November 17, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Paul Parvis.

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The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps began responding earlier this month to all medical calls at Garner Correctional Facility. It marked the first time since the 1993 riot that Newtown volunteers entered the heavily guarded maximum-security prison to transport a patient. The corps responded to its first call at the prison November 4 when a prisoner was having difficulty breathing. It has made three trips back there since.

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An outreach representative from the Connecticut Historical Society took some local children and their mothers on a trip back in time to colonial America during a Colonial Life Workshop November 10 at the Matthew Curtiss House/Museum on Main Street. The program was sponsored by the Newtown Historical Society. The one-hour, hands-on program introduced the children to everyday life in the 18th century.

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Volunteers began placing another batch of personalized bricks into the walkway at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library last weekend. Mark Krasnickas donated his time and tools to remove the plain bricks and replace them with those that are inscribed with names and personal messages. Among those helping were Library Director Janet Woycik, Kathy Geckle, and Pat Denlinger. The personalized bricks are $50 each.

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Police report they issued a total of 133 misdemeanor and infraction tickets during the month of October. These included four misdemeanor summonses on charges of operating under the influence; 36 infractions for traveling unreasonably fast; 14 infractions for going through red lights; 12 infractions for driving through stop signs; 10 infractions for driving unregistered motor vehicles; and 9 speeding infractions. Police issued the misdemeanors and infractions in 40 different categories.

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Years ago, the Lussiers of Newtown used to participate as a family in St Rose theatre productions, back when the Newtown church presented such shows on a regular basis. Bob and Dolores Lussier, along with sons Bob Jr, Keith, and Kevin, would all take part in different forms of the productions, usually with Bob playing piano, Dolores singing, and the boys in acting roles. … On Friday night, Dolores Lussier will begin performances as the Mother Abbess, and her son Bob will be right there in the midst of the show, starring as Captain von Trapp … at Ridgefield Workshop for the Performing Arts.

November 14, 1975

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — AFTER THE ELECTION: Politics never takes a complete rest in Newtown, or in any other community for that matter, but if there ever is a time when it goes at a slower pace it is during the first few weeks which follow an election. We are in that time period at the moment, with many Republicans wishing the vote for First Selectman had been just the reverse, and most Democrats looking forward to their man taking over the top job at Town Hall early next year.

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Zita McMahon, Democratic candidate for selectman, has announced that she will not pursue the court case involving the legality of 289 absentee ballots cast in the November 4 election and has stated she feels the results of the recount (Friday evening, November 7) should stand. This means that First Selectman Frank DeLucia, who lost his bid for re-election to Democrat Jack Rosenthal, but outpolled Mrs McMahon for a selectman’s seat by eight votes because of absentee ballots, has won the position.

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Consulting engineers Metcalf & Eddy have prepared a plan for the town-owned Stefanko property including all the facilities the Park and Recreation Commission and the Children’s Adventure Center Inc, asked them to consider and the Recreation Commission reports the cost of the entire project at present rates, including engineering fees and the salary of a clerk of the works, would total $2,402,595.

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Fairfield Hills Hospital has been notified it will lose accreditation for failure to correct fire and safety hazards. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) gave the hospital one year to correct the hazards which were noted by the state fire marshal in his survey of the institution after the Greenwich House fire in early 1974. The repairs and changes, estimated at $2 million, have not been started. Of the $535,000 in insurance money to repair the Greenwich House, only $35,000 has been spent on the hospital.

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Phil Trahan of Newtown generated a lot of laughs when he donned a fake nose and moustache during the dinner hour of the annual Scholarship Ball, which took place at the Preston Hill Inn on Saturday, November 8. This year’s Ball earned a profit of about $1,800 that will go into the general scholarship fund.

November 10, 1950

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THINK BACK TO WEDNESDAY: We always think of air and water as being free and unlimited. They are taken for granted until something happens to them. Then we realize their value and the need, for the sake of life itself, that they be kept clean and pure. That point came home to residents of the Borough on Wednesday when the water supply was shut off to permit the Newtown Water Company to lay a larger main along Queen Street. … We did appreciate the flow of water through the pipes when it was turned on again in the late afternoon. Perhaps frequent reminders would be helpful in the future — to the end that matters of water supply and pollution, and air pollution too, be given the serious public consideration which these problems deserve.

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With an upsurge of Republican voting throughout the country, Newtown favored Republican candidates for all offices with the exception of the post of Judge of Probate, wherein the present incumbent, Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh, who has held the office for the past 12 years, was returned to his post by the emphatic vote of 1336 against 1044 votes for Walter A. Reynolds, the Republican candidate. A feature of the election was the large number of split tickets, there being 824 such ballots cast as against 650 in 1948. Judge John F. Holian, unsuccessful candidate for Representative, polled the next highest number in the Democratic column, taking 1118 votes, 31 more votes than he polled in 1948 but approximately 200 votes less than each of the two Republican candidates.

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The regular monthly meeting of the Newtown Parent Teachers Association, held at Hawley School Tuesday evening, November 7, was conducted in an informal manner unprecedented in the history of the local organization. Entering the auditorium, members were impressed with the semi-circular formation of the seats, an arrangement intended to promote a friendlier meeting with more active audience participation. There were about 200 members present.

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The Hawleyville Fire Department had more difficulty in bringing under control its alarm signal than it did the automobile fire to which it was summoned early Monday evening of this week. According to Fire Commissioner J. Frederick Seman, members of the company were meeting in the fire house when they received a call from Mrs Jean Parsons of Hawleyville. Firemen found nothing more than burning brakes on Mrs Parsons’ car, but it was nearly a half hour later before mechanics were able to put a stop to the siren which had been wailing insistently since the alarm first sounded.

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The Newtown Ground Observe Corps was active last week-end, November 4 and 5, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., when the Air Force held a test observation period throughout the state of New York and all New England states. The local activity was typical of that carried out in 96 observation posts in other parts of Connecticut. The Connecticut method of allocating observation posts has been adopted as a model on a national scale. The Newtown post was on the property of Commander Warner W. Bayley, Newtown director of Civil defense.

November 13, 1925

Frances Elizabeth Northrop, wife of George W. Northrop, of South Center, entered in the Rest of the Life Eternal, Sunday night, aged 71 years. Surviving her are her husband, one daughter, Mrs John Gilbert, of Newtown, one son, Raymond Northrop, of Syracuse, N.Y., and a grandson. … She was a member of the Congregational church, a person whose life richly adorned the Christian profession. The funeral was largely attended on Wednesday afternoon, Rev G.H. Ekins officiating. … The burial was in the Newtown cemetery.

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The Jolly Sewers’ Clothing Club held a meeting on November 10, at the local leader’s home. New officers were elected as follows: President, Ernestine Visny. Vice-president, Pauline Perun. Secretary and treasurer, Jennie Read. Chairman of Absence Committee, Martha Clark. It was voted that the secretary act as club reporter. James R. Case, County club agent, was present and gave the club some useful hints about demonstration work.

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Dr R.L. Leak, Superintendent of the Connecticut State Hospital, Middletown, and Mrs Leak, were callers, Thursday, on Allison P. Smith.

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NEWTOWN IS ON THE MAP And is one of the most beautiful towns in the state to locate in. Has bank, extended views, Country Golf Club, high school, library, stores, Lake water, electric lights, hotel, tea rooms — enough said. I can interest you in a farm or country home. I have some fine places to show in the village with all modern improvements, and good terms. I will be pleased to show you at any time, only let me know in advance. I also have collection of antiques, Franklin stove, chairs, andirons, looking glasses, bureaus, black walnut extension stables, stands and other pieces. Come and look them over. —Chas. F. Beardsley, The Live Wire Real Estate and Auctioneer. Newtown, Conn. Telephone 106.

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Mr and Mrs F.A. Young, who are soon to remove from Taunton district, were given a surprise by their neighbors, last week Tuesday night. About 40 of the neighbors were present and a pleasant social evening enjoyed. They were presented with a neat tea set, Robert Camp making the presentation speech.

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Henry Barker Read, of Palestine, who has been laid up for 10 days with a severe attack of lumbago, is now getting about again.

November 16, 1900

The case of Charlotte E. Pitcher of Brookfield against William Brigham of Newtown was after many continuances tried on Saturday last before Justice M.J. Bradley and was decided in favor of Mr Brigham for costs. It was a suit for $99 for board. Mr Brigham claimed he was to work for his board; this Mrs Pitcher denied and said he was to pay $5 per week for it. This however was contradicted by several witnesses and Judge Bradley found as they testified. Notice of appeal was filed. C.H. Northrop for Mrs Pitcher, W.J. Beecher for Mr Brigham.

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The case of Daniel Lynch against Charles W. Hawley was tried before Justice Josiah B. Downs in the Street on Saturday last and resulted in a judgement for Mr Lynch for the full amount claimed, v z, $40, and costs. Mr Hawley appealed to the Court of Common Pleas and what the result will be there nobody knows as it is one of those peculiar horse cases where one party says the other warranted the horse and the other says he did not. Mr Hawley says Mr Lynch warranted the horse all right in every respect, and that he was not all right, being balky. This Mr Lynch denies. W.J. Beecher for Mr Lynch and William H. O’Hara for Mr Hawley.

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Editor A.P. Smith of The Bee was in Waterbury on Friday and was very pleasantly entertained by Frederick Chambers, a former townsman. He also enjoyed a call on O.G. Camp, who lives next door to Mr Chambers, one of Waterbury’s best known business men and a native of good old Roxbury.

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Six head of extra fine cows passed through the Street the other day enroute for Hawleyville. They were from the barn of Frederick Chambers and were sold to a party in Newburg, who bought up a carload of cattle in this section.

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Owing to the inclemency of the weather, Dr L.A. Peck, the Woodbury dentist, will give up his visits to Sandy Hook for the present. He will continue his weekly visit to Roxbury Center.

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Ernest M. Hawley of Hawleyville started out for a little hunt, the other night, returning with four coons, the whole weighting 50 pounds, and the largest one tipping the scales at 26. He ought to be made an honorary member, at least, of the Sandy Hook club. [Brookfield Correspondent]. No doubt President Orgelman will bring this important matter to the attention of his fellow members at the earliest possible moment.

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 emailed 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.