July 21, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Rita Power

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EDITORIAL INK DROPS — BHC LAND ACQUISITION, AN ENLIGHTENED MOVE BY DEP: The state Department of Environmental Protection’s announcement this week that it would like to buy about half the land holdings in the state from BHC, the former Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, came as a relief to conservationists in Newtown. As part of the proposed greenway along the Aspetuck River and buffer to the Collins P. Huntington State Park in Bethel and Redding, DEP would like to purchase 602 acres in Newtown adjacent to the state park in the Poverty Hollow Road area. The state says it is not interested in an additional 44 swampy acres of BHC land in Newtown.

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Acting Police Chief Michael Kehoe urges anyone who has information about the recent rash of traffic sign vandalism to contact police with information which may help them solve the crimes. Police are on the lookout for the unknown people who have been using paint to deface many traffic signs throughout the town, he said. Acting Chief Kehoe said he expects that someone in town must have witnessed some sign vandalism considering the dozens of signs that have been damaged in the recent weeks.

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The Planning and Zoning Commision (P&Z) has approved an 11-lot residential resubdivision in Sandy Hook known as Canterbury Woods. P&Z members unanimously approved the development application submitted by Canterbury Land Development, LLC. The approval took effect July 17. The resubdivided 26-acre parcel will have 11 new homes constructed in the vicinity of Canterbury Lane and Clapboard Ridge Road. The development site has undergone rapid development in the recent years.

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The students of Dance, Etc. — the dance and gymnastics studio on Mt Pleasant Road in Newtown — presented their annual recital at Bethel Middle School on June 4. Parents, friends, and other family members gathered in the school’s auditorium for a performance that followed the theme “We’ve Got Rhythm.” In all, 27 dance numbers were presented Sunday afternoon, with dancers at all levels of training doing their best for those in attendance.

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The best way to open your own tournaments is with a win. That’s just what the Newtown Babe Ruth 12-year-old All Stars did with an 11-1 decision over New Milford in the first round of the Newtown Invitational Baseball Tournament. The All Stars got off to an immediate hot start with five runs in the first inning, taking advantage of hits from Steve Vichiola, Max Rojo, Seth Hull and Alex Dolan. In the third inning, Newtown extended its lead to 7-0 as Alex Meisel, Ben Striano and Dolan all collected key hits. Things got a bit tougher for Newtown on Tuesday night, however, as the All Stars dropped a 6-4 decision to West Norwalk.

July 18, 1975

The 1975-76 Estimated Budget of the Borough of Newtown will be acted upon at the Borough Burgesses meeting on July 21. The total budget, including both operating and administrative expenses, amounts to $26,209, which means a mill rate of .0012 based upon the $21,841,012 grand list taxable net figure. Last year’s budgeted amount was $24,262.89.

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The Bee goes to press as the referendum on the Boggs Hill School bonding goes on. The polls opened at 6 am and will close at 8 pm. As of 10 am, however, a total of 329 votes had been cast out of a total eligible electorate of 8,100. Republican registrar Jeanne Hubbell termed the turnout “very light,” but hoped that the pace would pick up in the late afternoon and early evening, traditionally busy times.

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A special meeting of Newtown Civil Defense Rescue Crew was held on July 8. At that time Chief Sidney Pitcher appointed the following officers: Edward Schaad, Captain; Timothy Fagan, Lieutenant; John Kennedy, Men’s Squad Sergeant; Mary Schaad, Women’s Squad Sergeant; Patrick Cragin, First Aid Officer; and Paul Tani, Engineer.

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Boy Scout Troop 370 of Newtown held its “First” Family Campout on the weekend of June 20, 21, and 22, 1975 at Camp Toquam in Goshen, Connecticut. Twenty-nine Scouts and twenty-one families with over 125 people enjoyed some of the best weather so far this year which helped make for a truly successful camping weekend.

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Last week The Bee ran a picture on its front page of a blooming American chestnut tree on Route 34. In the story that went with the picture, Walter Sherry, of Great Quarter Road, was quoted as saying that that particular tree would probably be the first American chestnut in the area to bear fruit in 70 years. We are glad to hear that there are other American chestnuts in Newtown, and hope that in the future, reports of fruit bearing trees will increase with each passing year.

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Sam Berger has been appointed vice president-administration of Barclay Knitwear Company, it was announced by Richard Pauker, president of the knitwear firm. Mr Berger will be responsible for the coordination and administration of the company’s new Distribution and Customer Service Center in Newtown, which is now Barclay’s administrative headquarters. Mr Berger lives in Trumbull with his wife and two sons.

July 14, 1950

EDITORIAL INK DROPS – MORE SAFETY ON MAIN STREET: Traffic on Newtown’s Main Street is becoming increasingly heavy, with congested parking and safety reduced to a minimum. In an effort to improve matters, First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson recently requested the State Traffic Commission to reduce the speed limit from 35 to 30 miles per hour, restrict parking near the flagpole, mark cross walks on the highways at that point and install traffic lights at Lovell’s corner, the intersection of Church Road and Queen Street, and in the center of Sandy Hook.

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Alfred H. Jurgens, secretary of the Rotary Club of Newtown, just returned with Mrs Jurgens from Detroit, gave an account before the club Monday evening of the 41st annual convention of Rotary International which brought to the Michigan metropolis during the five days June 18-22 some 6,949 Rotarians and members of their families, from 50 countries of the world, for a striking demonstration of the convention theme “Service Is Our Business.”

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At a special meeting last Friday evening, the members of the Newtown Ambulance Drivers Corps voted to sponsor a benefit movie for the Newtown Ambulance Association, Inc., to help defray expenses of the recently built ambulance garage located behind the Edmond Town Hall. The picture, “Holiday Inn”, starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astair, will be shown at 7 and 9 o’clock, Thursday evening, August 3, in the Alexandria Room of the Town Hall. Tickets are 50 cents each.

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The Connecticut State Board of Fisheries and Game has announced that the open season for taking trout has been extended from July 15 to July 16, both dates inclusive. Of special interest to local anglers is another decision of the board to keep certain streams open from July 15 to October 31. These include three streams in Fairfield Country and seven in Litchfield County. In the Fairfield area streams that may be used during the summer and early fall are the Norwalk River, the Pequonnock River and the Saugatuck River. In Litchfield, the streams include the Housatonic River, Pomperaug River, Weekeepeemee River, Shepaug River, Blackberry River, Aspetuck River, Bantam River Outlet, and Salmon Creek.

July 17, 1925

The burial of Mrs William J. Sanford took place on Saturday afternoon in the Newtown Village cemetery, Rev G. Herbert Ekins officiating. Mrs Sanford was 78 years old and is survived by two sons, Jackson Sanford, and one daughter, Miss Emily Sanford. Mrs Sanford was a woman of very beautiful character, and the news of her death was received with deep regret.

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Miss May Houlihan returned to Bridgeport, Tuesday night, after a two weeks’ vacation passed with her mother.

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Mrs M. J. Donahue returned to Ft Lee, N.J. Friday, after a two weeks’ visit with her mother, Mrs Margaret Egan.

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The Congregational Sunday School to the number of 80, enjoyed a fine picnic at Lake Quassapaug, Wednesday. The weather was ideal and Mr O’Connell, the proprietor of the Park was an ideal host. An excellent dinner was enjoyed topped off with ice cream. An exciting ball game between nines captained by Willis Arndt and G.H. Ekins took place, the former winning, 8 to 7. The heavy stick work of Edward Olmstead was a feature of the game. Following the ball game bathing in the lake was enjoyed. Mr Maye’s bus and private cars conveyed the people to the Park.

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Senator Philo T. Platt is out riding in a new 1920 Nash four door coupe, bought of John A. Carlson, the local dealer for Nash cars.

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Road Supervisor William C. Johnson has been confined to his home with a severe attack of the grip.

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John O. Pitzschler’s barber shop will be closed on July 21 and open all day, July 20.

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While the response to our appeal in The Bee of July 3 for year books, class photos, programs, etc., for the Hawley School Library has not been overwhelming, we are indebted to Frank Wright for several year books and especially for a copy of Volume 1, No. 4 of “The Academician,” published by the pupils of the Newtown Academy in 1853, is a valuable souvenir and an important acquisition and we thank Mr Wright. We now have: The Academician. Vol. 1 No. 4., The First Five Years of the Newtown High School, Yearbooks for the 1918-1922, 1924-1925. There are a good many more so look them up and send them in and help the school.

July 20, 1900

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: Up Roxbury way they have been suffering from an epidemic of chicken thieving, and at last reports had not been able to bring the guilty ones to justice. They might well imitate the example of George W.E. Raughley of Caroline county, Maryland, who laid small dynamite cartridges about his chicken yards, for the benefit of chicken thieves, who, Mrs Raughley says, have stolen several hundred fowls from him. The dynamite is buried and at night it is attached to surface wires so that anything coming in contact with the wires sets off the explosive. The result up to date is the tail of one of Mr Raughley’s calves has been blown off and the dog of a neighbor has been sent into eternity.

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Rev Otis W. Barker last Sunday morning preached an able sermon in the Congregational church on the present critical situation in China. He thought the question of interest to the outside world was whether a counter revolution would be started by the native Chinese and the Manchurian despotism be overthrown. In this case he thought the Powers should sympathize with the native Chinese, as their cause would better promote true progress. The market value of missionaries, he said, had risen because of this crisis, 100 per cent, and if at last it were found that they had all been slaughtered, it would also be found that they had died the hero’s death at their posts.

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OUR SUMMER FRIENDS AT THE HOTELS: Charles D. Hoyt, secretary of the Hutchinson-Pierce Co., and Louis H. Lyon, the well-known insurance agent, both of Bridgeport, were recently at the Inn for a sojourn with their families. They were delighted with Newtown and expect to return later, in the fall. | A.S. May, cashier of the New York and New Haven railroad, and H.S. Shelton, cashier of the Connecticut National bank of Bridgeport are at the Newtown Inn for a month’s sojourn with their families. | Mr and Mrs E.J. Morgan and daughters, Grace and Edna, of Bridgeport, are enjoying a fortnight’s sojourn at the Newtown Inn.

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Charles Perry of Weston was the guest, last week, of Mrs George O. Banks.

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J.A. James has undoubtedly one of the best gardens about Hawleyville. A year ago while he was trying to subdue a hard spot some of his neighbors and friends laughed at him, but now he has the laugh on them.

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A jolly party of Newtown young people went down to the lawn party at Miss Seeley’s, in Stepney, last week Thursday night, and were royally entertained. The company was gotten up by Clarence Beach and one of the Grant Central teams was chartered. Those who composed the party were: H.S. Mason, Miss Russell, James Nichols, Miss Patterson, Mr Russell, Hobart Warner, Miss Florence Warner, John Beers, Miss Laura Mitchell, Will Curtis, Miss Mabel Morris, Clarence Beach, Miss Alice Beers, Miss Effie Wolcott, Louis Briscoe, Miss LaField, George F. Duncombe.

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 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.