August 17, 2001

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Alice Mascher

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The Heise-Dresser facility on South Main Street is up for sale and the company has plans to relocate to Shelton. The asking price for the 38,000-square-foot facility is $2.1 million. Rumors that the Newtown company was on its way out first surfaced more than a year ago. This week, they were finally confirmed. A “for sale” sign in front of the building let it be known to all: Heise Dresser is on its way out. “We are consolidating three plants in Connecticut of which we’re one of. We are going to be moving to Shelton,” explained plant manager Phil Reed Tuesday.

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The old Texaco gas station on Church Hill Road — often called Newtown’s worst eye-sore — may finally be coming down. That's the word coming out of the office of First Selectman Herb Rosenthal this week, where the final papers were signed. According to Mr Rosenthal, property owner Ernie Wiehl has agreed to allow DGR Contracting & Demolition of Newtown to demolish the old gas station. The town would be responsible for removing the debris.

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The Legislative Council had its final say on charter revision Wednesday night, voting to reject many of the major changes being proposed. Topping the list was the Board of Finance idea, called the centerpiece of the Charter Revision Commission’s work, which was defeated 7-4.

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Junior Girl Scout Troop 820 members were excited to learn that fellow troop member Christine Beck’s patch design for the battleship Massachusetts was selected from the Premium Patch Contest. Over 100 applicants designed patches for the Premium Patch Contest that was held from December 2000 to January 2001 at the Battleship Massachusetts in Fall River, Mass.

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Newtown Junior Woman’s Club (NJWC) will be selling hardy fall mums in assorted colors in 8½-inch terra cotta plastic pots on Saturday, August 25, from 9 am to 2 pm, at Newtown Middle School. The sale will be on first-come, first-served; no pre-orders will be taken. The mums will cost $5 per pot. The mum sale will support such programs as the annual Backpack Program, Tag-a-Gift, and The Discovery Science Workshops.

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The Drama Queens, a Newtown-based summer theater camp, presented two performances of “Drama Queens Around the World” last week. Just over two dozen short skits were presented on the evening of Thursday, August 9, at Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room. An afternoon matinee then followed on Friday, August 10, at C.H. Booth Library. Camp director Kathleen Green worked with the girls who participated in the two-week program this summer in creating a program that celebrated the music and dance of the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Israel, Asia, Arabia, Brazil and Puerto Rico.

August 13, 1976

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — IN HONOR OF BRUCE JENNER: The Olympics have come and gone as far as the newspapers are concerned, but people are still talking about the games, the medals and the record setting events ... Bruce Jenner, the winner of the Decathlon, is well-known to the people of Newtown as he graduated from school here and took part in the athletic programs, setting state records in fine fashion ... Last Sunday a group of Newtowners got together to discuss some sort of celebration to honor this Decathlon winner ... it was suggested that the high school football stadium be named for him, calling it Jenner Stadium ... We hope that plans to honor Bruce Jenner will materialize and that Newtown will show him the recognition that he so well deserves.

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Fortunately for Newtown and the surrounding area, the year's first major storm, hurricane Belle, blustered into southwestern Connecticut instead of bellowing in. As a result there was minor damage caused by the rain and wind with little inconvenience to most folk. And although residents of Newtown seemed to have prepared themselves for the worst by stocking up on extra water, non-perishable foods, candles, flashlight batteries and portable radios, they were not needed by most. Preparedness was the word for Belle, and maybe that's what made her lose her temper as she raged northward. Whatever it was, she had a change of heart and temperament somewhere between Long Island and here, and her aftermath had the appearance of what was left over from a bad rain storm instead of a hurricane.

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As of August 11 and until further notice, the Alpine Drive exit off of eastbound I-84 in Newtown will be closed to traffic on weekdays only between the hours of 8 am and 4:30 pm. Emergency vehicles will be able to use the exit at all times, however. The ramp closure is being made in connection with the State Transportation Department’s reconstruction of the I-84 bridge in Newtown and Southbury.

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Russell Williamson of Madison Drive jokes that he always wanted to be a “big wheel,” so now he rides one. Clad in authentic Nineteenth Century costume, knickers and cap, he proudly rides his 1882 high wheel bike as a member of The Wheelmen, a nationwide antique bike club. He rides in parades, attends national Wheelmen get-togethers and even puts on demonstrations for the residents of Buckingham Gardens. Almost 65 years old, Mr Williamson is as spry as a youngster in getting on and off the 50 inch diameter wheel.

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Miss Pamela Anne Munson and Thomas M. Dolan were married August 7 in Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown, with the Rev Stephen Gushee officiating. The bride is the daughter of Mr and Mrs George E. Munson of 16 Juniper Road, and the bridegroom the son of Mr and Mrs Arthur T. Dolan of Orange, Texas. Miss Susan A. Munson was maid of honor for her sister. The bridesmaids were the bridegroom's sister, Christina Dolan; Miss K. Lee Roberts and Miss Rosetta Pardon.

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Newtown had its third motorcycle fatality within a week when David Lenhard, 25, of Botsford Hill Road was killed on August 8 following an accident on Route 25 at 1:55 am. Two young Newtown men, Johnathon Weed and Matthew Cabral, died as the result of a cycle and car crash in Sandy Hook on July 31.

August 10, 1951

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THANK YOU, MR EDGERTON: The generosity of Bryan Edgerton to the town of Newtown has been shown on two recent occasions — first in untangling the ropes of the flagpole following last November's storm and, within the last two weeks, giving the pole a complete dress of new paint. A crane, other special equipment and trained personnel from the firm of Edgerton and Sons in Bridgeport were needed, and yet Mr Edgerton made no charge to the town in either case. … The Bee would like … to add its own expression of gratitude to Mr Edgerton, with the observation that he has set a fine example of public spirit and unselfish service for his fellow townsmen. … His genuine magnanimity should inspire more of us to do those things for our neighbors and for our town which can come only from a generous heart.

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Three players in the Sandy Hook Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps have recently won honors in competitions within and outside the state. At the 66th annual convention of the Connecticut Fifers and Drummers Association held August 4 in New Haven, Miss Ann Shaw, daughter of Mr and Mrs Irving F. Shaw, Glen Road, Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Drum Corps bugler, was again awarded the Junior State Championship and its accompanying trophy. She also won a first place medal in the competition held recently in Peekskill, N.Y. and last year took two first place medals in New York state. Also with the Sandy Hook players, Johnny Waddell, twirling major, won first place medal in the competition at Peekskill, where Miss Mildred Fagan took a second place medal as fifer.

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With some 30 persons present, the special town meeting held in Edmond Town Hall last Friday night accepted as public highways two pieces of road now privately owned and lying south of the borough and contiguous to Main Street. The Board of Selectmen had previously certified that in grade, layout, location, width and improvements the two strips of land complied in all respects with the town's ordinance enacted at the special town meeting of February 2, 1951.

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Andrew J. Hunihan, Sr. of Cedarhurst Road, Grays Plain District, announces the engagement of his daughter, Jean Frances, to Frederick Hamilton, son of Mrs Maude Hamilton, of Taunton District. The wedding will take place September 8.

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The Zoning Board of Appeals of the Borough of Newtown reserved decision, following its public hearing held at the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday evening at 7 o’clock, on the application of George M. Stuart, president of the George M. Stuart, Inc., Insurance Agency. In his petition, Mr Stuart requested permission to use the building known as the Brick Building, located on the east side of Main Street opposite the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, for the purpose of conducting his insurance business there. The building, which at one time held the town offices, is in a residential zone, requiring nonconforming use for Mr Stuart’s office purposes.

August 13, 1926

The annual carnival of the Dodgingtown Fire Co., closed on Monday evening, with excellent crowds each evening. The carnival was a financial success in every way. One of the features of the carnival this year was Madam De Cody, who told fortunes each evening. The Gillette-Tucker Co. of Easton had on display a Fairbanks-Morse lighting outfit, which furnished electric light for the carnival each evening.

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A very enjoyable Farm Bureau meeting was held at Mrs F. W. Platt’s, Wednesday, August 11. Vegetable canning in glass was demonstrated by Miss Clark and Mrs McFarland demonstrated in tin. Six quarts of vegetables were canned including beets, cauliflower, squash and carrots. By means of an oil stove a good share of the demonstration was carried out on the lawn, where a delicious lunch was also served at noon. Twenty-four people were present.

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Kline and Hall, the well known carpenters of Stepney have started to build a bungalow for William Norman, who recently lost his house by fire.

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The Mead place in Taunton was sold at auction, Wednesday, Fred Luf buying it for Jack Bell of Long Island. It was knocked down at $2800.

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F.L. Wright of Philadelphia is the guest of his parents, Mr and Mrs Frank Wright, for a few days. He will leave, with his wife and daughter, for home on Saturday.

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Mr and Mrs Arthur Beard passed Saturday in Waterbury.

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Miss Caroline George of Yonkers, N.Y., is the guest of her sister, Mrs Bertha Curtis.

August 16, 1901

The people of Trinity and St John’s were especially favored in having with them on Sunday, Rev Arthur S. Lloyd, D.D., general secretary of the Board of Missions. He preached at Trinity church in the morning and at St John’s church in the afternoon at 4, and also assisted Rev Mr Linsley in the evening service at Trinity.

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Thomas Donovan of Lake George district is in the Danbury hospital with a part of his left foot gone, and in danger of losing a part of his left leg. … Mr Donovan was injured by a freight train about 10.35 Saturday night. He was about the Hawleyville station earlier in the night and probably dropped asleep while sitting on the edge of the platform and rolled off into the narrow space between the platform and the rail. It was fortunate for him that he did not fall in a different position, for, as it was nothing but his left foot and leg projected over the track. Mr Donovan is a large man and was wedged between the platform and the rail and how he escaped death is a mystery.

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Postmaster G.F. Duncombe of Newtown and John Benedict of Stepney Depot left on Saturday last for a week’s sojourn at the Pan-American exposition.

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Sarah L. Sears of Newtown and Bruce N. Griffin of Huntington have filed an appeal from the probate of the will of the late George N. Griffin of Newtown, their brother. Papers in the action were returned to the Superior court and the case will be heard at the September term. The appellees are a sister and brother, and the only heirs-at-law of the deceased living. They claim that the will, which gives a large portion of the estate of the testator to numerous individuals, is not equitable or just. … The estate is valued at upward of $50,000 and the heirs-at-law affirm that the terms of the will are unjust to them and appeal from its being held valid by the court. A number of the beneficiaries are in no wise related to the testator.

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 readers of The Newtown Bee. 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.