* * *

For the past two years, the Historic District Study Committee has been investigating the possibility of establishing an historic district on Main Street. This week, the committee approved a final draft of a report which must be submitted to the State Historic Commission, local Planning and Zoning Commission and the head of the municipality, in this case, the Warden of the Borough of the Town of Newtown. The report, which includes a history of the area and the reasons for preserving it, inventories of the houses including present owners and historical background, a map, photographs and a proposed ordinance will be printed once estimates and methods of reproduction are investigated.

* * *

Not only will Newtown Water Company customers pay substantially higher quarterly bills for water, the cost of fire protection will severely impact the taxes Borough residents pay, according to a cost-of-service study recently completed by the water company. The study also indicates that because of “artificially low rates,” rental fees for public fire hydrants would rise 1100 percent.

* * *

The team that almost wasn’t is off to a good start. Newtown High’s soccer, abolished and only recently refunded by the Board of Education, has won two of its first three games and is playing enthusiastically for new head coach Larry Ashmore. “We’re going to do ok,” said Ashmore, who was the junior varsity coach last year.

* * *

Service to Main Street residents was curtailed for about three hours Tuesday morning as construction workers installed the connection between the existing main and a new underground booster station to be placed in front of Town Hall South. The booster station is a major part of Newtown Water Company’s project to comply with the Safe Water Drinking Act by providing a new source on South Main Street.

* * *

When the Hawleyville Post Office lost the lease in the building on Route 25 it had occupied for years, it found new space in a building right next door in April — but the town’s zoning enforcement officer has now informed the post office, and several other businesses on the property, that they are violating the zoning regulations. A post office, he said is permitted only in the town’s farming and residential zones, and not in an industrial zone.

* * *

Nunnawauk Meadows residents may not have to worry about paying taxes for the next seven years if the Legislative Council agrees with a recent decision by the Board of Selectmen to grant five-year tax abatement to the elderly residence. Approval of the decision would extend the two-year abatement granted by the council in August.

 

September 28, 1956

The first sales promotional event ever to be undertaken by a Chamber of Commerce in Newtown will take place on October 26-27. It will be known as Greater Newtown Days. Robert J. Schoonmaker, chairman of the Merchants Committee, is in charge of this event and has issued a cordial invitation to all Newtown merchants, hotels, inns, restaurants and other places of business to participate in it. He hopes that the two days will stimulate earlier purchasing and will keep local payroll dollars in Newtown.

* * *

A building permit was issued on Wednesday of this week by Ervin C. Stickles, Jr, Borough Building inspector, at the request of the Zoning Commission of the Borough of Newtown, to the R & S Construction Company for construction of a building on the east side of Queen Street, opposite the present shopping center. The building will be used by the Grand Union as a supermarket.

* * *

More than 330 exhibits were entered in the School Fair sponsored by the Newtown Parent-Teacher Association last Friday and Saturday at the Hawley School. The exhibitions showed talent and industry on the part of a great many of the children. Mrs Austin Dinkler of Sandy Hook served as general chairman with Vincent Gaffney, Vo-Ag department instructor of the high school, as advisor.

* * *

The Newtown Park Commission is looking for donations of daffodil bulbs for the Dickinson Memorial Park. In an effort to beautify the park grounds for the spring, these could be planted at the park entrance and around the swimming pond this fall. If anyone is digging and thinning out clumps of bulbs this fall and would like to donate some to this project, the Commission would be glad to hear from them.

* * *

Francis Keating of Gray’s Plain district reports that even though the fall season has arrived, an apple tree in his yard boasts a number of blossoms. He is not counting too heavily on harvesting a late basket of apples from the tree. But he does enjoy apple blossoms, even though they appear on an off-schedule.

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MT PLEASANT BARGAIN In Newtown This exquisite home is offered at a reduced price of $20,900 for a quick sale. The house has three bedrooms, colored fixtures in the tile bath, complete kitchen with built-in oven and range of latest style, Formica counter and tile, birch cabinet, separate dining space. Living room with large windows and fireplace. Basement with fireplace and space for playroom. Garage attached. Large plot with shade trees. Town water.

September 25, 1931

On a visit to the Fairfield State Hospital grounds, Wednesday, we found W.P. Boyle, superintendent for the H. Wales-Lines Co., as busy as a bee and then some. Mr Boyle has something like 165 men now at work. They have completed foundations and the first floor on Building No 21, the Nurses’ home, which is to be three stories. On the reception hospital, a building 450 feet long, with wings at either end, they are putting down the foundations. On the General Hospital building, No 18, they are starting the foundations.

* * *

A benefit performance for the Newtown Hook & Ladder Co., No 1, is to be given at Edmond Town hall. Society and the underworld, the sordidness of Chinatown dens and the beauty of Yosemite Valley are contrasted in a spectacular series of dramatic happenings in “A Free Soul,” Norma Shearer’s newest starring picture. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production is based on the celebrated novel of Adela Rogers St Johns.

* * *

E.W. Troy of Sandy Hook hotel has an educated parrot that sometimes almost gets him into trouble. The parrot is in a cage close to the ceiling of the veranda a part of the time. As Mr Troy sat reading with the parrot over his head, a man, a stranger, was passing on foot when the parrot burst out in vociferous laughter. The man’s face reddened up and looking savagely at Mr Troy said, “What in thunder are you laughing at me for?” Mr Troy refused to comment, but it is possible the parrot will be placed in a different location for his outdoor airing.

* * *

The formal opening of the new fire house was celebrated by the Newtown Hook & Ladder Co., Monday night, with a fine roast beef dinner served under the able direction of William Ready, steward, and an associate committee. It was one of the most successful events the Hook & Ladder Co. has pulled off in several years. The visitors expressed themselves highly pleased with the new firehouse and its appointments.

* * *

A work clamp for sewing machines, the invention of Hon Edward B. Allen of Newtown, has been examined at the United States Patent Office and 23 claims of original construction have been recognized in a patent issued to Allen and by him assigned to the Singer Manufacturing Company. Application for the patent was made November 15. Mr Allen is a popular resident of Newtown, and has been connected with the Singer Manufacturing Company in an important capacity for a number of years.

* * *

The democratic caucus at the town hall, Saturday evening, to nominate town officers, was attended by about 200 voters, with a score or more of republicans who watched the proceedings from the gallery. Town Clerk M.J. Houlihan called the caucus to order and announced that the town committee had named Charles H. Northrop as temporary chairman.

 

September 28, 1906

An automobile party, who were taking a trip from Brookfield to Bridgeport in the large auto of A.S. Mansfield of Brookfield, one day last week, met with an accident near W.C. Johnson’s in South Center district, and were obliged to give up the trip as they could not make the necessary repairs. The party walked back to Newtown Street, where they dined at the Grand Central hotel and then took the evening train back to their homes.

* * *

Mrs Edward C. Smith of Hawleyville has had a large new silo erected near her stock barn, this fall. R.W. Russell, who carries on her farm, is filling it this week.

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St Rose’s: The Forty Hours’ Devotion began in St Rose’s church on Sunday with a high mass at 10 o’clock. Two masses were celebrated on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 5 and 8 o’clock. During the Forty Hours’ Devotion Rev Father McGuinniss was assisted by Rev Father Rossett of Hartford.

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Trinity Parish Notes: The Harvest Home festival will take place at 7:30 pm, with singing by the combined choirs of St John’s and Trinity. Rev O.O. Bright will preach the sermon. This service is always an interesting and helpful one and a large congregation will be present, weather permitting.

* * *

Miss Elizabeth Egan left on Saturday for convent Station, Madison, N.C. where she has entered ST Elizabeth College. Her mother accompanied her on the trip.