September 8, 1989

From now on, students in the school system will receive antidrug lessons in every grade from kindergarten through grade 12. The antidrug education effort is part of the school system’s health curriculum. Assistant School Superintendent Kenneth Freeston said the state is mandating that schools teach about alcohol, nicotine, drugs, AIDS, youth suicide prevention, and child abuse.

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The State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has ordered the town to take certain actions in connection with water pollution problems on Queen Street. DEP said pollution at the action level can be expected to create an unacceptable risk to the health of people drinking the water or using it for other domestic purposes. DEP has been investigating the situation since March 31. Since it has not identified any party as the source for the pollution, it ordered the town to correct the problem. DEP has ordered the town to provide a potable drinking water supply to 74 Queen Street and either provide a potable drinking water supply or monitor the wells at 70 Queen Street, at 68 Queen Street, and at 72 Queen Street.

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At the Board of Education meeting September 5, School Superintendent John Reed said that in the future, he would ask the board to consider establishing tuition rates allowing school system employees who live out of town to bring their children to Newtown schools. Dr Reed said the continuing trend is towards hiring out-of-town teachers, and that the quality of a school system is improved when teachers’ children attend schools in the same system.

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The Legislative Council didn’t take any action September 6 regarding the issue of the town’s possibly building a new swimming pool at Treadwell Park. On August 14, the council approved the idea of the town’s formally applying for partial state funding towards the pool. However, the council held off on approving $60,000 for hiring a consultant to prepare specifications for putting the project out to bid.

September 11, 1964

A construction accident at the new elementary school site on Cold Spring Road injured two workmen Tuesday afternoon, but will not impair the structural soundness of the building when completed nor delay the opening of the school for classes, scheduled for September of 1965. Architect Walter F. Crabtree 3rd, in defining the mishap as “a construction accident” at a meeting of the Public Building Committee of the Town of Newtown that evening in Edmond Town Hall, said that workmen “were tying in the last beam of the steel framework when a beam ‘kicked out,’ bringing down in a heap, a network of four main beams plus five purlins.” Of the crew, six men were still working at the time, including the two “on top.” Those on the ground scattered and escaped injury.

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State Highway Commissioner Howard S. Ives has announced that a public hearing will be held on September 21. The hearing will be concerned with the State Highway Department’s recommended plan for the improvement of Dead Man’s Curve, a section of Route 25 in Newtown from about 180 feet southerly of Wash Brook Road and northerly to the bridge over the Pohtatuck River. The purpose of the improvement is to eliminate this sharp curve and to increase the roadway width to provide for the passing of slow moving vehicles.

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As the third annual Newtown Progress Festival came to a close this past Monday, there were indications from all sides that it had been an unqualified success. The weather was perfect throughout the entire week-end and the people of Newtown responded by turning out for all the events and apparently enjoyed themselves tremendously.

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A fast-acting lifeguard made the Town Park’s tenth rescue of the summer on the final day of the season. On Monday afternoon about five o’clock, Life Guard Richard Hayes had taken a boat out to attach a rope to the float and pull it in for the winter storage — but first, Richard pulled in a man. From the float, he spotted a man struggling in the water. In a matter of seconds, Richard was at his side and helping him to shore. He is James L. Kelly of Appleblossom Lane. This day he had just eased himself off the float. As he pushed himself off, his foot struck one of the chains that anchor the float. He went under. Sensibly, as soon as he realized Richard had spotted him, he relaxed and floated. Newtown indeed has cause to be grateful for and proud of all of its life guards, David Housh, Jane Unger and Richard Hayes.

September 8, 1939

The annual membership drive of the Visiting Nurse Association has fallen far short of the $1,000 it was hoped to raise. Just what does that mean to the people of this community? First, it means that there will be no new car for the visiting nurse. This in turn means that many, many dollars that should be available for promoting health will be diverted to repairs on an old car. To cite just one example, the appropriation for milk and chocolate milk served in the schools will have to be reduced. May people do not realize that the services of the visiting nurse are available to anyone. There are 3,000 people in Newtown. If only one-third of these paid the annual membership fee of $1 to the Visiting Nursing Association, the work of the organization could be carried on effectively.

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On Tuesday of this week, Dr W.F. Desmond, Health Officer, closed the Sandy Hook Diner because of sewerage nuisance. The trouble started on July 21, when sewerage overflowed from a cesspool onto the south edge of the public highway in Sandy Hook. The owner, Dr Corrigan of Danbury, was ordered to abate the nuisance by August 1. Some adjustments were made but not approved by the officials. Efforts were made by the prosecutor to persuade the owner to properly abate or remove the nuisance without the expense or delay of court proceedings. On September 5, the sewerage was again polluting the street in Sandy Hook in large quantities. It is hoped that a proper system will be installed.

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Schools in Newtown opened for the fall term, with a record number of youngsters, trudging back to books and study, after the summer vacation. Enrollment figures at Hawley School show a total of 321 students, which is an increase of 32 over last year’s enrollment. The figure of 145 in the Senior High School represents the largest number of students ever enrolled in high school in Newtown.

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The Hawleyville Fire Company has made considerable of an improvement in their equipment by the installation of a new Walters pumper on their fire truck. This new pumper is of the rotary type, replacing the old centrifugal pumper, and has a capacity of 300 gallons per minute.

September 11, 1914

A killing frost was reported in Sandy Hook, Wednesday morning, severe enough to kill pumpkin vines. In some places, corn is reported touched.

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It is now nearly two weeks since William Gore (known as John Green) was murdered at his shop on Church Hill, Newtown. No good clue has yet been found and the guilty murderers are still at large. It becomes the duty of each person to aid as far as possible in unearthing the guilty ones. This is a matter of public duty, something that is for the good of all, and for the good name of the town. The local and state officers are still at work on the case and you, all citizens, should heartily cooperate.

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At a meeting of the committee in charge of the Bi-Centennial celebration of the Congregational church, the dates of the approaching celebration were fixed at October 18, 19, and 20. The following committee of ladies have been appointed to take charge of the decorations of the church for the celebration: Mrs A.J. Smith, Mrs L.C. Morris, Mrs Arthur Reynolds, Mrs Ida Hubbell, Mrs J.B. Woodhull, Mrs H.W. Wheeler, Mrs P.E. Abbott, and Mrs W.H. Thicket.

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A meeting to consider the organization of a village improvement society will be held at the Newtown Library, Saturday evening, September 26. The ladies as well as the men of the town are especially invited. The need of such an organization locally is apparent.