* * *

The Board of Selectmen voted Wednesday, June 1, to accept the $8,000 handball wall at Treadwell Memorial Park with the stipulation that the contractor paint the side facing the handball court, despite Selectman Joseph Borst’s objections that it had depressions and the surface was too rough to meet specifications.

* * *

The numerous tag sales that sprout along the residential roadsides on weekends in area towns are also somewhat troublesome as zoning officials seek to enforce regulations and people putting on tag sales find themselves tied up in red tape. Newtown has probably the most strict regulations among area towns governing the sales. For instance, directional signs off the property involved are not allowed. The local regulations permit only one double-faced or two single-faced signs to be erected, and only during the nine days the permit is in effect. The zoning department advises people to publish direction to their sales when they advertise them in the newspaper.

* * *

Local and regional officials will discuss how to proceed with traffic safety improvements at the Newtown flagpole intersection this coming Thursday, at 3 pm in Edmond Town Hall in light of the Newtown Congregational Church’s May 15 decision to move the church about 50 feet. The regional planning agency considers that intersection the worst and most accident prone in the ten-town Housatonic Valley region.

* * *

Sunday, July 3, is the date for the annual townwide Fourth of July picnic sponsored by the Newtown Summer Festival Committee. The picnic will be held at the Dickinson Memorial Town Park on Elm Drive, running from 1 to 7:30 pm. Admission is $2 per car and $1 for walk-ins. There will be puppet shows, face painting, an egg toss, water games and field games, a tug of war, a pie eating contest, and for those still left standing, a fast and furious game of “Simon Says.”

* * *

Here we go again! This will be the fifteenth consecutive wet weekend. Another storm is making its way to the East Coast, courtesy of the West Coast, and rain should arrive late Friday, continue Saturday and possibly part of Sunday. Dr Mel Goldstein was heard on a local news program as stating that this is probably the wettest spring in a century.

* * *

Over the years, individual Newtown churches have attempted to serve as “Good Samaritans” to the town’s needy. This time, several area churches are making a united effort to provide up to a week’s supply of food to families on an emergency basis. Spearheaded by St John’s in Sandy Hook, representatives of St Rose, Newtown United Methodist, Newtown Congregational, Christ the King Lutheran and Trinity Episcopal met Tuesday night, May 24, in St John’s undercroft to lay the groundwork for Newtown’s Food Pantry.

 

June 6, 1958

The Rev Edwin A. Skipton, newly elected rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown, will arrive here with his family, the latter part of June and will assume his duties as rector of Trinity Church on July 1. In December 1953, he became the Canon at St John’s Cathedral, Albuquerque, N.M., and in November 1955, he was elected Dean of the Cathedral. Dean Skipton has been very active in youth work, serving on the Youth Division in the Diocese of Connecticut while at St John’s and Calvary, and in Albuquerque he has been chairman of the Department of Christian Education of the Diocese.

* * *

The members of the Newtown United Methodist Church voted to acquire property adjoining the church to be used for a parsonage and other church facilities at the special Quarterly Conference held at the church on Monday evening, June 2. The decision will be subject to the approval of the District Board of Church Location.

* * *

The annual Memorial Day observance in Newtown started Friday with ceremonies at Dickinson Memorial Park when members of Charles Howard Peck Sr and Jr Post 308, VFW, presented an American flag to Selectman Coleman for use in the park. Following the presentation the annual parade formed in the park and proceeded out onto Main Street an up as far as the flagpole, turned down Church Hill Road and into Queen Street to Newtown High School. At the school the exercises were held and Colonel James A. Tobey USA (retired) was the principal speaker.

* * *

The organ recital given at the Congregational church last Sunday evening with Leonard Manz at the organ did not disappoint lovers of good music. While America today is experiencing and even distorting the music of the civilized composers to the jungle beat, it is refreshing to spend an hour listening to serene and satisfactory music.               —A Lover of Good Music

* * *

The Newtown Babe Ruth League has announced the successful completion of the sponsorship program for 1958. Four Newtown business concerns, Tru Valu Food Stores, E. Paul Kovacs Co., Newtown Cleaners, and the D’Addario Sand and Gravel Co., have joined the newly-adopted plan which is designed to finance the League for the current season.

* * *

Members of the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission voted Monday evening to table the adoption of the proposed zoning regulations pending completion of the town plan. In arriving at the decision the commission openly recognized antagonism to two points in the proposed regulations, some from general business, which was not classified in the regulations, and further to the zoning of a one-acre minimum size residential lot.

 

June 2, 1933

A large sized audience was present, Tuesday morning, at the Memorial exercises at the Edmond Town hall. The exercises were dignified and impressive. The program opened with interesting exercises by the Newtown Scouts, under the direction of their Scoutmaster, Rev Paul A. Cullens. Flag signaling, the tying of knots and starting a fire by friction were among the stunts performed.

* * *

Contractor T.F. Brew is making extensive repairs on the residence of Miss Etta Martin at the Depot. Charles Ferris, Jr, of Taylor Street is building a six-room house. The frame is raised and closed in. A.T. Nettleton is making general repairs on his residence, putting down new floors and adding two new windows. Contractor T.F. Brew is doing the work.

* * *

The Auction Barn, which was run so successfully last summer, under the direction of Wilton Lackaye, Jr, will open this season on next Wednesday, June 7, in Mr Lackaye’s place in Sandy Hook. This new location is most ideally situated directly in the center of the Village of Sandy Hook, where US Routes 6 and 34 join. The grounds are spacious with beautiful shady lawns.

* * *

The people of the community were shocked and deeply grieved, Saturday morning, when it became known that Rev Dr Richmond H. Gesner, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, had sustained an apoplectic stroke during the night and lay seriously ill. He continued to fail Saturday and Sunday, passing away at 4:30, Sunday afternoon.

* * *

Stephen Budd furnished eight hounds for the opening of the production of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” by the Players’ Club in New York. The play played to packed houses, the cast being all stars. It was a most enjoyable presentation.

* * *

A regular meeting of the Board of Burgesses of the Borough of Newtown will take place on Tuesday evening, June 6. Important matters coming before the burgesses are: Providing all night lighting at the flagpole and better service at the intersection of Main street and the Bethel road.

 

June 5, 1908

Christians’ Laxative cereal, the only thing to eat for breakfast, at Morris’ the grocer. Get a package and try it. Adriance mowers, the only kind, at Morris’. Better let him sell you a mower, hay rake and all the tools that go with haying.

* * *

A very interesting Memorial service was held at Trinity church, Sunday afternoon. The Reading desk and pulpit were draped with the stars and stripes while flags were suspended above the altar and in the rear of the auditorium. A good-sized congregation enjoyed the excellent sermon by Rev Mr George.

* * *

The High School committee have unanimously re-elected Curtis E. Cook as the principal of the Newtown High school for the school year beginning September 1.

* * *

Miss Lillian Osborne of New Milford will be at the Newtown Inn, Monday of each week, beginning June 15. Miss Osborne makes a specialty of shampooing, manicuring and facial massage. She will make appointments at patron’s homes. She may be addressed at the Newtown postoffice or at the Newtown Inn.

* * *

The team of horses belonging to L.O. Peck of Redding, attached to a milk wagon, ran away, Thursday morning. The driver Mr Agnew, and his wife were thrown out. Mrs Agnew had an ankle broken and the man was badly cut about the ear. The accident happened near the place of the late Philo Clark. The horses ran as far as W.B. Glover’s place.