September 29, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Audrey Gaffney.

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Newtown’s famous view from the top of Castle Hill Road has taken on a different look in recent weeks thanks to the construction project going on at Trinity Church. A protective screening wrapped around the church’s steeple gives it the appearance of being much larger — almost like a skyscraper. Skyscrapers, incidentally, are prohibited in the borough’s zoning regulations.

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A Victorian Lady took her audience back in time to the Civil War days of the 1860s during a program on September 25 sponsored by the C.H. Booth Library. Unlike a dry historical lecture with dates and places to remember, Kandie Carle uses her considerable talent as an actress and her passion for bygone days to create a performance that uses clothing as a means to bring a historical period and its people to life.

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Town officials met Wednesday morning to discuss the apparent arrival of the West Nile Virus in Newtown. The news of a local veterinarian having to euthanize a Newtown horse last week raised the level of concern on horse farms around town. Test results from the horse were still pending at press time, so the severity of Newtown’s problem remains unknown. It is known, however, that the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus is all around Newtown and, according to Health District Director Mark Cooper, is here to stay.

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Families on bicycles, in-line skates, skateboards, and the newest craze — scooters — filled Fairfield Hills last Saturday when Newtown Youth Services held its annual Bikes, Boards and Blades Day. From the very young to teenagers, kids came out to spend time with their families and show off their skills. Volunteers staffed food stations supplied by donations from local merchants, and there were prizes for everyone. The event was co-chaired by Bob Stowell and Bob Burkhart for the fifth year, assisted by members of the Newtown Youth Services board, the Youth Advisory Board, and other volunteers.

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New officers of the St Rose Women’s Club and clergy welcomed parish women at a potluck supper last week to begin the new club year. Among those enjoying the gathering were the Rev Peter Towsley, spiritual director; the Rev Bob Weiss, pastor; the Rev Larry Larson; Debra Sennefelder, president; Kathy Pond, vice president; Debbie Reilly, secretary; and Suzanne McEmber, treasurer.

September 26, 1975

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — NEW STANDARDS FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION: The public’s growing awareness of its right to know what goes on behind the doors of its government takes form on Wednesday, October 1, when the new Freedom of Information law passed by the 1975 General Assembly takes effect. The law, while certainly not the last word in the right to know legislation, does represent clarifications and tightening of standards for what information can be obtained and how to obtain it; the use of executive sessions and the posting of special meetings, among others.

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The members of the Congregational Church as a special portion of their regular service on Sunday, September 21, dedicated the property which was donated to the church in memory of the late Arthur Nettleton. Following the Reverend Mr Alastair Sellars and the choir to the 10 acre tract at the corner of West Street and Castle Hill Road, the congregation sang a hymn, “Morning Has Broken,” recited a litany, joined in a prayer of dedication, and closed with the hymn “We Plow the Fields and Scatter.”

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Mrs Franklin Smith of Walnut Tree Hill Road is displaying her quilt, judged “Best in Show” in an exhibit of 285 craft entries at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. The “Goose Tracks” design is pieced out in a fine print of gold and white on navy blue, with a medallion pattern handquilted into the white background. Mrs Smith has made three quilts and “lots of pillows” in addition to a variety of other craft projects.

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Testimony on behalf of the applicants for Eagle Hill, the proposed treatment facility for alcoholics, occupied the three-hour Planning & Zoning Commission public hearing on the facility Wednesday night, and was to resume Thursday when the second portion of the hearing convenes. The applicants, Eagle Hill Corporation, is seeking to build the proposed facility — described as a 56 bed proprietary intermediate care nursing home for the rehabilitative therapy of alcoholics — on 22.668 acres located off Alberts Hill Road. Different proposals for Eagle Hill were submitted to P&Z in 1972 and 1974.

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When the Board of Education met on Tuesday evening, one of the agenda items discussed was a first reading of a proposed policy change on the public use of the buildings. The board has a lengthy policy on this subject, and one of its sections which has come under discussion lately is the one which grants, upon approval of individual applications to the board, the permission to serve alcoholic beverages in the schools by organizations. This policy has been in effect since the new high school was completed and opened in the fall of 1970, and since then various groups have used the schools for social functions and liquor has generally been permitted — usually on a bring-your-own bottle basis.

September 22, 1950

The marriage of Miss Bernice Veronica Carty of Newtown and Donald Edward Logan of Easton was solemnized in St. Rose Church on Saturday morning, September 16. The Rev. Walter R. Conroy, pastor, performed the 11 o’clock ceremony in the presence of a large assemblage of relatives and friends. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bennett of Connors Avenue, and Mr. Logan is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence H. Logan of Center Road, Easton.

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The Newtown Mothers Club held its first fall meeting in the social rooms of Trinity Episcopal Church, Monday evening of this week at 8 o’clock, with Mrs William Walsh, president, presiding. Nearly 35 persons were present at the social gathering which had been planned as a get-together for both old and new members.

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There was a large assembly of members of Virgilius Council, Knights of Columbus, at their council rooms on Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, Wednesday evening, when the council tendered a testimonial dinner to the Rev Paul M. Spodnik, pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Bethel, and former chaplain of the local group. Grand Knight Robert Reiner acted in the capacity of master of ceremonies. After the dinner, Mr Reiner lauded their guest of honor for his spiritual and constructive interest in the council, and on behalf of the membership presented Father Spodnik with a purse.

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At an organization meeting of the newly formed High School Building Committee held in Hawley School last Thursday evening, Herbert H. Cutler, chairman of Newtown’s Board of Finance, was elected chairman. Raymond J. Trimpert was elected to serve as secretary. Preliminary plans of the group call for an early meeting with Superintendent of Schools Carl A. LeGrow, members of the Board of Education and the architects to discuss proposals for the new high school to be built on Queen Street. Regular such meetings are scheduled for the future.

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It has been announced that Mrs F. Willard Johnson will replace Mrs J. Frederick Seman on the Visiting Nurse Association board of directors, and that Mrs Walter Gutman will be replaced by Mrs Richard McCallister. The Visiting Nurse Association also announces that office hours will be from 8 to 9 a.m. and from 1 to 1:30 p.m. daily except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. This schedule is effective immediately.

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The Misses Mabel and Henrietta Whitley, who have been spending the summer at Cape Rosier, Me., are returning this Friday to their home on the Boulevard.

September 25, 1925

CARD OF THANKS: To the friends who so kindly remembered us in many ways during the illness, and at the time of the death and funeral of Mr Houlihan, we wish to return our most grateful thanks.—[Mrs M. J. Houlihan and Family. Newtown, September 23, 1925.

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The entertainment committee of the Sandy Hook Library wishes to thank all who contributed toward the success of the food sale and card party held, last Thursday, at St John’s rectory, as the result of which $69 has been added to the library treasury.

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The entire force of the local office of the Department of Internal Revenue attended a sheep roast at the farm of Harry Greenman, Newtown, a local deputy collector, Saturday afternoon, and enjoyed a sheep roast. Various athletic events and an entertainment featured the gathering. About 25 members of the office attended the outing.

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The Misses Virginia Gesner and Katherine Gesner, daughters of Rev Dr Richmond H. Gesner, gave an afternoon tea on Friday at the rectory, in compliment to the many persons who have entertained them since their coming to Newtown. The rectory presented a pretty appearance daintily decorated with a great variety of fall flowers. The young ladies were assisted in receiving by their aunt, Mrs Anthon T. Gesner and her daughter, Miss Harriet Gesner, of Waterbury. Mrs James Marshall, Mrs Sarah B. Mitchell, Mrs George M. Stuart and Mrs Frank H. Johnston assisted in welcoming and serving the large number of guests. Mrs Fanny Beers Edwards and Mrs Charles F. Beardsley poured.

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Ex-Senator Michael J. Houlihan, who had been in failing health since May, died on Sunday at 6.15 p.m., having suffered from anaemia. He was 67 years old, the son of the late John and Margaret Keane Houlihan of Middle district. He had his education in the North Center school and for a short time attended the Newtown Academy.

September 28, 1900

OUR TOWN AFFAIRS — A TAX PAYER PRESENTS HIS VIEWS: It was with pleasure that we saw in The Bee something that should interest every citizen of this good old town. The affairs of our town have the appearance of being mismanaged, either though incapacity or carelessness. Why the debt should be yearly increasing, and the taxes getting heavier should cause every one of us to think seriously the reason of it. So long as our present officials are returned to manage the affairs of the town, so long may we reasonably expect the indebtedness of the town to be increased. Are we going to submit to it and willingly allow ourselves to have the tax more burdensome to us? What is the remedy? The best that can be done just now is to agitate the matter to arouse the thoughts of the people, and prepare them to act for the good of the town, and ignore party spirit for the sake of putting the financial condition on a better basis, and to have an honest administration that will be a credit to our beloved town.

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The Newtown Fair of 1900 has come and gone, and was a success from start to finish. With 1800 people present on Tuesday, 5300 on Wednesday and 2000 on Thursday it is no wonder the directors were a happy and contented lot. Wednesday’s attendance was the largest of any single day in the history of the association.

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The Methodist church in Sandy Hook is, as we all know, not a large one, that is, not large in its membership, although the church edifice is a commodious one. There is a law of the eternal fitness of things, and when things are exactly fitting, they are always good; so this semi-centennial anniversary was modest, no effort was made in any way to do anything remarkable, hence the exercises were peculiarly good and enjoyable. The Methodist people are to be heartily congratulated upon the good weather, the fervent good-will shown by their friends in giving their services for the concert, the excellent historical address by Rev J. O. Munson, a former pastor, on Tuesday afternoon, and the words of good cheer and earnest congratulation that rounded up the celebration on Tuesday evening.

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DODGINGTOWN: Miss Rhoda White entertained a party of friends on Saturday, September 22, the occasion being her 8th birthday. | Miss Clara Ferguson and Miss Bessie Boughton of Danbury have been the recent guests of Miss Rhoda White.

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 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.