December 8, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Christina Maturi.

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The Borough Board of Burgesses is proposing a comprehensive ordinance intended to control excessive noise within the Borough generated largely by the commercial operations there. The Board of Burgesses has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed ordinance … [which] is intended to prevent, limited, control, and eliminate excessive noise in the Borough for the welfare of Borough residents. The burgesses’ rationale for such an ordinance is that excessive noise degrades the environment and is harmful and detrimental to the health, welfare, and safety of borough residents.

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The Legislative Council will reconvene its discussions on Fairfield Hills at next week’s regular meeting. It will take up questions that have arisen over the severity of the environmental contamination at the 185-acre site. Two Newtown residents are contending that the environmental problems at Fairfield Hills may run deeper than some reports have indicated. As they point out, environmental testing of the site was only partially completed by a firm hired by the State of Connecticut. The extent of contamination both inside and outside buildings on the site is still unknown, they allege.

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They do not have sleds with eight tiny reindeer, but Newtown Post Office mail carriers are facing a mass distribution challenge almost as great as Old Saint Nick’s. They are filling their trucks to the rooftop with an increased volume of letters, cards, and packages this holiday season.

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Members of Rotary Club of Newtown began arriving at the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall last Saturday morning at 5:30 am to prepare for the club’s 40th annual pancake breakfast. When doors opened for the public at 8, the grills were ready and pancakes were cooked steadily until the doors closed five hours later. Along the way hundreds of people enjoyed pancakes and sausage, coffee, orange juice, and a lot of mingling.

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Newtown welcomed the holiday season with the 15th Annual Holiday Festival last weekend. For six hours, the main thoroughfare of Newtown was swamped with more pedestrian traffic, carolers and musicians than had been witnessed in the area since … well, last year around this time. The weather on December 3 was much more seasonal than the 60° temperatures that surrounded last year’s festival, and offerings encompassed activities and events that should have held the interest of all ages. … Proceeds from the event benefit Family Counseling Center, a United Way-supported agency at 121 Mt Pleasant Road in Newtown that offers counseling, support groups, assessment, education and referral services.

December 5, 1975

Students representing each of the classes at the Hawley School were already planning ahead for spring. The group took time out from their classes last week to plant tulip bulbs in front of their school.

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Several members of the Dodgingtown Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary recently cleaned the Dodgingtown Green for the coming winter. In addition to winterizing flower beds, the ladies planted 350 bulbs as part of Newtown’s Bicentennial celebration. These bulbs were donated to the Auxiliary by several generous area residents. At a recent meeting, the ladies voted to donate both a Thanksgiving basket and a Christmas basket as has been done in previous years. Members are reminded to bring their donation to the December 8 meeting.

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Ashawog Blue Birds of Middle Gate and the Sandy Hook Rosebuds brought Thanksgiving cheer to Buckingham Gardens last Wednesday, November 26. The 2nd and 3rd graders demonstrated their Blue Bird Wish and song and showed how they open their meetings with a candle lighting. Rosebud leader Linda Carlson played the piano while the girls sang game-action songs — “Farmer in the Dell,” “Mulberry Bush,” etc. Many of the residents remembered the words to some of the songs and joined in. The girls distributed handmade napkin rings to all the residents and enjoyed cider and cookies served by Buckingham Garden volunteers. The Ashawogs are led by Kitty Hollstein and Pat Hadad.

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Mrs Barbara Nellis, coordinator of the Danbury Toy Resource Program, explained Toy Resource and demonstrated the toys used in the program to the title I Parent Advisory Council and other interested parents at a meeting in the Congregational Church House on December 2. Toy Resource Programs, funded by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act — Title I, are presently operating in most of the large cities in Connecticut. The program offers lending of certain educational toys to families with preschool children, ages 3-5 years.

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Members of the Newtown Christian Church claimed a hardship in requesting variances of the front setback and area requirements for residents and a variance to allow two principal uses of the same piece of property in order to convert an existing garage north of their church building on Route 302 to a home for their pastor. At the Wednesday, December 3, hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals, they said they could not afford to build a parsonage at this time and that even the Danbury rents they were able to obtain for their pastor and his wife, Mr and Mrs Rick Fordyce, are prohibitive. They proposed to convert the garage into a cottage and said they would accept the stipulation that it be used as a residence in conjunction with the church only as long as their main building is used as a church.

December 1, 1950

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — HEAT, LIGHT AND POWER: The devastating storm of Saturday, November 25, 2950, will go down in history as a “big blow,” indeed. It runs a close rival to the hurricane of 1938, both in ferocity and resultant property damage. No one seems quite sure which storm caused the greater havoc. As in all such disasters, the forces of nature played few favorites. There were many freak mishaps, to be sure, and more than one amusing incident amid the general destruction, which would require pages for a full description. … Human endurance was taxed to the limit in every case, and The Bee wishes the personnel of each organization to know that the general public does appreciate their heroic efforts. They displayed a splendid mixture of dogged determination and the will to serve.

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In last week-end’s storm, which began on Friday evening and gathered momentum throughout Saturday until it blew itself out later that evening, hardly a town in Connecticut escaped damage. … One peculiarity of the storm was that there was so little warning, and when a spattering of rain and unusually high winds struck on Friday night, there was no indication that this was to be a major blow, worse for Newtown and vicinity than the disastrous hurricane of 1938.

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As a recent meeting of the Newtown High School Building Committee, the firm of Westcott and Mapes, architects, of New Haven was selected to prepare preliminary plans and cost estimates to be presented to the town of Newtown at a future town meeting. The building committee has been interviewing leading architects in the state of Connecticut since its first meeting held September 14, according to the chairman, Herbert H. Cutler. … The site for the proposed building has already been selected. It includes 35½ acres on Queen Street, 21 acres which belonged to St. Joseph’s Convent and Sisters of Mercy, and adjoining 14½ acres of which belonged to John C. Beers.

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The officers of Virgilius Council, Knights of Columbus, were installed in the K. of C. Home of Bethel, last week, at an impressive ceremony conducted by Peter McDonough of Danbury, district deputy, assisted by his staff. Officers of Virgilius Council installed were Robert Reiner, grand knight; Kenneth Casey, deputy grand knight; Warren Carey, chancellor; J. William Hayes, recorder; William A. Honan, Jr., lecturer; David L. Condon, treasurer; John J. Carmody, financial secretary; Stanley Kazenieski, advocate; Harold Morgan, warden; David Cassidy, inside guard; Joseph Betti, outside guard; M.F. Crowe and Leo Carbonneau, trustees.

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Mr and Mrs Andrew Wheeler of Shady Rest entertained as their guest over Thanksgiving and the week-end Mrs Mildred Fanning of Pass-A-Grille Beach, Florida. Mrs Fanning, who is remarkably young for her 85 years of age, came north by plane to visit the Wheelers and left on Wednesday to fly to California where she will spend Christmas. … Mr and Mrs Wheeler and Mrs Fanning became well acquainted on a 50-day cruise aboard the Niew Amsterdam which took them to ten South American countries in the early spring of this year.

December 4, 1925

The fourth in the series of community services held in Trinity church, last Sunday night, was very well attended. The preacher, Archdeacon Morehouse, rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Shelton, gave a very admirable and practical address on “Life,” which was enjoyed by the large congregation. The music was enhanced by the presence of Mr and Mrs Harold Brundage, Ernest Loewe and Carol Ryder, of Danbury, and Mrs Antoinette Daniels of Danbury, who assisted Mrs Wilkinson and Miss Martin in the two anthems, “No Shadows Yonder,” and “There is a Land of Pure Delight.” Rev Mr Ekins read the lesson and Dr Gesner read the prayers.

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The Young People’s Fellowship held an overflowing meeting in Trinity Guild room on Monday evening. Three new members were received and several visitors welcomed. Further steps were taken toward the complete organization of the branch. Committees on worship, study, service and fellowship were appointed. Plans were made to attend the meeting in St James’ church, Danbury, on Sunday afternoon and evening after the sale by Trinity Guild. The next meeting will be held in St John’s Guild rooms on December 14 at 7 p.m.

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The writer of last week’s article concerning the Newtown-Washington basketball game neglected by some oversight to mention the delightful social hour spent after the game. The Washington girls prepared a bountiful lunch consisting of sandwiches, cake, fruit and cocoa. After the Newtown girls and boys had met the Washington boys and girls three rousing cheers were given for the “eats,” the Washington girls and their principal and also “Cliff” Couch the referee. After lunch a half hour of dancing was enjoyed in the “gym.”—[The Girls Basketball team

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Alden Goldsmith was in town one day last week, making his final delivery of aluminum, stopping at J.A. Canfield’s.

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Mrs Davis, Supervisor of the California Perfume Co., of New York, is in town, staying at Mrs J.A. Canfield’s.

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W.A. Watson, a fire inspector who has been in town for the past four weeks, left on Tuesday. While here he stayed at Mrs Jennie Canfield’s.

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Mr and Mrs Clarke Walker entertained at dinner, Thanksgiving day, Mr and Mrs F.M. Kober and nephew, Edward Kober, of New Haven, W.A. Watson, Mr and Mrs George Canfield, Misses Lillian and Shirley Canfield and Mrs Jennie Canfield.

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Mr and Mrs Henry Bradley of Springfield, Mass., were week end guests of Mr and Mrs John Keane.

December 7, 1900

A HISTORICAL ADDRESS ON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEDICATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN SANDY HOOK, Conn., September 25, 1900 — By Joseph O. Munson. In answer to the question, Why should I be chosen to speak on this occasion? I suppose the thought in the minds of your committee was this, that I was living in this village at the time of the dedication of this church and was personally cognizant of the events which led to the establishment of this Methodist church. But although this is true I am unable to give you a personal reminiscence of the dedication sermon by Dr Kennedy. He was one of the most eloquent preachers in Methodism and I can recall the expressions of admiration given by the happy sermon tasters, who enjoyed that wonderful discourse.

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Miss Susan Camp, the capable teacher of the Taunton school, is enjoying an attack of the measles.

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The children of John Elliott of Taunton district are ill with the measles.

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Mr and Mrs F.A. Young passed Sunday with former friends and neighbors at New Milford.

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William C. Sanford and Miss Lillian Proctor were guests over the Thanksgiving holidays of Mr and Mrs Aaron Sanford.

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Ex-Sheriff Aaron Sanford was in Redding on Sunday and attended the service at the Episcopal church, when the new pulpit was dedicated.

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 emailed 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.