December 20, 1996

ON OUR COVER: For the second year in a row, the illustration on the cover of our Christmas issue — this time featuring a line drawing of Santa digging into Main Street near the flagpole, with Trinity Church in the background — is the work of John Coutinho. The Christmas cover illustration is a long tradition at The Bee, which has featured the artistic talents of many well-known cartoonists and illustrators, including Paul Webb, Lee Lorenz, Dana Fradon, Steven Kellogg, and Harrie Wood, as well as many lesser known but talented artists. It is our way of sending our best holiday wishes to all of Newtown. Quite often, the covers have been drawn directly from town life, reflecting issues and events familiar to everyone who lives in Newtown. This year, the cover acknowledges that our streets and front lawns are decorated with more than just ornaments this year, as construction of the town’s massive sewer project continues apace, right through the holiday season. But as you can see, Santa and his elves have everything well in hand.

* * *

An Oxford hunter charged with criminally negligent homicide and first-degree reckless endangerment in connection with the November shotgun death of a Bridgeport hunter in Lower Paugussett State Forest has entered not guilty pleas to both charges in Danbury Superior Court. State police charged the 39-year-old Oxford man with two Class A misdemeanors after investigating the November 2 shotgun killing of the 28-year-old from Bridgeport.

* * *

United Fire Company of Botsford Chief Steve Belair said a man, who was not identified, was standing on an aerial platform Saturday at about 1 pm when he fell victim of an equipment malfunction that caused the device to tip, stranding the man on the tilted elevated platform. Botsford firefighters responded to the Maltbie Road site where a new house is under construction. They placed cribbing beneath the tilted lifting device to stabilize it. Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighters also responded, and extended their fire truck’s ladder to the man, who climbed to the ground. Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps checked the man at the scene. He was uninjured.

* * *

Library Trustee Bill Lavery promised the people of Newtown Monday night that the $4.1 million addition to the Cyrenius H. Booth Library would be done on time and at or below budget. Mr Lavery, responding to town officials’ concerns the project is lagging, told the Board of Selectmen that despite problems, the project is still within its 14-month construction schedule. Architect Bruce Tuthill of King and Tuthill Architects in Avon concurred, saying the 22,000 square foot structure is 68 percent complete and that though it has hit its share of bumps, the project will be completed by June.

* * *

Little ones delighted in meeting Santa and Mrs Claus, who stopped by Nunnawauk Meadows to hand out some early Christmas presents on December 8. Adult children and 27 grand- and great-grandchildren of residents attended the event. The musicians cancelled their performance due to inclement weather, so participants enjoyed an impromptu sing-along. Each child received a gift and candy cane from Santa, and everyone enjoyed punch, cookies, and candy. Santa bore a striking resemblance to Ben Burke and Mrs Claus looked a lot like Hilda Schmidt, both of whom live at Nunnawauk Meadows.

December 24, 1971

A fire this week at Wheeler Shopping Center on Queen Street destroyed the interior of one store and caused smoke damage in several others. Volunteers from Newtown Hook & Ladder and the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company fought the blaze, the cause of which is under investigation. Flames destroyed The Closet, a men’s clothing store. Also damaged were The Center Luncheonette, E. Miller dress shop, Borodenko’s Market, Cumberland Farms, the Village Barber Shop and an office directly above Borodenko’s.

* * *

Residents of Key Rock Road were at the Board of Selectman’s meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the traffic and speeding problem along their road which is being used as a shortcut to Redding. The state has approved posting a 20 mile per hour speed limit, an unusually low one, First Selectman Timothy Treadwell said, since ordinarily posted speed limits are 25 mph or more. Residents said the speed limit is generally ignored, causing danger to children and other pedestrians and also to other vehicles. Also discussed were the possibilities of making the road one way of a dead-end street, or posting a “No Thru Traffic” sign. The discussion will continue at the board’s January 4 meeting.

* * *

Excitement ran sky high behind Edmond Town Hall on Saturday morning as Santa swung down from the North in a helicopter to find out what the children of Newtown want for Christmas. A large crowd gathered as Santa landed, shook hands with Chamber of Commerce President Ed Sullivan and First Selectman Timothy Treadwell, then went into Town Hall to meet with the children and make out his list.

* * *

Voters attending a special town meeting Wednesday evening unanimously and quickly passed two items and approved a resolution presented by First Selectman Timothy Treadwell at the end of the meeting. The first item was to accept a $40,000 gift from Otto Heise and Otto Heise Jr, $30,000 of which is to go to the Board of Town Hall Managers for the improvement of town hall, and $10,000 for the Board of Education to improve Taylor Field behind Hawley School. The voters also approved the transfer of $3,000 from the public works account to the contingency account. Mr Treadwell’s resolution expressed the appreciation of the town to the Heises for their gifts.

* * *

A child’s drawing delivered season’s greetings to all readers from The Bee staff this year. A Christmas drawing by Steven Hensel, 9, a member of the fourth grade class at Sandy Hook Elementary School, decorated our front page.

December 20, 1946

The fund which has been collected for the Conger family since its devastating fire on December 6 has reached $2,100. Many donations of clothing, food, and furniture have been made and more is promised. Harold Bassett started collecting money for the fund a few hours after the fire swept through the caretaker’s cottage where the Congers lived, killing four of the children. Louis Bedat has donated a piece of land, 36 by 280 feet, to the Congers, and there are plans to build the family a Cape Cod-style cottage there.

* * *

Mrs Adeline Pease, 75, who lives at the residence of Mr and Mrs William M. Strong on Main Street, was struck by a car while crossing Main Street near the flagpole at about 5 pm on Wednesday. The car that hit her was driven by Dr Stillman P. Grout of Fairfield State Hospital. Mrs Pease suffered head injuries and was hospitalized and placed on the danger list.

* * *

In view of the widespread suffering and poverty throughout post-war Europe, the Pestalozzi Foundation, of which H.C. Honneger of Walnut Tree Hill Road is president, is continuing its efforts to help the needy children of Europe. The foundation this week shipped food, clothing and shoes valued at $105,000 to be distributed to the children of France, Holland, Austria, Italy and Germany. The shipments include 21 cases of new handmade woolen clothing, 9,200 pairs of new Bally children’s shoes, and 3,000 cases of sweetened condensed milk.

* * *

A meeting of the Danbury Medical Society was held at Danbury Hospital to discuss the advisability of changes in the present schedule fees charged by doctors in the area, including Newtown, since there were no real increases during the war years. The new minimum fee schedule, which will go into effect immediately, includes $3 for office visits, $4 for a house call or hospital visit between the hours of 8 am and 9 pm, $6 for a night call. The minimum obstetrical fee will be $75, excluding prenatal care.

* * *

A meeting of parents and others interested in the work of the new Sandy Hook Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps was held last Friday night at the Sandy Hook Fire House. Temporary officers were elected: Pearl Tilson, president; Ruth Carmody, vice president; Mrs Paul McCarthy, secretary; Paul McCarthy, treasurer.

December 23, 1921

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: When Mrs E.L. Johnson set out to complete the History of Newtown, which her talented husband had started, she performed a laborious task which made every thoughtful citizen her debtor. Ten years from to-day, 20 years from to-day, 30 years from to-day, this book will be prized far more than it is to-day. Our home citizens have not bought copies of this excellent town history in the way they ought. Many, many well-to-do citizens have not subscribed for a copy, as The Bee believes they ought to do. Is there not some friend, in or out of town, you can afford to make a present of this town history? Show the proper spirit of town patriotism by subscribing for a copy of this work. A week after you have done it you will thank the editor for calling your attention to the matter.

* * *

J.A. James and W.E. Sturges are the champion pig raisers of Hawleyville. Edward Egan butchered three hogs for them that weighed when dressed 654, 605 and 600 pounds each. The hogs were 14 months old. Can any others beat these?

* * *

Some one lost a brooch at the Congregational church supper, last Friday night, and can have same by applying to Mrs L.C. Morris and proving property.

* * *

Mrs Joseph Webber of Mile Hill was taken seriously ill with appendicitis, last Thursday morning. She was taken at once by Dr W.H. Kiernan to the Danbury hospital for an operation, and is now convalescing nicely.

* * *

The whist, last Monday night, was well attended, nine tables doing justice to the game, and a good time was the verdict. The highest ladies’ score was won for the evening by Mrs Arthur H. Smith and Miss Marion Flory, and the gents’ by Arthur J. Smith and O. Howard Hall. The scores for the month gave Mrs Arthur J. Smith first for the ladies and Mrs William R. Curtis second, and for the gentlemen, O. Howard Hall first and Raymond Hall second. The next whist will be on Thursday, December 29, and will take the form of a Christmas party and supper, with whist afterwards. The prizes for the month will be given out at the meeting. It is hoped that all will attend.

December 25, 1896

THE EDITOR’S FAMILIAR CHAT: It is said that Gov-Elect Schofield of Wisconsin began his business career as a “printer’s devil,” in a country newspaper office. | Those who listened to the burning words of Mr Samuelian, the Armenian who spoke at the Town hall, last week, will be interested to read what who eminent a man as Rev Dr Cyrus Hamlin says. He was for many years a missionary in Turkey. He says (and corroborates the assertions made by Mr Samuelian): “But the Turkish government is in a very tight place. The sultan is determined to exterminate the Armenians or convert them to Mohammedanism. He has been steadily at it for years.” | If any of The Bee’s readers are in doubt as to where they shall bestow their Christmas charity, they will make no mistake in remembering the Children’s Aid Society in New York. For, as the Hartford Courant remarks, “With its lodging houses, its schools and its country colony, this society is brightening the lives of thousands on thousands of unfortunate children, and starting them in the road of honest industry and good citizenship.”

* * *

That the Newtown Academy is maintaining its prestige as a good school of learning was attested to last Friday afternoon when the school took a half holiday and sent out an urgent invitation to patrons and friends to make a special effort to come out to the Academy building and see and hear what the pupils could do. Now this is not Prof Hoyt’s idea, by any means, to have the people come into the school solely on dress parade days, but he would be most happy if they would drop in on work-a-day days, to see how the children are being taught. But if they won’t, he does wisely to make a special effort to get them there once a term that they may enjoy as well as learn something about the school life of the Newtown Academy.

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 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.