August 24, 2001

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Robert M. Gilchrest.

* * * * *

It seems a trend has started for incoming freshman classes at Newtown High School. For the past two years, freshman classes have been the biggest classes at the school — ever! This year when school begins on Tuesday, August 28, nearly 400 freshmen will enter high school, almost 40 more students than entering freshman class last year.

* * * * *

You can find them in the Big Y shopping center, in front of the post office, or at the town’s transfer station. They show up at town meetings and parties holding clipboards and pens, and with a confidence that they are doing the right thing, approach Newtown residents for their signature. Who are these people? They are the members of the now-defunct Charter Revision Commission and they are on a mission to collect some 2,000 signatures by Sunday. If they do so, they will have successfully helped get their proposed changes to town government onto the November ballot.

* * * * *

Residents approved the sale of the town-owned Queen Street properties Monday night, paving the way for a public auction of the houses and land later this summer. The town purchased the homes from the state two years ago for $1.2 million following the closing of Fairfield Hills Hospital. The homes once housed Fairfield Hills staff members.

* * * * *

Labor Day Parade organizers are looking for a business, an organization, or an individual to sponsor the cost of bringing the largest American flag, a flag that measures 45 by 90 feet, weighs 300 pounds, and requires hundreds of people to fold it, to this year's parade. “The cost of bringing the flag to Newtown is $1,500 and we thought that it would be such an honor to sponsor the flag,” said Kym Stendahl, who with Lisa Franze chairs the Newtown Summer Festival committee, which organizes the parade.

* * * * *

She is bright, full of life like many 11-year-olds, but Kayleigh Metviner is not your average sixth grader. She spent three weeks this summer in a gifted and talented program where she was reading and discussing college literature. Kayleigh took part in the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth gifted program that was held at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., July 15 through August 3. She will be attending Newtown Middle School this year.

August 20, 1976

Newtown's new Charter Revision Commission met August 17 in Edmond Town Hall and received the charge of the Legislative Council to confront six problem areas of town government. Council chairman James Severnak conducted the meeting, until the six members present elected Richard Sturdevant temporary chairman and Mrs Barbara Phillips temporary secretary of the panel.

* * * * *

David Larson, chairman of the Park and Recreation Commission, in answer to several inquiries his commission has received about the low water level at the boat launch on Lake Lillinonah, has announced that the water level is expected to be up to normal level within a few days. The water level, Mr Larson says, had been lowered by CL&P prior to Hurricane Belle in order to avoid any beach damage.

* * * * *

To date, the Newtown Historical Society has provided markers for 42 of the old houses in Newtown. Owners of old houses who have not yet ordered markers, are urged to do so at once, so that the project can be completed by Labor Day. The markers cost $6 a piece and can be ordered by mail to the Newtown Historical Society, P.O. Box 189, or by phone to Paul S. Smith (426-2696) or Clifford Greene (426-6929).

* * * * *

It seems that nearly every week The Bee publishes the police reports, there is at least one burglary included in the news releases. Sometimes there are more, and because of this, and also curiosity expressed by a Bee reader, we decided to do some investigating to determine whether burglaries are on the increase in town. From information supplied by Det Sgt Michael DeJoseph and Chief Louis Marchese, it seems the question of whether burglaries have been on the upswing is debatable.

* * * * *

There was a flurry of voting during the early part of this week and some of the dogs who looked like shoe-in finalists slid in the rating, making way for new faces. At the final count on Wednesday, at one pm, seven kings and seven queens were selected in our secluded polling area and the run for the crowns is now narrowed down. Who will ride in the Labor Day Parade, reigning over dogdom in Newtown? That is still up to you, the voter, and the final deadline for selecting your favorite is noon on Wednesday, August 25.

August 17, 1951

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — GREAT INTEGRITY: Fifteen months ago the infirmities of advancing age forced the retirement from our midst of Arthur Treat Nettleton. His death, early Sunday morning at the Danbury Hospital, ended a trying period of hospitalization. It also brought to a close the career of an exceptional man, whom all had long ago come to revere as Newtown's first citizen.

* * * * *

Friends, business associates and many townspeople filled the Congregational Church on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock to pay their last respects to Arthur Treat Nettleton, whose death occurred at the Danbury Hospital early Sunday morning, where he had been a patient since May of 1950. The service was conducted by Dr Paul R. Lynn, Professor in Practical Theology at the Hartford Theological Seminary, who had served as ad interim minister of the Newtown Congregational Church during part of the war period when a close friendship developed with Mr Nettleton. The ceremony was a most fitting one for the occasion, Dr. Lynn paying a fine tribute to Mr Nettleton for his years of leadership, both in the town and in the church.

* * * * *

Sunday afternoon’s baseball game, played on the Woodbury diamond between Newtown and Woodbury, turned itself into a 18-inning marathon. At that point, further play was halted because of darkness, with the score standing at a 4-4 tie. Carl Drescher of Woodbury and Joe Cavanaugh of Newtown pitched the entire game, which was considerable of a strong-man performance because of the excessive heat. Nelson did the catching for Woodbury, with Kearns behind the plate for Newtown.

* * * * *

James Attenborough of Queen Street, Newtown, an employee of the Fairfield State Hospital since March 7, 1933, retired from his position at the hospital August 14 at the age of 70. Last Friday Mr Attenborough was presented with a purse by his fellow employees in recognition of his long and faithful service at the hospital. The presentation was made by Mrs Alice Russ Cochran, chairman of the Hospital Board of Trustees.

* * * * *

An excellent tryout for “Harvey,” Town Players’ next production, was held at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Smith, South Center District, on Sunday evening. No cast assignments have been announced, nor will they until after this coming Sunday’s final tryout and preliminary rehearsal scheduled for 7:30 p.m., again at the Smith home in South Center. Chris Sidenius is producer of the late September production and Zaner Faust directs.

August 20, 1926

The game with Redding, last Sunday, was indeed a thriller. The final outcome was in doubt at all times and both teams were out to win. The entire team was on its toes and played real baseball in the field. D. Griscom, with two weeks rest, came through with one of the best games of his youthful career. “Sparky” is going to get better and better, and he will pitch many a game of which he may well be proud before Father Time, the most heartless umpire of all, sends him back to the bench for good.

* * * * *

The annual meeting of Sandy Hook Free Public Library was held in the library rooms August 10. The following officers were elected: Chairman, John O. Pitzschler. Board of Directors: John O. Pitzschler, Mrs H.G. Warner, Miss Anna May Betts, Mrs Morris Beers.

* * * * *

Frank Wright, of The Bee staff, is enjoying a week’s vacation, taking short auto trips to different points.

* * * * *

Raymond L. Hall, lecturer of Pootatuck Grange, and Willis Arndt, overseer of Pootatuck Grange, have gone to Orono, Me., to attend the annual conference of the lecturers of the Granges of the New England states.

* * * * *

Henry S. Lang, night clerk at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park, New York City, is spending a month at his home, Walnut Tree Hill, making extensive improvements on the grounds and building.

* * * * *

Dea and Mrs Wilbur Olmstead of Bridgeport were guests, Sunday, of Mr and Mrs Edward Olmstead.

* * * * *

Mr and Mrs Fred W. Crouch and Mr and Mrs Burke of Stepney were callers at the Castle, last Thursday. Mr Crouch was testing out a Nash touring car, recently purchased from parties in Danbury.

August 23, 1901

Editor Reuben H. Smith, of the Thomaston Express, and Mrs Smith, passed Sunday in Newtown, guests of Mr and Mrs Robert D. Smith. Their home is on Plymouth Hill. An informal family gathering was held on Sunday evening at R.D. Smith’s in Dodgingtown, those present in addition to those already mentioned including Messrs H.M., A.P. and A.J. Smith and families, A.D. Fairchild and family of Newtown and W.D. Smith and family of Bon Air, Va.

* * * * *

Newtown people who dined at the popular Wallace house at Lake Quassapaug on Friday last included Newton Curtis, Miss Curtis and Mrs Curtis and Allison P. Smith. It is one of the pleasantest resorts hereabouts for a day’s outing.

* * * * *

A Bee representative was generously remembered with a plate of ice cream by Mrs William Parker when he called at her home one day last week.

* * * * *

Miss Anna Hamburger, of The Bee force of compositors, is passing a week’s vacation with her aunt, Mrs Charles Holmes, in Brooklyn.

* * * * *

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 1, 2 and 3, the annual fair and cattle show of the Newtown Agricultural society will be held on Ronald park. Most of our readers are already acquainted with this fact but we want to impress it on their minds so that nothing but an earthquake shock or tidal wave will cause them to forget it. The show this year will be a good one, worth the price of a ride to the park and the admission fee after one gets there.

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.