August 24, 2001

Police on Wednesday, August 22, arrested a 16-year-old Sandy Hook youth on a felony charge of first-degree criminal mischief for allegedly turning on an emergency shower in Newtown High School on Friday, July 13, and causing extensive property damage. The running shower flooded the new wing of the high school with thousands of gallons of water, causing tens of thousands of dollars of property damage. … Police estimate damage to the school and its contents at $40,000 to $50,000.

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Newtown motorists may have wondered about the makeshift set of road markings in service for several weeks along the southbound lane of Main Street, just north of the flagpole. The yellow, spray-painted markings read “Danger — Left Turn,” with accompanying arrows. According to Newtown police, the organizers of a recent bicycling event which was held to raise money to fight AIDS spray-painted the markings on the road. On seeing the markings, bicyclists pulled to the side of the road and waited in a group for police to direct them to the left from southbound Main Street onto eastbound Church Hill Road. The heavily used intersection is the scene of many traffic accidents.

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Ten months ago, the Charter Revision Commission met for the first time in the basement of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. Most of the members did not know each other and there had been no discussion on what types of changes the group would propose ... The first question asked that day came from member George Caracciolo, who wanted to know if the commission was willing to take its recommendations all the way to the people, even if it meant going against the wishes of the Legislative Council.

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Peg Daley of Newtown, project director for the Housatonic Valley River Trail (HVRT) Project, recently received the Conservation Project of the Year Award from King’s Mark Chairman James Sipperly. King’s Mark is the US Department of Agriculture, Resource and Conservation Agency in Western Connecticut. Mrs Daley was presented with the award at the annual King’s Mark picnic awards ceremony in Litchfield.

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Employees of Georgia-Pacific in Newtown are planning a benefit concert and picnic on Sunday, September 9, at Dickinson Park for a co-worker who is battling cancer. Three years ago that co-worker, John McCourt, risked his life by stopping his truck and rushing into a burning building in Seymour to rescue an elderly couple. For his heroism, Mr McCourt received the Owen R. Cheatham Medal of Valor. The concert will include the Manny Pavone Band, which includes Mr Pavone on lead guitar, Richard Evon on rhythm guitar, Kenny Kavanaugh on drums, and Richie Truelove on bass.

August 27, 1976

The Lake Zoar Authority forwarded the following to: Mr R.A. Taylor, Chairman, National Parks and Recreational Subcommittee, 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. Dear Sir: The Lake Zoar Authority, whose members include the Towns of Oxford, Southbury, Monroe and Newtown, previously endorsed a study for inclusion of the Housatonic River in the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System.

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At the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, board members approved the Superintendent of School’s recommendations for the hiring of seven replacement staff members in the system.

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Thomas and Sharon Adams of Little Brook Lane, Newtown, announce the birth of a son, Thomas Michael, in Park City Hospital, Bridgeport, on August 20. The baby was welcomed home by his sister, Janet, age 7. Paternal grandparents are Mr and Mrs Casper L. Adams of Newtown and maternal grandparents, Mr and Mrs Joseph Dube of Brookfield.

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Funeral services for Charles F. Preusser, 83, of Fairview Terrace, Sandy Hook, took place on Saturday, August 21, in the Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Avenue, Norwalk, with the Rev Dr Howard F. Dunn officiating. Interment was in Willowbrook Cemetery, Westport. Mr Preusser died at Fairfield Hills Hospital on August 18 following a brief illness. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate contributions to the American Heart Association.

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The Block Party was a booming success for the seniors. They performed in their alley-cat costumes, sold chances on the afghan in their colonial costumes and square danced in-between to the lively music and calling of Chip Hendrickson. The hand crocheted Betsy Ross flag afghan made by Ada McDonald was raffled off at 9:15 pm and the winner was Margaret Stehr, vice-president of Sixty Plus Club. Honestly, although she is also a senior center member, the drawing wasn’t rigged. She was so excited and said she had never won anything before in her life.

August 24, 1951

The Housatonic Valley Clean Waters League, Inc., organized several years ago to combat unfavorable conditions in the waters of Lake Zoar, the Housatonic River and its contributary streams, is holding a general meeting and election of officers in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium this Friday night at 8 o’clock. The public is cordially invited and urged to attend. Emil F. Seifert of Sandy Hook is secretary-treasurer.

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School registration for all children who were not enrolled as pupils in the schools of Newtown last year will be held at the Hawley School next Tuesday, August 28, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, it was announced this week by Superintendent of Schools Carl A. LeGrow. Parents of new pupils are urged to see that their children are registered at this time to avoid the delay and confusion which results when registration is delayed until the opening school session, Mr. LeGrow states.

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Members of the Newtown Rotary Club, with their wives, enjoyed a clambake on the grounds of the Southbury Training School Monday night in place of the usual Monday meeting at the Parker House. Prior to the dinner, the members viewed some of the latest developments about the institution. … Nathan C. Avery, Training School supervisor of plant and Maintenance, was head chef, and among the visiting Rotarians was E.N. Roselle, Training School superintendent, who was accompanied by his daughter, Mrs John Plaine.

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In Sunday's baseball game played at Taylor Field, Newtown outplayed the Bethany visitors to win, 10-7, and by so doing, kept Bethany from clinching the Pomperaug Valley League 1951 pennant. Newtown was outhit during the game, but five Bethany errors contributed largely to Newtown’s winning score.

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CARD OF THANKS: We wish to thank the Newtown Ambulance Association and its drivers, Dwight Carlson and Arthur Thrall, for their kind service in bringing Mr Richmond home from the New Haven Hospital last Friday night. Equally we wish to extend our appreciation to neighbors and friends for their many kindnesses and the cards sent to Mr Richmond during his stay in the hospital. The thoughtfulness expressed by all was a source of strength during the emergency. —Mr and Mrs Robert H. Richmond Hawleyville.

August 27, 1926

Miss Nellie L. Bradley passed away, Friday, at St Catharine’s hospital in Brooklyn, N. Y. Miss Bradley was a favorite dressmaker in town and a welcome visitor in every home she entered. She was a person of very lovely character and her death came as a shock to her many friends. Surviving her are four sisters, Mrs John F. Keating, Miss Margaret Bradley, Mrs Patrick Griffin of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Mrs Patrick Kelly of Waterbury.

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The Girls’ Friendly Society of St John’s church, gave a great surprise to Miss Katharine Gesner, who is to be married to Robert Judson Clark on September 16. Mrs Hobart Warner invited the girls and a number of friends beside the associates to join in the party. On arriving the guests found themselves in a maze of strings to which the names of each person was attached. Following the strings each one after intricate wanderings obtained as a prize a nice lollipop. … Miss Gesner found at the end of her string a huge basket from which one by one she drew forth a most fascinating assortment of articles for personal and household use. Such a deluge of gifts descended upon the bride-to-be that she was buried in them.

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PICTURES AT BLACKMAN’S — BUCK JONES IN “THE FIGHTING BUCKAROO”: Thrills galore running a close race with comedy is what you may expect in “The Fighting Buckaroo.” This picture will further endear Buck Jones to his numerous fans for Buck never disappoints his audience. He is as much at home in a drawing room as he is in a saddle, and he has a genuine acting ability which gives sincerity to every role he portrays. A bang up finish ending an exciting chase from New York to Arizona is the climax you will remember for a time to come.

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Rev George Benton Smith of Kingston, N. Y., occupied the pulpit of the Congregational church, Sunday, giving a very helpful sermon on “The Transfiguration.” He will preach again next Sunday.

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Miss Barnum of the Adele shop wishes to announce to her Newtown customers that she has moved her dressmaking room from 187 Main street to 151 Main street, Danbury. -Adv.

August 30, 1901

On exhibition at the store of Austin Blakeman at Botsford are 15 potatoes dug from one hill. They were grown by E.J. Botsford, and it is certainly a fine showing for an off-year.

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Frederick Andrews, Jr., of Taunton district was the victim of a pleasant surprise party on Thursday evening last, when about a dozen of his young friends descended upon his father’s house. Games helped to pass the evening pleasantly away, after which refreshments were served.

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The Hawleyville Sunday school held its picnic yesterday in the grove in the rear of Frank Drew’s hotel. The tables had been erected for a previous social event and were used on this occasion.

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An effort is being made by a committee of the Newtown Fire Company to raise a sufficient sum of money to buy a hand fire pump and some hose. It is thought by persons capable of judging that with a good pump, such as it is intended buying, and hose, a sufficient protection would be afforded to guard against any extended conflagration and even to put out fires in their early stages.

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A farewell service in honor of A.B. Fancher, the esteemed Hawleyville merchant, will be held next Tuesday evening, at the Hawleyville chapel. E.C. Platt, president of the Chapel association, will preside and addresses will be made by local clergy and a representative of the laity. There will also be chorus and solo singing. A cordial invitation is extended to all persons interested to attend.

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 and details 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.