August 16, 1996

Newtown High School has been turned upside down this summer as work on this school’s multi-million-dollar project is well underway. Backhoes, excavators, bulldozers, steam rollers and dump trucks crowd the Berkshire Road property, as do towering mounds of dirt. Contrary to rumors making the rounds of the school community earlier this week, problems with asbestos removal inside the school will not delay the start of school, NHS Building and Grounds Supervisor Dom Posca said Thursday morning.

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A new neighborhood association has formed to deal with developmental issues stemming from continuing residential growth. The Taunton/Dodgingtown Neighborhood Association is composed of residents from those two sections of town. Joseph Kelly and George Gollenberg, both of Taunton Hill Road, organized a Monday night meeting at the Dodgingtown Firehouse, where the association was formed.

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The Newtown Neighborhoods Coalition, which wants to slow the residential growth rate, has submitted to the town a series of proposed new development regulations intended to strictly limit residential growth. In a letter to Stephen Adams, Planning and Zoning Commission chairman, the coalition’s regulations subcommittee states the growth rate has degraded and could destroy the social, economic, and environmental health and welfare of the town.

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Newtown Police Chief James Lysaght, Jr, has invited townspeople to stop by the Police Department on Main Street Saturday, August 17, from 9 am to 1 pm, to meet him and discuss any issues or concerns they have about public safety in Newtown. Chief Lysaght says he will be happy to show anyone who stops by around the police station and answer any questions they may have.

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Volunteers are still busy pricing and sorting the 100,000 books donated for the Booth Library’s Labor Day book sale. The sale will be held in Queen Street Shopping Plaza at the location of the former A&P, and also under four tents alongside the building. Anyone wishing to make donations can still do so; volunteers will be at Queen Street on Saturday, August 17, from 10 am to 2 pm.

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Newtown author Ray Sipherd is getting ready for the release next week of the first in his series of mysteries with the character Jonathan Wilder, whom the author says begins as “a pretty inept detective.” Mr Sipherd will be doing a pair of book signings next week, the first of which is at The Book Review in Newtown.

August 20, 1971

The trial on the temporary injunction sought by the town against the removal of sand and gravel by F. Francis D’Addario from property adjacent to the I-84 Route 25 interchange project as been scheduled to resume Tuesday, August 14. Last Friday, August 13, Judge William Tierney, who is hearing the case, viewed the property in question, and following a lengthy conference in his chambers Tuesday morning the trial was suspended and an apparent compromise developed which appeared acceptable to all parties.

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On his second evening in Newtown, Chief of Police Louis Marchese met with the Police Commission to go over department regulations after their review by Town Counsel Robert Hall. Sitting in on the meeting were Sgt David Lydem and Officer Fred Kasbarian. All members of the Police Commission were present, Chairman George McLachlan, who conducted the meeting, Robert Hayes, Alfred Karcheski, Timothy Loughlin and Walter McCarthy. Also attending were Herbert Rosenthal, Robert Connor Jr and John Kershaw.

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On Friday, August 13, all of the officers and sergeants on the Newtown Police Force joined the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and signed a temporary charter for membership in the union, which is affiliated with the National Association of Government Employees. Officer Frederick Kasbarian is president of the group, and Officer Richard Stook, vice president. A secretary and a treasurer are expected to be named shortly. The department’s chief, Louis D. Marchese, who took over as heard of the department on August 16, was told that joining the union in no way was a reflection on him and that the men would work for him as they did Sgt James Costello.

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With more units already signed up than last year, the Labor Day Parade is shaping up to be a good event. Ray Fulton and Tom Kennedy, co-chairmen of the event, are busy working on final entries. All organization have been contacted; however, anyone with questions or who wishes to make an entry may call either of the two co-chairman, both live on The Boulevard in Newtown. The parade will be on Monday, September 6, and will step off at 10:30 am.

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Mrs Charlotte Stephens, president of the Ladies Auxiliary to the United Fire Company of Botsford, was among those who honored Mrs Genevieve Lewis of Castle Meadow Road during a luncheon at The Hawley Manor Inn on August 16. Mrs Lewis has been a member of the Auxiliary for 15 years. A native of Newtown, she is moving to New Hampshire. During the event, with 23 members in attendance, Mrs Lewis was made a lifetime member of the Auxiliary.

August 16, 1946

A mock caucus was a feature of the second meeting in the course on Political Procedure, held in the Guild room of Trinity Church on Tuesday afternoon, August 6. Mrs Roger Howson made arrangements for the course. Mrs William C. Goodyear of Norwalk is the instructor. Mrs Milford Streeter, Jr, of Redding, chairman of the Danbury-Bethel League of Women Voters, acted as chairman of the mock caucus. Mrs Herbert Wilde acted as secretary of the caucus.

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Dr and Mrs Earl E. VanDerwerker of Hanover district have as their guests for the month of August their daughter, Mrs Leonard B. Burgess, and her daughter, Linda. Mrs Burgess will join her husband in Washington, D.C., around September 1. Dr Burgess is stationed in Washington with the Naval Medical Dispensary.

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A successful performance of “Fairfield Follies,” a combination minstrel and floor show, was presented at Bridgeport Hall at the Fairfield State Hospital on Tuesday evening. The student nurses affiliated with the hospital planned and presented the entertainment, ably assisted by several other departments, as well as the new Raymond L. Pease Post of the American Legion. A second performance of “Fairfield Follies” is being given this Thursday for the patients at the hospital.

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In response to the enthusiastic reception given Town Players last production of “Shadow and Substance” by Paul Vincent Carroll, the Board has decided to repeat the play on the Edmond Town Hall stage on Thursday evening, August 29th, with the original cast under the direction of Hazel V. Smith.

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John P. Boice of Bethel, Robert J. Shannon of Sandy Hook, and Edward R. Mosher, New Milford, all enlisted in the regular U.S. Navy during the week ended August 12, according to an announcement just received from the U.S. Navy recruiting station at New Haven.

August 19, 1921

DRIVE THROUGH THAT STONE WALL, DARN YE, IF YE CAN: In order that no more motorists may imitate Charles Botsford, who drove through the railing and down into the Pootatuck river, Road Supervisor W.C. Johnson is erecting a concrete wall, 18 feet long, to cover the danger spot at the sharp turn near the Sandy Hook bridge. If they succeed in driving through that big wall of cement they have to go some.

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C.E. Garlick, time keeper for the Hewlett Construction Co., was struck by an auto near the residence of G.B. Beers, Thursday morning. His collar bone was fractured and several ribs broken. Dr E. Kingman took Mr Garlick to the Danbury hospital. The auto which struck him was owned by a Bridgeport man, who appears to have been driving in a very fast manner.

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Cheese 29c, butter 47c, lard 17c, flour $1.39, granulated sugar 7½c, confectionary sugar 10c, bacon 31c, Oolong and Ceylon teas 45c, Ideal fruit jars in quart and pint sizes, at Davey’s. —Adv.

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MOVING PICTURES At The Town Hall, Newtown: “Broken Blossoms” proved a wonderful production, last Saturday night. The parts of Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess showed the most wonderful acting on their part. This week we have that wonderful star, Constance Talmadge, in “Sauce for the Goose.” The story has to do with the efforts of a young, pretty and neglected wife to win back her husband.

August 21, 1896

Jabez Mead, a former resident of Taunton district, died in Bridgeport on Friday, at the ripe age of 76 years. The funeral took place at the Bethel cemetery on Sunday, in charge of Union lodge, F. & A.M., of Danbury. Rev Mr Morrall of Bethel spoke briefly. Mr Mead is survived by a wife, two sons, Ferris Mead of Danbury, and Joseph Mead of Middletown, N.Y., and a daughter. One brother, Joseph Mead of Bethel, also survives.

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The Proctors are now in Norway, the land of the midnight sun.

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The Bee’s prediction that this entertainment, last Friday evening, at the Town hall, under the direction of Herbert Flansburgh, would be a pronounced success, was fulfilled to the letter. Indeed, a more satisfied and delighted audience has never before passed from this hall at the conclusion of an entertainment.

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Lemuel and Charles Glover tried their luck at fishing on Taunton lake, last Saturday, catching a handsome string, including a two pound bass.

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As a grand finalé in the series of highly successful popular excursions run by the N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R. Co. this season, the people of Danbury, New Milford, Brookfield Junction, Hawleyville and Newtown, will have offered to them on Saturday next, August 22nd, a trip to that matchless day resort, Glen Island, by special train to Bridgeport, and thence by Steamer John H. Starin, which has been specially chartered for this trip. The fare from New Milford or Danbury $1, Brookfield Junction or Hawleyville 90¢, and Newtown 75¢. The number of tickets will be strictly limited.

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.