September 25, 1998

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Win & Gertrude Ballard.

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The Planning and Zoning Commission has approved The Homesteads at Newtown, a 298-unit housing complex planned to provide assisted, congregate, and independent living facilities for the elderly in Hawleyville. The action signals municipal approval to build the largest single private housing complex ever constructed locally. Plans for the project have been under review by town land use agencies since last January.

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The graduating class of 1958 was small — only 36 members. It was one of the first to go all the way through the “new” high school that was built on Queen Street in 1953 but later would become a middle school. Last weekend the class celebrated its 40th reunion with a dinner-dance at the Fireside Inn. Among the guests were Sandy Burdett and his wife, Emmy Johnson Burdett, members of the class who married each other. Two teachers also attended, Eileen Brenner Willing, who taught typing and other commercial courses, and biology teacher Irene Mack Goodsell. On Sunday, many of the class joined Jack and Terry Qubick at their home on Apple Blossom Lane for a picnic. Guests were relaxed and happy, recalling the excitement of the previous night.

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The Conservation Commission has approved some changes to its forest practice rules to better regulate the cutting of trees. Commission members approved the revised rules following a public hearing Wednesday. The changes are intended to prevent unwise tree cutting and to better manage the taking of timber. The revisions are not intended to prevent tree cutting, but are designed to better control it.

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Police report a bizarre incident at about 8 pm September 18 in Hawleyville in which three disguised teenage girls carrying baseball bats entered Hawleyville Deli at 26 Hawleyville Road at closing time and robbed three store employees. About $1,900 was stolen, as well as several cartons of cigarettes. A male, one of the store employees, was transported to the hospital after being sprayed in the face with Mace. The young man had also been restrained with duct tape. Police later charged three Newtown residents, ages 16, 17, and 18, with first-degree robbery.

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Robert Fulton’s world-renowned Airphibian was back in Newtown this week after spending the past 30 years on display at the Smithsonian Institute. The 90-year-old Fulton, a longtime Newtown resident, brought his invention back to his home on Platts Hill Road to prepare it for next month’s antique auto show at the Rockefeller Center. While the Airphibian can both fly and drive, it made the trip back on the back of a truck.

September 21, 1973

When the Democratic Town Committee elected 18-year-old Roger Connor to membership on the committee, it set an area-wide precedent, and gained a man who considers himself a “moderate.” He readily admits, at the same time, that calling himself a moderate is evading the question of whether his membership will make a big difference on the Committee. Mr Connor does not look or sound like an 18-year-old. He speaks softly and deliberately, measuring out his words with the self-confidence of one who is sure of his convictions. He’s a student of Police Administration at Mattatuck Community College, and a member of the Auxiliary Police. Eventually he hopes to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

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Charter Revision Commission Chairman Robert Hall has appointed two sub-committees. One will study alternate forms of government for Newtown and one will study a new organizational structure for the town’s financial operations. Appointed to the sub-committee to study forms of government were Raymond Marcus, Lillian Goosman, Irene Forcht and Lyman Rogers. Mr Rogers will serve as chairman of the sub-committee. Appointed to the sub-committee which will study a new fiscal structure were William Lavery, who will serve as chairman, Fred Marchionna, Donald Studley and Ronald Costa.

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Newtown Country Club had its annual three-day member-guest tournament over the past week-end, with the winners being determined Sunday afternoon, September 16, after all the rounds of match play were completed. The winners in the championship flight were member Lou Iaseillo and guest Andrew Barbaras over member Vin Keenan and guest Dr Edward Fernard.

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Newtown’s hopes for a new dog pound received another setback September 18 when bids for the construction contract were opened by the Board of Selectmen and found to be much higher than expected. The bids received ranged from $41,950 to $48,900, compared with estimates of $30,000 used in BofS discussions of the project earlier this year, and $25,000 when the plan was first proposed last year.

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Mike Newman started the season where he left off last year as the senior quarterback connected on 13 of 21 aerials for 208 yards and three scores to lead Newtown to a 22-8 victory over the scrappy Bobcats of Brookfield last Saturday. Newman connected for two scores with senior end Bill Shpunt, one for 45 yards and the other for nine. He added two conversions, passing to Tom Saint and Dee Randall, and capped off his afternoon with a 58-yard pass for a TD to Curt Geerer in the fourth quarter.

September 14, 1923

The Board of Trustees of the Newtown Savings Bank have declared the regular dividend a rate of 4 per cent per annum and an extra dividend of one quarter of one per cent payable October 1. This makes the rate 2 1-4 per cent for the last six months, or a rate of 4 1-2 per cent per annum. The bank has had a prosperous year. Deposits made on or before October 5 will draw interest from October 1.

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The funeral of Daniel O’Connor, of Sandy Hook, formerly of Bridgeport, who died, Friday, at his home after a lingering illness, was held Monday morning at 8.30 from his home in Sandy Hook, and a half hour later in St Rose’s church, where a solemn High Mass of Requiem was sung by Rev Father Regan, pastor of the church, as deacon, and Rev Father Lynch as sub-deacon. Interment was made in the family plot in the Catholic cemetery in Westport, where the committal service was read by Rev William Carroll of Westport. Mr O’Connor was well known in Bridgeport, having for over 40 years been a street department foreman there. He is survived by his wife, Georgiana H. Moore O’Connor; one sister, Miss Bridget O’Connor; one daughter, Mrs John McClare of Bridgeport and four grandchildren.

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Miss Ernest Hawley and Miss Edythe Peck were on a trip over the Mohawk Trail in Miss Peck’s car and had a very enjoyable trip.

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D.N. Clark, the hustling hardware merchant of Shelton, was a caller at The Bee office on Tuesday.

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CARD OF THANKS: To our friends and neighbors, officials and employees of the Fabric Fire Hose Co, who so kindly remembered us in our recent sorrow in the loss of our husband and father, we wish to extend our sincere thanks.—[Mrs Elizabeth Leavy and family.

September 23, 1898

Golden wedding anniversaries are not of common occurrence, yet how delightful it is to gather on such an occasion to do honor to two lives which have been passed for half a century in living devotion to each other and the community in which they reside. Such was the feeling of the pleasant company of 75 or more intimate friends who gathered at the home of Dea and Mrs William Fairchild in Taunton district on Saturday afternoon of last week, to help them celebrate the 50th anniversary of their marriage.

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John Keane of Zoar took a pair of oxen to the Orange fair, and they captured first premiums for the best appearance and greatest drawing ability. While there he sold the cattle to W.S. Hine of Derby.

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L.C. Gilbert and sons are having their houses and outbuildings painted by Benjamin Bassett. The houses are being painted a dainty yellow with white trimmings and dark blinds, while the large barns are just a trifle darker.

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Ira Wildman was confined to the house last week, with a severe cold which settled all over him, threatening a fever.

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Carleton Hubbell has successfully passed the examinations and has entered as a student at the Bridgeport high school.

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The ladies of South Center district were royally entertained at a 5 o’clock tea, given by Mrs J. B. Peck of Shady Nook farm.

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.