September 13, 1996

The Planning and Zoning Commission last week approved the controversial Whispering Pines residential subdivision, but it has cut the number of building lots proposed by the developers and placed many controls on how construction will proceed. Developers Thomas Maguire and Larry Edwards of PSD Partnership had been seeking 16 lots on the 26-acre parcel in Sandy Hook near Pine Street, Cherry Street and Narragansett Trail, but P&Z members on September 5 decided that only 13 building lots should be developed.

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About 100 residents gathered Wednesday night in the middle school cafeteria to hear an overview of a plan to develop a transportation planning and engineering review of the Exit 9 area from the study team from Barakos-Landino Design Group of Hamden. Before any more studies are done, Hawleyville residents made it clear that they will only tolerate land use that is in harmony with the surrounding land, its rural character and the wishes of the people.

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This year’s Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results are in, and Newtown school officials are encouraged. The good news is that a total of 190 students from the Class of 1996 took the test, representing a participation rate of 87 percent, and the average scores in both the math (520) and verbal (537) sections of the test showed a 24-point and 30-point margin, respectively, above average scores earned by students from other Connecticut high schools. State averages were 504 and 507, respectively; national averages were 508 and 505, respectively.

September 17, 1971

The life of one of Newtown’s most prominent and highlight respected citizens came to a sudden close when the Rev Paul Archibald Cullens, minister emeritus of the Congregational Church, died early Monday morning at St Joseph’s Hospital, North Bay, Ontario, Canada. He and Mrs Cullens had been enjoying their usual summer stay at their place on the French River. They were spending Sunday night at the Empire Hotel before motoring home from there, when Mr Cullens became ill and was taken to the hospital, succumbing to a heart attack.

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Pitney Bowes has announced the selection of the Carlson Corporation of Cochituate, Mass., to build a 158,500-square-foot central distribution facility in Newtown. Construction of the building, part of a national distribution program inaugurated by the business systems and equipment company this year, will get under way within the next several weeks. Completion is scheduled for mid-1972.

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Bertram A. Strook of Dodgingtown has tendered his resignation from the Board of Trustees of Fairfield Hills Hospital. Long a member of that Board, and its acting chairman at the time of his resignation, Mr Strook has also been a long-time supporter of Danbury Hospital and is presently a vice president and chairman of the Hospital’s Development Fund. His reasons for resigning, as outlined in a letter to Governor Thomas K. Meskill, included the lack of authority extended to trustees under state laws, the lack of responsibility for trustees, and the role being “virtually useless.”

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During the business meeting portion of the Newtown Historical Society gathering Monday at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, president Joseph Wupperfeld announced that the Society had received a letter from Atty Thomas L. Cheney and the United States Trust Company, executors for the estate of Henry Schnakenberg, informing the Society that as part of the distribution of the residuary estate, the Society would receive a check for $14,601.65. The sum represents about three quarters of the amount the Society will finally receive through the generosity of Mr Schnakenberg, who remembered the Society so well in his will.

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Mrs Jennie Deese has been hired as a policewoman for Newtown and a school crossing guard, Mrs Deese, who will be part of the newly created youth bureau set up by Chief Louis Marchese, is the wife of Robert Deese and lives on Brushy Hill Road. She was chosen from a field of three applicants who applied for the position and has always had an interest in young people and the desire to work with them.

September 13, 1946

Mr and Mrs Joseph Retz of Berkshire district announce the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Marie, to Santo Joseph Strano, son of Mrs Grace Strano and the late Orazio Strano of 36 Town Hall Avenue, Danbury. The wedding will be held during the fall at St Rose church.

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On September 3rd, Mrs Gladys B. Dexter of Beverly, Mass., assumed her duties as new head librarian of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, thus filling the vacancy on the staff since the recent resignation of Mrs Roland Davidson as head librarian.

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EDITORIAL INK DROPS: The Folly Of Our Own Indifference: It is considerable of a commentary on the attitude of the American public — even the good people of so fine a town as Newtown — to report that less than thirty citizens, including town officials, attended the public hearing held Tuesday evening by the Board of Finance on the requested appropriations for the general and school budgets for the next fiscal year.

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The Housatonic Valley Schoolmen’s League is shaping up six six-man football teams for the coming season and has ventured into something new — a league of soccer teams, which is expected to develop and equal number of teams for the boys, with four teams so far in sight for the girls.

September 16, 1921

Philo T. Platt passed Monday in New York City.

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A meeting of the citizens of Botsford was held at Sunrise Hotel, last Saturday evening, for the purpose of appointing a committee to wait on the Danbury & Bethel Street Railway Co., in regard to extending the wires to Botsford. A number of people have signed a paper to the effect that they are willing to use the electric juice should it be extended to Botsford. The committee appointed is William Starr, Henry Bourquenez and Paul Tversky. Should they be unable to get satisfactory results in Danbury, they will call on the Connecticut Light & Power Co.

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LARGE DAIRY BARN BURNED IN GRAY’S PLAIN: The large dairy barn with silo attached and other outbuildings, belonging to Mrs John T. Keane, of Gray’s Plain district, was burned to the ground about 12:30 a.m. Thursday. As soon as the fire was discovered, word was telephoned to the central office in Newtown, and Miss Troy, the night operator, did splendid work in notifying people in the district and other parts of the town. There was quick response and by hard work they succeeded in saving the house, which was but a short distance from the barn. A registered Holstein bull and five sheep were the only animals destroyed. The barn was completely filled and the silo had just been filled. The family have no idea how the fire started. No suspicious characters had been seen about and they know of no one harboring any grudge against them. The barn and contents were partially insured. The loss is a serious one and coming at the close of the harvest season makes the loss doubly perplexing.

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The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurse Association will be held at Beach Memorial Library, Tuesday, September 20, at 3:30 p.m. All directors are urged to be present as there is business of importance to be transacted. The Visiting Nurse Association wishes, through The Bee, to extend thanks to the members of the Sandy Hook Band for their generous contribution, the proceeds of their concert at the Town Hall, Labor Day evening. It was a splendid thing for them to do, and the association appreciates it sincerely. Mrs W.H. Kiernan was elected a director at a recent meeting to fill a vacancy. —Edith M. Coger, Secretary

September 18, 1896

THE EDITOR’S FAMILIAR CHAT: It is to be hoped that farmer, horseman, gardener and worker of fancy work will bring their exhibits to the fair this year. Everybody will come to see what Newtown can do, and let us show them, as we can, that we can produce the best. It is to the interest of every farmer to show his cattle of horses or farm produce.

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Mrs Daniel G. Beers entertained very delightfully at Hill Crest on Saturday afternoon, a party of 16 ladies from Sandy Hook and Newtown. Whist was the leading diversion. The first prize was taken by Mrs Edgar F. Hawley, the second by Mrs Leonard and the booby by Mrs Beardsley.

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Mrs M.S. Otis passed Sunday with her daughter, Mrs I. Harrison Camp, in Waterbury.

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Reverend Dr Sylvester Clark was the preacher at Trinity Church last Sunday, being greeted by a good audience.

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The grass plot in front of the Brick building has been kept nicely mowed, this summer, through the enterprise of Charles F. Beardsley. Mr Beardsley keeps his grounds in fine order, and deserves the thanks of the public for his good work for public improvement.

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.