August 11, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Cindy Landin

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In a job performance evaluation of Captain Michael Kehoe, who has headed the police department for more than a year, the Police Commission gives Capt Kehoe high marks, saying he has performed his duties “admirably.”

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In two split-decision votes, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have designated the town-owned land at Fairfield Hills, which holds Watertown Hall, as the site for a new Grade 5/6 public school. In a 3-to-2 vote following an August 1 public hearing, P&Z members approved creating a new land use zone specifically for public schools, known as a PS zone.

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Of the 71 police patrol job applicants who turned out for physical agility testing at Newtown High School Wednesday, 54 people passed the test. Applicants ran 1½ miles around the high school track, performed sit-ups, and also lifted weights as part of the physical testing for the patrolman positions, said Detective Sergeant Henry Stormer, who heads the police department’s hiring unit.

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History is on the minds of the 100 or so volunteers who make the C.H. Booth Library Labor Day Book Sale so successful each year. This year marks the sale’s 25th anniversary. The book sale has grown from an initial card table effort with a few books in front of the library 25 years ago to an event that attracts thousands of buyers to Bridgeport Hall on the campus of the historic former Fairfield Hills Hospital campus.

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Man, oh man, was it ever gut check time. With the bases loaded and only one out in the top of the sixth, it seemed — even as Newtown clung to a one-run lead — that the dream of a second straight state championship might be in some jeopardy. It wasn’t. That’s because pitcher Steve Marks — who had walked a batter, knocked down a liner back to the box (without making a throw to first) and allowed a base hit to centerfield to load the bases — found an inner well of strength right when the Newtown 11-year-old All Stars needed it most.

August 8, 1975

When 8-year-old Stacey Campbell of Bridgeport ventured near the waters of Lake Zoar last Thursday afternoon, it was a good thing she had on a bright pink bathing suit. The youngster, who was visiting her uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs Manuel Pinero of Underhill Road, Riverside, had slipped away unnoticed by adults and gone to the end of her uncle’s boat dock, which juts into Lake Zoar­—and it’s quite deep. Stacey, still unnoticed by the grown-ups, fell into the water; but she couldn’t swim. Luckily, in the adjoining yard a group of boys were having a water balloon fight in the stifling afternoon and they spotted Stacey, submerged and struggling in the murky water—or rather, they caught a glimpse of her bright-colored suit. … 15-year-old Bob DeGabriel, the Pinero’s next-door neighbor, pulled the unconscious youngster from the water. The girl was taken to Danbury Hospital and X-rays were taken to determine if any water was in her lungs or stomach. They were found clear and soon after Stacey was feeling fine.

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“Anything that happens after this will be anticlimax,” says Police Chief Louis Marchese, summing up his findings recently about the shooting incident at the Sandy Hook Hotel (which houses the Village Café) at noon, Thursday, July 31, which left two men dead and one critically injured. All of them were reputedly members of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang.

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The 1975 Newtown Summer Festival co-chairmen have announced that Herbert Cutler will be honorary marshal of Newtown’s annual Labor Day Parade. Mr Cutler will complete 15 years as Town Treasurer in January when his duties will be assumed Newtown’s financial director under charter changes voted last November.

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Dogwood trees were made available to townspeople during the spring through a special project and many residents took advantage of the good price. If one keeps his eyes peeled while traveling about town, small dogwoods are in evidence here and there.

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Mae Schmidle, Town Clerk, announces that following the Republican Caucus held at Newtown High School on July 29, a pair of glasses were turned in to her. They have smoke gray frames, silver metal bows and they are in a brown leather case with the following numbers scratched into it: 2 – 147.

August 4, 1950

Retiring president of the Washington Ambulance Association, Robert J. Benham, Sr., in transferring custody of the vehicle to his successor, Nelson T. Hoadley, both members of the sponsoring Washington Lions Club which is reviving the Washington Fair in support of its civic activities, briefly re-capitulated the free community services performed by the vehicle and its predecessor which together travelled nearly 30,000 miles in over 500 different trips with patients, in all cases made with volunteer member or non-member drivers.

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Last Saturday Arthur T. Nettleton, president and treasurer of the Newtown Savings Bank, observed his 88th birthday in the Danbury Hospital where he has been a medical patient since May 15. Newtown associates and friends called to extend felicitations, and Mr Nettleton received over 100 cards and messages, in addition to flowers and birthday cakes.

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More than 100 members of the S. Curtis and Son organization at Sandy Hook took part last Saturday afternoon in the company’s annual outing held at Capellaro’s Grove, Stony Hill, Bethel. Members of all departments, including the sales, production and office forces, took part and enjoyed the swimming, basketball and horseshoe pitching games and other recreation.

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Stephen Smith, Steven Jones and Teddy Smith, who are at Camp Agawam, Crescent Lake, Maine, were visited over the week-end by their families for the camp’s Parents’ Week-End activities.

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Otto Heise of the Heise Bourbon Tube Company, Inc., of Palestine District is building an addition on the east side of his factory which is located in that district next to his residence on Brook Road. Plans call for a one-story structure which has been designed by Andrew Euston of New Haven, former dean of the School of Fine Arts at Yale University.

August 7, 1925

Rev Dr James P. Hoyt, for 16 years pastor of the Newtown Congregational church, passed away, Monday, at West Newton, Mass., at the home of his son, Franklin Hoyt, after a brief illness with rheumatism and pneumonia. Dr Hoyt was 81 years old.

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The August meeting of the Newtown Hook & Ladder Co., Inc., was held on Monday night, with a good attendance and interest. The following were recommended by the standing committee and elected to membership: John J. Cahill, Thomas Griffin, William Ready, John J. Keane, Frederick J. Crouch, Antone Amral, Joseph Keniry, Cornelius Houlihan.

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The Mid-Summer Frolic under the auspices of St Rose’s church came to a close on Saturday last. Each night the Inn was filled to overcrowding, with both local and out of town people.

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J. De Michael & Bro., road contractor of Torrington, who have the contract for the Dodgingtown state road, are making splendid progress on their contract. They now have the job about 50 per cent completed and expect to have it all done by November 15. They are building a splendid road as anyone can see who looks the job over. At present they also have under construction a two mile stretch between Goshen and Torrington.

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Mrs P. Jacobson has returned from Portland, Me., where she passed a month with her daughter.

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Mrs Wersba of New York City and a party of friends motored to Sandy Hook, Friday, and passed Friday and Saturday at the newly built cottage of her son, Louis Wersba, on Lake Zoar.

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Thomas F. Keane of New York City is passing a week with his parents, Mr and Mrs Thomas C. Keane.

August 10, 1900

Marcus Camp is placing a new wire fence in front of his house.

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Master Michael Honan was on the sick list, last week.

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Miss Susie Mayhew was home at her mother’s, Mrs John Gay’s, in Taunton, for a visit, last week.

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Arthur D. Fairchild of Taunton is having a new well dug at his barn. Sherman Smith, the well known well expert, has charge of the work.

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Rev Bradford P. Raymond preached an excellent sermon in the Methodist church, Sandy Hook, Sunday evening, July 29 to a very attentive and interesting audience. Your correspondent congratulates East Village and Riverside churches in having such an interesting preacher sent to them.

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People living in the vicinity of Botsford will not be able to regale themselves with many whortleberries this summer as they seem to be very scarce; in fact where in years past they have flourished in abundance, there are none at all, a very unusual occurrence.

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.