December 15, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Karen Finlayson.

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Newtown has reached an all-time high in terms of its growth and the proof is in the numbers. Recently released figures shed new light on how the steady stream of new residents has affected the community’s demographics. As of June 30, 2000, Newtown’s population had risen beyond the 24,000 mark and that growth is reflected in many other areas. For example, the school enrollment is nearing the 5,000 student mark, an increase of nearly 1,400 students in the past 10 years.

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Harbingers of winter blew through Newtown with a fury earlier this week. A windstorm on Tuesday caused tree limbs and wires to fall. Then an ice storm hit the area early Thursday morning. Various fire companies in the Newtown area attended to 25 calls throughout the day December 12. A tree fell on a house on Bungalow Terrace in Sandy Hook, and wires were down on various streets throughout Newtown.

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Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which consists of emergency medical technicians who volunteer their services so the corps can continue to provide free emergency ambulance service throughout Newtown, recently voted on its executive board for 2001: Chief Ken Appley, Assistant Chief Liz Cain, Secretary-Treasurer Karin Halstead, and Members-at-Large Nancy McLachlan and Mike Agius. The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps began responding in November to all medical calls at Garner Correctional Facility, and the growing population of Newtown only adds to the number of calls that go in to the corps’ headquarters on Main Street. Due to a ruling by the state board of health in June that also took effect last month, the town’s volunteer ambulance service is now also responding to all calls at Fairfield Hills.

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As soon as he turned 16, on January 18, 1956, Bill Halstead enlisted as a Sandy Hook volunteer firefighter, starting his work in firefighting at the earliest possible age. And he has been progressing through the ranks ever since. On Tuesday night, the Board of Fire Commissioners named Mr Halstead the town’s new fire marshal, the successor to Fire Marshal George Lockwood, who will leave the post in January. … Mr Halstead has been a town deputy fire marshal since 1984.

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Last weekend, Trinity Day School combined the observance of the Feast of Saint Nicholas with an Advent celebration for many of its students. On Saturday, December 9, the youngest children of the school, the Lambs, through the students in third grade spent a few hours at Trinity Episcopal Church for “St Nicholas Day: An Advent Celebration.” For 90 minutes, children and their parents were encouraged to participate in a number of activities, many with an ecumenical theme, as well as craft projects and cookie baking.

December 12, 1975

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — IN FAVOR OF NOTHING: It is not uncommon for a group of people to get together, work and plan for many hours, and end up doing nothing. In fact, after sitting through countless town meetings and board and commission gatherings, one often gets the impression that even the slightest progress is often a very drawn-out process. The outcome of a recent meeting, under the direction of the Newtown Summer Festival Committee, produced the idea that the best way to do something was to do nothing at all. … the promotion comes down to a strong effort on the part of the Festival Committee to erase the debt owed on last year’s activities and insure a successful 1976 season. The means to this end is the “Not At All Ball,” an event which is scheduled not to be held on January 1, in the Newtown High School as planned. Town officials have agreed not to serve as honorary chairmen and committee members have signed up for duties not to be performed. But most important, people are buying tickets.

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Within a few days Newtowners will begin receiving questionnaires through the mail, and those who choose to answer them will have their thoughts on Newtown and the country incorporated into a time capsule which, hopefully, will be opened 100 years from now and give future Newtowners an idea of what social, political and cultural conditions were like “back in 1976.” The time capsule idea was conceived by high school history department member Daniel Dorman, who worked with his students on such a project last year.

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It was likely the last of the old-time town meetings in Newtown as, within a month, future actions of a similar nature will be handled by the 18-member Legislative Council. So moderator Robert H. Hall suggested “it might be fun” for the people who approved funding for a study of Newtown’s aquifer to sign their names and record for posterity their attendance at the special town meeting Wednesday, December 10. Twenty-one persons (not including four reporters) swiftly approved use of $14,000 of Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials funds which, with a matching U.S. Department of Interior grant, will pay for the six-month study.

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Anne O’Donnell, Planning & Zoning Commissions administrative assistant, received a withdrawal from Cyril Mantell Thursday morning for his South Main Street shopping center proposal. Thus the public hearing scheduled for this Thursday and Friday at Edmond Town Hall has been cancelled. Seven-tenths of an acre of the proposed 14-acre site is owned by Penn Central Transportation Company, but Mr Mantell has been unable to formalize an agreement with Penn Central on the parcel. This is the same reason the original hearing scheduled in October was also cancelled at the eleventh hour.

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The Newtown Middle School administrators conducted an informational meeting at the school Monday evening for the purpose of informing parents of the 6th, 7th and 8th graders about the new alcohol education program which began on December 1 in the school. Had any more than a handful of 16 persons attended, they would have learned that this program was started as part of a state-mandated health curriculum which eventually will have to include, besides alcohol education, drug, smoking and sex education.

December 8, 1950

Anticipation ran high at the monthly meeting of the Newtown Parent Teacher Association Tuesday evening, December 5, at Hawley School. The preliminary business meeting was in charge of Mrs William Knox, the president, who first called for reports by William Prahl, secretary, and Mrs Edwin Storres, treasurer. Carl LeGrow, supervising principal, explained a request made by the elementary school teachers that room mothers cooperate to relieve teachers of their responsibility for a brief period during the noon recess. Volunteers should notify Mr LeGrow or the co-chairmen of the room mothers project, Mrs Rudolf Berkemann and Mrs Alfred Nelson.

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One of the casualties of the recent storm in the community was the American flag that had been flying at the top of the new steel 100-foot flagpole on Main Street at the head of Church Hill Road. Lashed by the fury of the winds, the proud emblem of the Republic became hopelessly entangled in the halyards and was shredded to ribbons. Old Glory was finally removed from its lofty post last Saturday by steeplejacks using a crane furnished by Edgerton and Sons, Inc., Bridgeport. First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson states that he has a new flag in readiness to be raised on the pole. The removal operation attracted a number of residents and shoppers along Main Street, who witnessed the feat. State Police from Ridgefield Barracks directed traffic during the removal and the lowering of the crane.

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Mr and Mrs Theodore Kaechele of Parmalee Hill Road left Newtown this Tuesday to spend the winter months in Bradenton, Fla.

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Mrs Milton Chernoff of Ann and Milts, South Center District, left Sunday morning by car with her sister, Mrs George Wiesman of Bridgeport, for Miami Beach, Fla., for a two-weeks stay.

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Richard F. Burdett, former secretary of the New Milford Savings Bank, took over on December 4, as treasurer of the Newtown Savings Bank. He is a graduate of the School of Banking, Rutgers University and has been since 1943 secretary of the New Milford Bank. Mr Burdett has had wide experience in savings banking and is considered an able successor to Arthur Treat Nettleton, who resigned some time ago. … Mr Burdett hopes to make his permanent residence in Newtown in the near future.

December 11, 1925

The Newtown Hook & Ladder Co., held an enthusiastic meeting, Monday night, with a good attendance, Foreman P.H. Gannon presided. The foreman announced the appointment of members to the following positions: Hydrant Men: Levi C. Morris, P.H. McCarthy, M.F. Crowe, William Ready. Hosemen: John J. Keane, Henry Carlson, Adolph Carlson, R.W. Tiemann, Robert Gannon, John Cahill, P.F. McMahon, Martin Keniry, Joseph Keniry, John Ray Sr. Nozzle Men: C.F. Cavanaugh, Frank Blackman, George Stuart, P.V. Cavanaugh, Fred Crouch, William Corbett, Thomas Griffen, William S. Lillis. Fire Police: A.P. Smith, J.J. Northrop, Frank Wright, S.C. Glover, Thomas Carlson, John J. Keating.

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Ball Band Felts and Overs, Ball Band lace Pack and wool stocking, Ball Band Coon tail felt and overs, Ball Band four buckle artic for men and ladies, boys, misses and children. Always look for the Red Ball, the sign of quality.—[Corbett & Crow, Adv.

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Announcement has been made of the engagement of Miss Dorothy L. Bartram, 521 State street, to Hylon O. Broadbrook, 293 Norman street, Bridgeport. Miss Bartram is the daughter of Mr and Mrs D.S. Bartram of Botsford.

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Mr and Mrs Jurco of Stepney spent their Thanksgiving with Mr and Mrs Paul Soltis of Botsford Hill.

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Mr and Mrs Carl Rasmussen of Dodgingtown entertained for dinner, Sunday. Their aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Byron Crane of Danbury, also their cousins, Mr and Mrs Howard Platt and three girls, Marion, Marjorie and Winifred of Redding Center.

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If “he” asks you out on Saturday, December 19, make him bring you to see “My Cousin Timmy” in the Hawley school auditorium. The class of ‘26 is presenting this amusing play and that is sufficient recommendation.

December 14, 1900

HATTERTOWN PERSONAL CHAT: Mr and Mrs Frank Pratt of Bridgeport, Mr and Mrs Frank Finkle and Mr and Mrs Charles Lavine and child of Naugatuck were Thanksgiving guests of H.A. Pratt and family. | Mr and Mrs Ralph Keeler and child of Trumbull spent Thanksgiving day with Mr and Mrs Charles Thorpe. | Mrs Robert Davis is stick with an attack of the grip. | Mr and Mrs E.B. Booth and Miss Edna Booth ate their turkey dinner with Mr Booth’s mother, Mrs A. Booth, in Stepney. | Dr C.M. Penny of Bridgeport, Mr and Mrs Edgar C. Northrop and Rev Mr Rollins and family were entertained at Mr and Mrs J.W. Penny’s, Thanksgiving day.

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The E.C. Platt Co. of Hawleyville have the contract for furnishing lumber for a large house at Milbrook, N.Y., for Col Lamont, who was secretary of war under Mr Cleveland.

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Tuesday was a notable day in the history of the Newtown Library Association, when the fine new building presented to the Association by Miss Rebecca D. Beach of New Haven, was formally accepted and dedicated by interesting and timely exercises. The exercises of the day opened shortly after the appointed hour, 2 o’clock, Rev George Thomas Linsley, the popular and esteemed rector of Trinity church, and president of the Library Association, presiding in his usual graceful and pleasing manner. The library was crowded to the doors, every available seat being occupied.

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L.C. Gilbert is making improvements around his barn, fixing the heavy walls to the cellar, etc.

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Frank Conger is boarding Benjamin Nichols’ horse for an indefinite time.

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The familiar meat bell that Botsford people have heard twice a week at their door through the summer months has not been heard for the past two weeks, which has been a disappointment to a great many round Botsford and vicinity.

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.