November 24, 1995

The estate of a woman who was murdered early on Thanksgiving morning in 1993 is suing the town, claiming that the police acted negligently and carelessly in connection with the circumstances that led to her death at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. In a grisly triple homicide involving a love triangle, Michael Swift... a former boyfriend of [Christine] Czap confronted her and John Krafscik... at Ms Czap’s residence where Mr Swift shot Mr Krafscik twice, killing him, then shot Ms Czap five times killing her, then turned the gun on himself... According to the lawsuit... police had confiscated the gun from Mr Swift as part of an incident that occurred in Newtown on October 23, 1993... On October 25, 1993, although the police were seeking an arrest warrant against Swift, they returned the pistol and hollow-point ammunition to Swift.

***

As mental health employees made final arrangements to close Fairfield Hills Hospital, town and state officials met in Hartford last week to discuss the future of the 650-acre state owned property. “It was a very productive meeting,” [First Selectman Bob] Cascella said this week. “The consensus was the state wants to leave the central campus — buildings like Newtown Hall, Woodbury Hall, and Shelton House — intact, but there may be buildings on the edge of the campus the town could use for space... We’re talking about the possibility of a longterm lease.”

***

The sky was dark and the night was cold, and when Newtown walked off the frozen Masuk High School football field Friday night, dazed, its football season was over. In a game that decided the Briggs Division championship, Masuk prevailed 15-14, not only killing Newtown’s Thanksgiving Day WCC Championship plans, but also knocking the Indians out of the state championship tournament.

***

The school district is asking local businesses and residents for computer equipment. The high school needs keyboards and printers for the writing lab, which uses 286-class personal computers. Most of the elementary school classrooms need Macintosh computers with printers, and several middle school classrooms need personal computers. The district will accept any functioning computer.

***

A town meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 6, to vote on a $130,000 appropriation for the purchase of a 4.8-acre parcel on Commerce Road that town officials believe is key to the town’s economic development. First Selectman Bob Cascella said the land would provide access from Commerce Road to the bypass road which is scheduled to be constructed through Fairfield Hills next year.

***

For this year’s United Methodist Church of Newtown Art Sale, November 30-December 2, Pamela Gates Capozzola is offering an individual hand-shaded, hand-signed print commissioned by the Minority Golf Association of America, Inc entitled “The Open,” among her works for sale. Also included in the annual art show and sale will be works by Mrs Capozzola’s sister, Donna Gates King. Both artists are originally from Newtown.

November 20, 1970

The Board of Education took drastic action at the meeting on Tuesday evening, November 17: it moved to initiate action to acquire the Boyle site on Boggs Hill Road “by negotiated purchase or by condemnation.” Last week the school board and Site Committee were informed that “a group of people, names not available,” had purchased the 29.91 acres of the Boyle property that were under negotiation for Newtown’s much needed new elementary school.

***

[From the letter of] Thomas L. Cheney, attorney for the group which has contracted to buy the property on Boggs Hill Road, part of which was under negotiation as a school site... “ At the meeting of August 13, 1970, residents of the Boggs Hill area questioned the choice of the Boyle property as an advantageous location... The residents and property owners in the vicinity of the Boyle property feel strongly enough about the preservation of the rural character of the neighborhood to join for the second time within a few years to purchase land for the purpose of preserving it for residential use...”

***

After a long search, Connecticut State Police have found a Newtown site for a new barracks in Upper Fairfield County. This will be headquarters for troops now working out of Ridgefield and Litchfield barracks, but those stations will be maintained on a limited basis. Eight acres of Fairfield Hospital land will be turned over to the Connecticut State Police as a result of a resolution passed unanimously this week by the Board of Trustees of the Hospital... The new barracks will be constructed with the $430,000 earmarked by the State Police for new barracks in Upper Fairfield County.

***

So great has been the response to the recreation programs sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Commission that the Commission voted Tuesday night, November 17, to create the position of a year-round, full-time recreation director... In the swim programs alone, 1,308 persons have signed up for use of the pool this fall.

***

Farm House Colonial: Snow white, immaculate 2-story with fireplace, porch, lovely modern kitchen, formal living room and dining room, 3 bedrooms, landscaped 1/2 acre, tree shaded grounds. Taxes under $400. Couple transferring immediately. $28,500.

November 16, 1945

Excavating work has been started for the town garage, and is hoped it will be completed this week. The shovel work is being done by Al Kovacs and the dirt hauled away by his and the town’s trucks. Bids are now being received by the Selectman’s office for the construction work, and if all goes well, the garage should be finished before winter sets in. It will be located on a plot of ground purchased by the town near the Newtown railroad station.

***

On Wednesday afternoon around dusk, while Hugh Brody and Teddy Smith were playing with Tommy and Billy Forbes on Saffron Hill, the boys saw a pair of deer, a large buck and a doe, emerge from the woods behind Hawley School and cross the road between Wendover and The Boulevard. Frightened by a passing automobile, the deer leaped over the stone fence and disappeared in the direction of Walnut Tree Hill.

***

Ksh-i-La-La and Tanda Camp Fire Girls who are preparing to make their Firemaker’s rank at the Grand Council Fire in Danbury next March will entertain the Dads of all Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls of Sandy Hook at a Firemaker’s Dinner for Dads in St John’s Parish Hall this Thursday night at 6 o’clock. They will serve dinner to almost 100 guests.

***

The regular monthly dinner meeting of the Men’s Literary and Social Club was held at the Parker House on Wednesday evening with H.N. Kirby acting as host and C. Walter Bounty as essayist. The speaker was Judge Benjamin H. Mead of the City Court of Stamford, who spoke most interestingly of the history and makeup of the American Constitution.

***

The Leonids, best known of all meteor showers, should be visible if the skies are clear Thursday and Friday nights of this week. Having received inquiries as to which part of the heavens and at what time observers should look for them, The Bee consulted its authority, Harry “Astronomer” Price of Sunset Hill, and was informed that these meteoric showers, which come at intervals of about 33 years, might be seen in the east between midnight and 2 am, Friday or Saturday.

***

Miss Eleanor Cavanaugh and Miss Aline Gibson of New York City passed the weekend in town as guests of Miss Cavanaugh’s mother, Mrs Lucy B. Cavanaugh. Dr and Mrs Alexander T. Martin and family of Palestine district recently returned to New York City for the winter months. Rep and Mrs Newton Curtis leave this Thursday for St Petersburg, Florida, where they will spend the winter months.

November 5, 1920

Janvier Farms, in the town of Newtown, on the state road between Danbury and Newtown, has been sold by Mrs Emma Smith of Danbury, to Lee B. and Helen E. Woodworth of Pittsburt, Pa. The farm, which is one of the most sightly and attractive places on the Danbury-Newtown-Bridgeport road, borders on Taunton lake. The property includes a large residence provided with all modern improvements, and commodious quarters for servants, a large barn, carriage house, garage, hennery, and other outbuildings that go to make up a completely equipped farm. There is also a quaint stone bungalow on the property.

***

Tuesday, Election Day morning, Dr W.H. Keirnan, the beloved Sandy Hook physician, and usually an observing man, drove his Overland car up in front of Corbett & Crowe’s, stopped, got out and went into the store. Sheriff Beers’ Overland car stood not far away. When he came out, the happy doctor jumped into Sheriff Beers’ car and drove off toward the Rubber factory. When Sheriff Beers came out of the store he found his car gone and he asked a lady standing there if she had seen anything of his car. “Yes,” replied the lady. “Dr Kiernan just drove it around the corner. After a while, Dr Kiernan came back and stopped near Sheriff Beers. “Can you tell me what is the matter with the steering gear of my car?” “Yes,” returned the Sheriff, “the car you are riding in is my car and I am almost tempted to run you in.” The doctor was all apologies when the fact became clear. The matter will be reported to the next meeting of the Men’s Club, and C.S. Cole will suggest to the doctor some way he can straighten the matter out. As it stands now, it has cost the doctor a lot of smokes.

***

A minstrel show and dance will be given on Thanksgiving night, November 25, by the Virgilius Council, No 25, K of C, at the Town hall. Some of the best talent in this line has been engaged and everyone attending will be assured a good time. New and old dances will prevail.

***

Newtown joined in the general republican trend throughout the nation in Tuesday’s election. Harding and Coolidge carried the town by 12 majority. Two republican representatives, Phil T. Platt and Newton M. Curtis, were elected. Oscar Pitzschler, for judge of probate, received a handsome endorsement... The number voting was 1,118, with 34 rejected ballots.

***

At a meeting of the School Board, Monday night, it was voted to open a room for eighth grade pupils in the Sandy Hook school building. P.H. McCarthy, formerly a successful teacher in North Center, has been engaged. The appointment is an excellent one and will meet with general satisfaction... It is probable the State Board of Education will send a man to act as school supervisor here.

***

This Saturday night will be shown for the first time in Newtown for this season, Douglas Fairbanks. He appears in “He Comes Up Smiling,” and should need no special advertising as he is known to almost every one as one of the most celebrated stars before the public. This picture has been secured at greater expense than any other picture since the house opened last spring. The management do not expect to make any money on it but would like to break even.

Your memories are the ones we want to share! 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 editor@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.