August 19, 1994

Between midnight and 6 am on Thursday, 1¾ inches of rain fell on the area, according to the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University. The run-off quickly pushed the brook in Ram Pasture over its banks and into the low-lying areas north of Hawley Pond. The sun later emerged and the water levels in the swollen brooks and streams throughout town began to recede.

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When the first of Newtown’s annual Labor Day Parades was held in 1962, Caroline and Bob Stokes worked on the Newtown Garden Club’s float. And for many years their Church Hill Road home was the staging area for the floats of clubs such as Rotary, Girl Scouts, American Field Service, and the ski club. “Our back lawn was filled with floats and kids,” recalled Caroline. This active couple finally managed to reclaim their beautiful yard when they stopped constructing floats there, but they have made it a point to never miss a parade. Besides, Bob is usually at the parade selling hot dogs for the Rotary; and both he and Caroline will be in town after the parade helping out at the Cyrenius Booth Library’s annual book sale. This year, Bob will have to leave the selling of hot dogs to his fellow Rotarians. And Caroline will give up her usual vantage point on Main Street. They’ve been chosen as the grand marshals. Mr and Mrs Stokes were selected for their volunteer work in town, including behind-the-scenes efforts at the library and through organizations such as Rotary, the Newtown Historical Society, and local garden clubs.

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A controversial traffic safety concept had another go-round August 15 when the selectmen met to consider yet another study of installing traffic signals at the Main Street flagpole — and then thought better of it. Members of the selectmen’s public safety committee recently asked the selectmen to consider installing signals at the flagpole. The towering flagpole is a historic structure which also serves as a traffic rotary post in an area where motorists have a difficulty making turns due oncoming traffic. The four-way intersection is posted with stop signs. The flagpole is posted with “Keep Right,” signs to direct the flow of traffic. “This matter has been studied 101 times,” said First Selectman Robert Cascella. He asked selectmen Gary Fetzer and James Smith if they again wished to consider the wisdom of installing traffic signals at the flagpole. Mr Smith noted that the intersection was a bottleneck, but stop signs are posted there to regulate traffic. Mr Fetzer said he opposes traffic signals in the historic area. The bypass road planned for the Fairfield Hills Hospital should ease some congestion, he said.

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The Legislative Council has approved an ordinance establishing the position of town historian. Under the ordinance, the first selectman will appoint the historian, subject to confirmation by the Board of Selectmen. The historian won’t be paid. Duties will include research, keeping a reference library, advising the town government on historical issues, promoting awareness of Newtown history, and serving as a liaison to organizations such as the library and local historical society.

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The Shady Rest beach was humming last Saturday when association members and community residents joined together for food and fun at their annual fundraising picnic. Ed Dick, “Mayor” of Shady Rest and former association president, measured out lengths of raffle tickets. Friends of the association donated prizes for the raffle.

August 8, 1969

Mr and Mrs Alfred Karcheski have returned to their South Main Street home following their vacation, “the best trip we ever had.” They attended their son’s wedding in Pennsylvania, caught up with their daughter and her baby in Maryland, and traveled through Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi to New Orleans where they “did” the town, including, Mrs Karcheski said with a chuckle, “a tour of the night spots!”

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The problems of Newtown’s Little League were brought to the attention of two official groups. E.F. Dudeck, league president, attended last Friday’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and also the selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday evening, August 5. Mr Dudeck is concerned at the possible loss of the Little League Field at the Italian Community Center on Route 34 in Sandy Hook. The property is up for sale and at present the town has no other facilities for the children. Planning and Zoning Chairman Arthur Spector was also at the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday. He joined Mr Dudeck in urging that good playing fields somehow be provided. It was agreed that town funds should not be used for Little League unless other groups such as the Scouts were also aided, so contributions of money as well as work would be needed. Mr Spector said that three fields could easily be used, one as a “pee wee” field. Every year a number of boys have to be turned away because facilities are inadequate. At the selectmen’s meeting he reported that this year 350 applied for Little League. Mr Spector had looked at a piece of property in Sandy Hook which is owned by the state and could be rented for $1 a year. This is the property located by Thomas Watkins as a replacement for acreage on Route 34 which the town had sought to buy for recreation as well as for a landfill. The Watkins company bought that property. Mr Watkins would donate equipment to put the land in shape for a playing field.

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Dr Stanley Saperstein, internist and a member of the Danbury Hospital Medical Staff, will be heard on WALD on the “You and Your Health” series. He will speak on hypertension at 6:15 pm on Thursday, August 14.

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FORGETTING SEAT BELT LIKE RUSSIAN ROULETTE: Hundreds of thousands of Connecticut citizens are playing a comparatively new and tragic safety game — a game as deadly and stupid as Russian Roulette. It is ‘You Bet Your Life Against Wearing Safety Belts,” states John F. Murphy, Connecticut Safety Commission chairman. The idea of the game is to think up as many unreliable and unrealistic excuses as possible for not wearing safety belts. Of course, in this tragic game, if you lose, you’re dead!

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US and Canadian Air Force planes will take part in a joint training exercise the evening of Tuesday, August 12, covering an area from Maine to Florida and as far west as Wisconsin. Several B-58 “Hustler” bombers will fly supersonic missions over areas including Connecticut, and residents may hear sonic booms. Missilemen on the ground will take part but no missiles will be fired. The exercise will not last more than one hour over any particular area.

August 11, 1944

Despite last Friday’s evening’s extreme heat, one hundred and forty persons attended the square dance for the benefit of Newtown’s Belgian boys and gave every evidence of complete enjoyment. The committee was very much gratified by this unexpectedly large turnout. They wish to emphasize again that only every other dance is a square dance, and those who prefer ballroom dancing will find plenty of opportunity to do so with an excellent orchestra. An even larger attendance is expected Friday, August 11.

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Washington women, who for years have been meeting weekly to sew for the benefit of little children living in bomb-battered Britain, were distressed to learn recently that robot bombs had struck and burned a warehouse full of much needed supplies. Almost miraculously a vast majority of the little garments sent over, have been protected from submarine attack on the voyage over, and from bombing in Britain, but now this warehouse has been destroyed, and with it, countless garments. Of course, one warehouse among some eight hundred thousand buildings damaged or destroyed, may not seem very much, in a matter of figures. But the contents of that one warehouse destroyed, may easily mean the difference between garments to distribute to a lot of youngsters, and a lot of youngsters going without needed clothing.

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On Monday a group of Newtown Girl Scouts spent the day as guests of Mrs Paul S. Smith and Girl Scout Mary Starr Smith at their Candlewood Knolls cottage on Lake Candlewood. Two swims, a ball game, and a picnic made up the day’s program. Nineteen Scouts enjoyed the trip, accompanied by Mrs Henry Taylor, Mrs Paul Weeks, and Mrs Wilbur Briscoe of the troop committee, as well as Mrs Walter Glover and Mrs Marie Leonard, who helped provide transportation. “Hank” Taylor, Scudder and Teddy Smith also enjoyed the fun.

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It is earnestly desired that every boy and girl in the town, regardless of age, avail themselves of the opportunity offered by the Newtown branch of the Red Cross to learn to swim and perfect themselves in the art of life saving. These instructions are being carried on by Mrs Stella Albanese of Bridgeport, who has proved herself to be most competent and has worked with the youngsters for the past week. These instructions are absolutely free and will be carried on during the remainder of August and any parent desiring to enter their boy or girl mat do so. Morning classes are at Curtis Pond, Berkshire, 9 am. Tuesday classes, Camp Fredericka House, Sandy Hook, 9:30 am to noon, life-saving; Wednesday, Johnstone Pond, Currituck Road, 9:30 am to noon, life-saving; Thursday, Camp Fredericka House, 9:30 am to noon, life-saving; Friday, Johnstone Pond, 9:30 to noon.

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Mrs Edward Pitzschler was called to Miami, Florida on July 24th, due to the serious illness of her brother. She is the guest of her brother and sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs John Donahue at their home in Miami.

August 8, 1919

B.M. Mitchell of Warren, Mass. was brought before Justice F.H. McCarthy this week on the charge of running an auto without lights. The case was nollied on the payment of costs amounting to $7.91. The arrest was made by Constable Thomas Carlson. Mitchell, it appears, is a son of the late Lawrence Mitchell of Newtown and was on a visit to friends in Hawleyville at the time of his arrest.

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Joseph Kaniry, while at work at the Harris Wire Mill, had a finger quite badly cut, Tuesday. Dr W.H. Kiernan dressed the wound.

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The second town meeting is warned for the same day to act upon the petition for citizens for building a state aid road from Stevenson to Berkshire. The second meeting is called for the same day, the 16th, at 2:30 o’clock.

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N.L. Richards, the ice man, wishes to inform the public, that the reason he was unable to deliver ice one afternoon last week, was owing to the fact the scales that he thought were his, were taken by W.C. Johnson, who said he was the man who owned them. Mr Richards has now purchased a new pair of scales.

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Bump, bump, bump, in my poor, patient motor car! No phrases of mine could do justice to our regional roads as they are. Oh well for the highway boys, that they look on their jobs as play. Oh well for the functionaries, who sing as they draw their pay. And the tortured cars go on to some shop to be overhauled; but O the Commissioner’s ears must burn with the flattering things he’s called! Bump, bump, bump, O’er the face of thy crags, O Land! But why our roads should be left like this is a puzzle to understand.

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.