May 5, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Teny Bacon-Smith.

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The Legislative Council voted Tuesday to trim the proposed 2000-01 town budget by $2.1 million one week after the originally proposed budget was defeated at the polls. The new budget — to be voted on at a May 15 town meeting — has been reduced from a 2.9 mill increased to an increase of just 1.6 mills.

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A large contingent of Newtown attorneys converged on Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room Tuesday morning to provide three hours’ worth of pro bono legal advice. The free legal clinic was sponsored by the Danbury Bar Association as part of a host of area Law Day activities. Between 30 and 40 Newtown residents turned out for the event in the hopes that attorneys like Barbara Kershaw, Will Rodgers, and Celia Barnum might be able to steer them in the right direction. The areas of legal expertise included family law, personal injury, elderly law, real estate and zoning, employment and business law, education law, and probate. Probate Judge Margot Hall was among the dozen or so legal professionals who were on hand.

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Volunteers armed only with gloves and plastic bags collected nearly three tons of trash from roadsides on Lose the Litter Day, Sunday, April 28. One of the worst sites was Edmond Road, which runs between Church Hill and Schoolhouse Hill roads. There, members of Webelos Den 13, Pack 170, under the supervision of Scoutmaster Tom Morrissey and several parents, hauled old truck tires, a television set, a mattress, and piles of scrap iron to the side of the road.

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A small child playing with a barbecue lighter started a house fire in Hawleyville April 27, which caused an estimated $30,000 in damage, according to Fire Marshal George Lockwood. … A 3-year-old took the barbecue lighter from the kitchen and went into a bedroom, locking the door behind him, according to the fire marshal. In playing with the device, he started a fire in the bedroom and then left. His mother realized there was a fire and threw a potful of water on it, trying to extinguish the blaze, but couldn’t, after which she called 911 to report the fire. … Hawleyville, Newtown Hook & Ladder, Dodgingtown and Sandy Hook firefighters all responded. One neighbor received smoke inhalation while trying to douse the fire. His quick actions prevented more extensive damage from occurring, however.

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On a hot day, passersby in cars, on foot or bicycle can expect to see a group of young entrepreneurs running their lemonade stand at the bottom of Aspen Lane in Sandy Hook. The youngsters are all neighbors, living on Aspen Lane, New Lebbon Road, and Beagle Trail. Visitors to the refreshment stand can purchase lemonade to quench their thirst, or fresh-baked brownies.

May 2, 1975

High winds forced the cancellation of the planned parachute jumps at the Little League’s opening ceremonies at the ICC field last Saturday, but that didn’t stop League President Charlie Rideg from having the first ball of the season delivered with theatrics so the First Selectman could make the opening toss. It was quickly arranged to have a helicopter from Danbury Airport make the delivery. The ball was dropped from the helicopter by Mr Rideg. It then rolled on the ground to First Selectman Frank DeLucia.

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The Board of Fire Commissioners indicated this week in a news release that it is not happy with the cuts made by the Board of Finance in its budget proposal for fiscal year 1975-76. As a result, the commissioners said they will petition as soon as the budget is approved by the voters for a special town meeting to reinstate items cut out of their budget by the Board of Finance. “This will allow the citizens of Newtown to decide on these important issues,” the Board said in its release. The finance panel cut $150,000 out of the budget — which was proposed for financing over a ten year period for purchase of a new aerial ladder truck — and also cut out services-supplies and capital funds which gave the fire departments less in the budget for 1975-76 than was approved for the 1974-75 total, $80,575 compared to $89,610.

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At the monthly meeting of the officers and directors of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce on April 23 at noon at Hawley Manor Inn, Robert Rubinstein was elected a director of the Chamber. He fills the unexpired term of Philip Rose who recently resigned from the board because of the pressure of business. Mr Rubenstein has been serving as liaison between the Chamber and the Jaycees. A motion was passed during the meeting voicing the Chamber’s opposition to the proposed bridge paralleling the Rochambeau Bridge on I-84 across Lake Zoar.

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The Newtown Junior Woman’s Club awarded banana splits to a number of participants in last week’s Hike-Bike. The ice cream treats were given out to the winners of several categories.

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A reward of $100 is being offered for any information leading to the apprehension of vandals who ransacked and destroyed the interior of a home owned by Dan E. Mayers. The home, known as “Dacemore,” is located off Toddy Hill Road, and according to Mr Mayers the house, which is now vacant, was broken into sometime between April 19 and 24. The vandalism was discovered by George Mattegat Sr, who has been watching the house for Mr Mayers, and according to the owner the vandalism was extensive. Panelling was ripped off the walls, every window broken, appliances ripped out. The interior was completely wrecked, and everything completely smashed or broken. The vandalism has been reported to the police.

April 28, 1950

Girl Scouts of Troop 37, Newtown, are now making schoolbags of cloth material and filling them with such articles as crayons, pencils, erasers, notebooks, paste and even a few gay things to wear, color hair ribbons, warm mittens. So that the young people receiving them will get to know more about America and the Scouts who are working on the “Schoolmates Overseas” project, the girls are including in the bags scrapbooks showing representative incidents of the town and something of their own activities.

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Future plans for the supervision of Newtown schools were discussed at the regular monthly meeting of the Newtown Board of Education held April 21 at the Hawley School. Two courses of action are open to the board, employment of a superintendent of schools, or a return to state supervision. Superintendent Carroll F. Johnson announced to the board that he would not be a candidate for any position which might develop. The board reached no decision regarding supervision for 1950-51.

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The Town Bowling League held its annual banquet at George Wheeler’s Glen Lodge last Wednesday night, April 19th, with an attendance of about 70 members and ten guests. Before the dinner, the annual meeting was held with President Johnny Sealander presiding. New rules and regulations were discussed; some were adopted and others were not, but the main issue was absence on bowling night. The old rule called for suspension on missing four straight bowling nights, or suspension for missing eight nights out of 15 in either the first or second half. These two rules were changed to three straight nights for suspension, and seven out of 15 in either half for suspension. The 30-cent charge for missing one night was changed to fifty cents.

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Edmund E. Neary was elected president and Miles Harris vice president of the Rotary Club of Newtown at its annual meeting held in the Parker House Monday evening. Alfred H. Jurgens was reelected secretary for the coming year and Fred Buermeyer, treasurer. E. Ford Cordial and Joseph F. Hellauer were elected directors. The new officers and directors will take their chairs at the first meeting of the club in July.

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Most satisfactory returns were received from the bingo party of the Raymond L. Pease Post 163, American Legion and Auxiliary, held in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium last Friday evening. The proceeds are to be applied to a fund established for sending a Newtown boy and girl to Boys State and Girls State encampments respectively. The party in charge was Mr and Mrs George L. May and Mr and Mrs Frederick Harris, and they have expressed their thanks to all who helped in any way to contribute to the affair’s success.

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Some very attractive planting has been done around the Congregational Church House, through the generosity of Mr and Mrs W.H. Mackenzie of Key Rock Road. The planting adds greatly to the appearance of the building, and many church members are enthusiastic over the generous contribution which Mr and Mrs Mackenzie have thus made to the Church House project.

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Dr J. Benton Egee of Church Hill Road has announced that his office will be closed for the month of May. He and Mrs Egee plan to take a month-long vacation, most of which will be spent in Bermuda.

May 1, 1925

Thomas M. Holian, who for 16 years has been the competent depot agent at the Newtown Station, has tendered his resignation from the service of the road. Mr Holian has been in the railroad service for 30 years, beginning his duties at Sheffield, Mass. He succeeded C.B. Taylor as agent at Newtown. Mr Holian has represented Newtown in the Legislature one term and is at present a member of the town board of finance. He will devote his entire attention to Newtown Coal & Grain Co., in which he has been interested for some years. It is understood his successor at the Newtown station will be Charles Shepard of Trumbull.

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At 2 o’clock, on Saturday afternoon, the Woodbury lassies came to Newtown and crossed bats with the Hawley high school girls. The result was in favor of Woodbury, 18 to 8. This was the Hawley school’s first game and owing to some of the team being away handicapped the good showing they made last year. Woodbury high played a good game. The rain rather handicapped the playing though the girls did not give up until seven innings had been played. Farrell and Johnson were the battery for Hawley high, and Platt, Mortin and Parkins for Woodbury.

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On Tuesday evening Pootatuck Grange held a most enjoyable meeting, entertaining Pokono Grange, No 193 of Brookfield, and a few members of Harmony Grange of Monroe. The program was unusually fine, due to the talent coming from Brookfield. “God’s Merry Makers,” Pokono’s five-piece orchestra, started the evening’s entertainment. There was a vocal selection, “How do you do,” by four brothers and one sister accompanied by piano and banjo. … There were present from Pokono, 28; Harmony, 5; Visitors, 7; and Pootatuck, 41, a total of 81. Please notice that half the number present were members of our Grange. Why can’t we have 40 at every meeting or 50 would be better. Let’s all wake up and be real boosters.

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Mr and Mrs S.J. Blackman entertained at dinner, Sunday, in honor of the 50th birthday of Mr Blackman and the fifth of Miss Nancy Naramore of Bridgeport. Those present were Miss Mary Blackman of Danbury, Mr and Mrs H.W. Blackman of New Britain, Mr and Mrs C.B. Naramore and three children of Bridgeport, F.A. Blackman, Edward Camp and Mrs H.T. Coger.

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Miss Ruth Hubbard of Middletown is the guest for the week of her sister, Mrs George Curtis Morgan.

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Mr and Mrs William Moffett and three daughters of Norwalk were guests, Sunday afternoon, of Mr and Mrs E.J. Morgan.

May 4, 1900

R.C. Mallette, at one time an employee of The Bee Publishing Co., is now conducting an extensive job printing establishment in Waterbury, bring proprietor of the “Jackson Quick Print” establishment. Mr Mallette has largely increased the business of the concern since he assumed control, and is perhaps the leading firm in his line in Waterbury.

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E.F. Lyons moved, this week, to Howell, into the house belonging to John Whitehead.

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The road leading from the Southville bridge to Hanover has recently been undergoing repairs and is now in good condition for the traveling public and will be greatly appreciated. Messrs Bristol and Peck of Obtuse had the supervision of the work.

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Mr and Mrs George F. Northrop are the happy parents of a daughter, born on Thursday night.

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Mrs James Smith is visiting her son, Dr Edwards M. Smith.

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F.B. Lake’s house is receiving a new coat of paint. Ruffles & Nichols are the artists.

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Dr L.A. Smith of New York was in town over Sunday, the guest of his brother, Dr Edwards M. Smith.

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.