wood on the wrought iron framework of the 104-year-old bridge. Once decking is completed, handrails will be installed, and structural members will be renovated. “We hope to get the project done by the end of next week,” said Department of Public Works Director Fred Hurley. “School is starting soon, and the bridge is used by students from Dayton Street to get to the bus stop on the other side of the river.” The project involves a $64,000 Intermodal Surface Transportation Enhancement Act (ISTEA) grant from the US Department of Transportation and about $26,000 contributed by the town, mostly in the form of labor. Total value of the project is $80,000. The Victorian style truss bridge is considered to be among the best examples of such structures remaining in the state. It has been closed to vehicular traffic for the past 30 years but formerly was used to connect Glen Road to Dayton Street. The single-lane Platt through-truss design was built in 1890 by the bridge engineering firm of Dean and Westbrook of New York City. In April 1993, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved proposals to improve the bridge to enhance and preserve a scenic and historic resource, stimulate efforts to create an extended network of pedestrian and bicycle pathways, link local transportation and recreation elements and stimulate the Sandy Hook economy.

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What do you do when you have a spare $1 million you thought owed somebody but suddenly you don’t? It’s a peculiar situation that Newtown now faces since Danbury’s Common Council shot down an interlocal sewer deal that would have required Newtown to make the million-plus payment. Now, the Legislative Council has to come up with a recommendation to the town meeting on what to do with the money. With this much money in hand with no purpose in mind for it, the temptations are great. There should be only one criterion for determining how to use the $1.16 million: the use should reduce the town’s tax burden. There should be a direct benefit to the taxpayers who came up with the money in the first place. One suggestion that has been making the rounds — paying off a $1 million road reconstruction debt — would satisfy this criterion by eliminating future interest payments and lowering tax bills. However, merely coming up with a substitute project would not. The money came from the taxpayers; its final disposition should send money back to them.

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Build a Better Birdhouse and you may walk away singing like a canary. The Book Review in Sand Hill Plaza is offering gift certificates to 12 birdhouse contest winners and will display the entries at the store. The contest, expanded to August 20, invites the public to design and create interesting folk art birdhouses. Folk art is described as “primitive, rustic, and unschooled in thought or measure. Entries should be constructed so they can be hung for display and should be no larger than three by two by two feet. There is no restriction on materials used. Birdhouses will be judged on creativity and adherence to the folk-art theme. In order to promote fair competition, the Book Review offers separate categories for those ten and under, for those 11-18, and 18 and older. Finished products will be judged by a panel of woodworking experts and the award winners will be on display in the store’s new café.

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Police said that while investigating a complaint concerning a possible prowler at about 3:30 am on August 7 at Taunton Lane, they found a Shimano mountain bike on the shoulder of the road. No one was found at the scene, police said. The bicycle is being stored at the police station for safekeeping.

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Massachusetts police August 9 apprehended two prisoners, one of whom is a Newtowner, who escaped on the night of August 7 from Cybulski Correctional Institution in Somers. Massachusetts police apprehended the two men in the rural town of Monterey which lies between Otis and Great Barrington. Before their escape, prisoners Joseph Hallas, 26, of Newtown, and Jasper Elder, 28, of Farmington, were last seen at about 8:15 pm in the rear recreation yard of Cybulski. They were discovered to be missing 20 minutes later. Mr Hallas was serving a four-term sentence for a charge of third-degree larceny.

August 1, 1969

An explosion in the basement of the refreshment stand at Dickinson Memorial Town Park at 2:55 Monday morning blew out the front of the stand and scrambled its contents. The frame was set slightly askew on its foundation. According to William A. Honan, Park and Recreation Commission Chairman, the blast is believed to have been caused by fumes from a drum of gasoline stored in the basement. A spark, possibly from a sump pump used to keep the basement dry, set off the explosion. An investigation is continuing under the direction of Sgt James Costello, Newtown’s resident state trooper. Park Superintendent Arthur Bennett was called in to survey the damage and arrange transfer of the kitchen equipment, which escaped damage. Estimated damage is about $2,000. The building is covered by insurance.

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QUOTE FROM THE BEE: “Big City Beat,” a column by James Davis in the Daily News for Monday, July 28, quotes The Bee as follows. “A still-timely quote from an old issue of the Newtown Bee (Conn.): ‘Though the government (city, state, and federal) may be incredibly efficient when it comes to collecting tax money, that same efficiency disappears when the money is spent.’ You can say that again Bee.” A number of the Newtown Daily News readers have told us and we thank them—along with the Daily News.

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On Saturday, July 26, the Newtown High School graduating class of 1919 held its 50th reunion at the home of Mr and Mrs Paul Smith on Currituck Road. It was the first reunion of the class since its 14 members graduated 50 years ago. Five members of the class have passed away in the half century, but eight of the remaining nine found it possible to come together and relive old times when Newtown High School was a fraction of its current size yet quite as satisfying a place for learning. A social hour was enjoyed around the swimming pool and then a dinner when the conversation became quite nostalgic when one person after another recalled such bits of history such as the senior play, travel to school on foot or with horse and wagon, and the Sandy Hook Band, in which at least one member of the class played. Not forgotten were some of the teachers — particularly the late Leonard Johnson who was principal when the class first entered high school as freshmen.

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Fire caused considerable damage Sunday evening, July 26, in the attic of a residence on Cedar Hill Road. Rented and occupied by Mrs Dorothy Cogswell, the house at 83 Cedar Hill Road is owned by Mrs Elena DeLoache of New Haven. The fire was reported at 9:15 pm. Hook & Ladder Company under Chief Ken Pelletier was assisted by Third Assistant Chief Albert Boyson. When firemen arrived, the entire attic section of the structure was in flames. They were able to confine the fire to the attic. The complete overhaul of the structure took about two hours. Salvage covers were used to protect furnishings on the first floor from water. Four firemen were affected by smoke and required oxygen. An investigation as to the cause of the fire is being conducted by Fire Marshal James Cavanaugh.

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The Zoning Board of Appeals has approved two requests from the state which were heard at the board’s meeting in July 2. Both involve the state’s plans for realignment of roads in Sandy Hook in preparation for Route 25 and the two new lanes of I-84. With unanimous approval, the presently non-conforming front yard set back will be increased on property owned by the estate of Jerusha Tilson on Route 34. The rear-yard set-back on property owned by Alfred Penovi et al on Route 34 will become non-conforming. The Board found that granting the requests would inflict no hardship on the property owners, nor affect property values in the area.

August 4, 1944

The editor of The Bee is indebted to Serg. “Frankie” Hubbell for a copy of the June 18 British edition of “Yank.” It provides some interesting reading. Anyone wishing to see it is welcome to do so at The Bee office.

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Rev and Mrs Mutton have left on their vacation, to be gone for the month of August. The first two weeks will be spent at the Appalachian Mountain Club Camp, Three Mile Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, Lakeport, N.H.

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We wish to take this opportunity to thank the Newtown Fire Department members for the generous assistance rendered us during the fire that destroyed our home on Sunday night. — Mr and Mrs J. Gordon Blake, Sandy Hook.

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Just as a man with large feet necessarily does not walk faster than a person with small feet, people with large eyes do not see any better than a person with small eyes, says the Better Vision Institute.

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Mr and Mrs Irvin C. Stickles, Jr., have moved from the house of South Main Street, owned by Mr and Mrs John Waddington, to the home of Louis Lovell, Jr,. on Queen Street.

August 1, 1919

Mrs Luther B. White, while fishing with some friends near the Housatonic River, discovered a large rattlesnake. She called the men folks and they killed it. The snake was four-and-a-half feet long and possessed nine rattles. The snake was believed to be 13 years old.

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Thomas Keane, a well-known resident of Cold Spring district, was a victim of an auto accident which occurred in Bridgeport, somewhere around midnight, Saturday, when he received injuries which caused his death a few moments after he was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital. His brother John Keane, and two other Newtown men, Alfred Dubret, and James Crick, were in the car. The accident was caused by the bursting of a tire. The automobile overturned but righted itself and then plunged into a nearby pole, which again bowled the car over. The men were pinned under the car and when extricated it was found that Thomas Keane was seriously injured while his brother was cut and bruised about the head and face. The brothers were placed in an ambulance. Thomas Keane expired within five minutes. It was found that his skull had been fractured. Mr Crick suffered a broken nose. This is the second fatal accident for the Keane family in the past several weeks. Just nine weeks ago, another brother Edward Keane was killed in an auto accident in Waterbury. As the ambulance with the wounded men was on its way to the hospital, it was run into by an automobile and another bad accident was narrowly averted.

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The bridge over a brook near the Kelsec Brothers’ Farm is very much in need of repairs. Selectmen have been notified about the bridge some time ago. Better get busy Mr Selectmen, and on this bridge.

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The editor had the privilege of greet, Thursday, Albert M. Tibbetts of Melrose, Mass., who was the first principal of Newtown High School. He now travels for the John C. Winslon Co., school book publishers. He is Board of Aldermen President in Melrose.

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A post card from Robert D. Fairchild at Coblenz, Germany, to the editor says, “We expect to leave Wednesday, (July 15) for Brest and hope to get home in August.”

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.