May 25, 2001

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THE FAIRFIELD HILLS DEAL IS A GOOD DEAL FOR NEWTOWN: The town concluded its talks with the state this week over the terms of the proposed state sale of Fairfield Hills to Newtown. In announcing those terms on Monday, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal asserted that Newtown may now secure a lasting legacy of open space and potential for the growth of municipal facilities at the heart of the town. As part of the deal, the state backed off its initial asking price of $5.5 million to $3.9 million, and offered some additional land and facilities on Trades Lane. … Newtown’s failure to purchase Fairfield Hills at this time would most certainly result in either a quick sale of the property by the state to a commercial or real estate developer or a re-use of the facilities by a state legislature that has shown a recent renewed interest in reducing the state’s prison population with drug treatment centers and other alternatives to incarceration. … We now urge the people of Newtown to get on board and ride this opportunity into the future.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Coke Cramer.

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One-week old Victoria Catherine Keayes is doing just fine these days thanks, say her parents, to the saving grace of God and the steady hand of a police officer named William Hull. The Newtown baby arrived on the night of Thursday, May 17, just an hour or two sooner than expected. … With the baby on its way, it was Officer Hull who responded to the scene. Arriving at the Keayes residence just two minutes after receiving the call, Officer Hull entered the house to find the expectant mother on the bathroom floor, the baby’s head already showing. Without hesitation, the officer dropped to his knees and helped welcome little Victoria into the world. Moments later, Officer Hull radioed the news to headquarters. “We have a baby girl,” he exclaimed.

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Charter Communications is celebrating its acquisition of a brand-new mobile video production truck by introducing a new series on the cable company’s CommunityVision 21 channel. Today In… will debut with a show filmed in — where else? — Newtown. It seems fitting to use the home town of the cable company for the first show of the series.

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The Garden Club of Newtown presented a three-day flower show at C.H. Booth Library last weekend. “Toys & Games” opened on Friday, May 18, with a round of critiques offered by certified master judge Barbara O’Connor. Mrs O’Connor, who offered critiques for the club one year ago, had been invited back by the garden club because of her fairness and thoroughness. “She’s a good judge. She picks up every little thing,” club member Joan Bergquist was overheard saying at one point.

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Newtown Woman’s Club held its installation of officers for 2001-02 on May 17 at a luncheon at Thatcher’s in Southbury. The installing officer was Ann Nickerson, the state president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Connecticut. Marcia Cavanaugh was installed as president. Other officers were Evelyn Watts, assistant treasurer; Marilyn Alexander, recording secretary; Ann Kirk, corresponding secretary; Lorraine VanderWende, historian; Peg Forbell, treasurer; Barbara Krauz, first vice president; and Flo Caron, second vice president.

May 21, 1976

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — WILL THIS END THE BUDGET? The call of the town meeting was for eight pm, but it was actually one hour after that time when the business of the budget finally got down to serious study. But that seemed to be the tempo of the evening, a long drawn-out affair marked by confusion, amendments to amendments, divided house votes and the necessity for the moderator to step in to put down unruly comments from the floor. And shortly after midnight, with most people rather fed up with the banter of the evening, the budget for the Town of Newtown passed by a 227 to 158 vote.

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Whether or not the Town of Newtown will have any further interest in purchasing parcels of Bridgeport Hydraulic Company land in three locations in town has been left up to the Legislative Council as a result of action taken by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday. The company has offered to the town the 25-acre Morgan pond and two related parcels of 7.2 and 7.9 acres, in the vicinity of Castle Meadow and Maltbie Roads, asking price, $106,500; a 24.3-acre tract on Huntingtown Road, asking price $60,000; also 57 acres in the vicinity of Route 302 and Key Rock Road, no stated asking price.

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First Selectman Jack Rosenthal has asked Town Counsel William Lavery to see if he can get the date changed for the preliminary conference the state labor board will be having on the prohibitive practices charge the police union has against the town regarding the contract for sworn personnel. The hearing has been scheduled for June 11, but this date is an inopportune one for Selectman Frank DeLucia. Mr DeLucia was selectman at the time most of the negotiations for the still unsigned police contract was going on, and the police are arguing for several items in the document which they say were promised to them by the former First Selectman. Because of this, Mr DeLucia has been requested to be at the preliminary conference since his testimony is considered vital to the proceedings.

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A belated axe fell on six Newtown High School athletes on Thursday, May 13, following a misinterpretation of Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference regulations. During the normal course of events CIAC eligibility is determined following the completion of each marking period. … At the end of the most recent report period several students were determined ineligible for competition but the findings were tardy as regards to the May 3 deadline set by the CIAC board. As a result of this late action three NHS athletic teams (both track teams and boys tennis) suffered an adjustment in their win-loss records, forfeiting the contests in which the ineligible students participated after the May 3 deadline.

May 18, 1951

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — IT WAS A HAPPY BIRTHDAY: The Bee feels a word of appreciation is due from the paper itself to the neighborly and sympathetic townspeople who responded so spontaneously to the request which appeared in this column last week. The request was from Major John C. McIntyre, in Korea, who asked that telephone calls be made to his wife in Newtown on May 11th, wishing her a happy birthday. Obviously, it was impossible for him to do so. Almost fifty townspeople either telephoned to or called in person on Mrs McIntyre, helping to provide for her a happy day, indeed. She is most appreciative of this impressive evidence of friendship and neighborliness, as her letter of thanks, which appears elsewhere in this issue, so clearly shows.

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A Masonic fellowship supper, taxing the facilities of the Alexandria Room in Edmond Town Hall was held last Saturday night under auspices of the three local Masonic organizations, Hiram Lodge 18, A.F.&A.M.; Hiram Chapter 1, R.A.M.; and Mirah Chapter 113, O.E.S, with notables of the state and national organizations present as guests. Clarence O. Lister, Grand Master of Masons of the State of Connecticut, was the principal speaker and Past Grand Master Colonel George R. Sturges of Woodbury served as master of ceremonies.

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Those who attended the meeting of the Newtown Parent Teachers Association Tuesday evening, May 15, were presented with a comprehensive picture of the plans for the proposed local six-year high school building. Spokesman for the High School Building Committee was its chairman, Herbert Cutler, who outlined the steps in the progress of the committee to date. Other members of the committee present included Herbert Janzer, Ronald Olson and Ervin C. Stickles, Jr.

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An interested and appreciative audience attended last Thursday evening’s performance of “Johnny On The Spot,” a musical fantasy presented at the Edmond Town Hall theatre by members of the East Side House Settlement in New York City. The cast of young actors and actresses was brought to Newtown by bus and car from New York, spending part of the day at the Stepney Camp on Botsford Hill, which is a summer project of the East Side House Settlement.

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The Newtown baseball team opened its season on Sunday afternoon at Taylor Field by defeating Oxford, 11-1. The first inning found Newtown building up a goodly lead of 7 runs, and they continued to add two in the 4th, one in the 5th, and one in the 7th. Hurling for Newtown was Burr Morgan who allowed the visitors only 8 hits. Receiving for Newtown was Mike Kearns, relieved by Jim Cavanaugh in the 8th.

May 21, 1926

Mrs Harriett Sniffen, widow of former Postmaster William B. Sniffen, of Sandy Hook, passed away on Tuesday night, after a long illness. She was one of the oldest residents of Sandy Hook village, aged 85 years. Surviving her are two sons, Ernest Sniffen of Newport News, Va., and Birdsey Siffen, who resided with his mother. A daughter, Lulu, died a good many years ago.

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There was the greatest attendance for years at the Diocesan Convention in Hartford on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the chief matter of interest being the choice of bishop coadjutor who will succeed Bishop Brewster on his retirement. … Bishop Acheson … was chosen coadjutor on the 4th ballot. … Bishop Acheson has served Connecticut faithfully many years and his promotion many will feel just reward for his fidelity. Bishop Acheson will visit St John’s church, Sandy Hook, at 9 o’clock on Sunday, June 13, and Trinity at 11 o’clock. He will confirm a goodly number in each parish.

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Harry B. Curtis, treasurer of Bridgeport Hardware Manufacturing Corporation, has been elected President of the newly organized Black Rock National bank. Mr Curtis is a son of Henry G. Curtis of Newtown.

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Mrs Margaret Egan and Miss May Egan, who have passed the winter in Bridgeport, returned on Saturday to their home in Sandy Hook.

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Mrs Mary Morrison of Botsford has sold her farm to Edwin A. Rahm of Bridgeport. Mr Rahm is superintendent of the Metropolitan Body Company. The sale was made through Stanley Botsford, the well known Stepney Depot Real Estate Agent.

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A.E. Brinton is repairing the plumbing for Mrs Elliot M. Peck on her recently acquired Newtown property.

May 24, 1901

One among the many pleasing incidents of life that lends its charm to declining years was the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the married life of our highly esteemed and much respected friends, Mr and Mrs Birdsey McEwen, at their pleasant residence on Bagburn Hill on Saturday, May 11. The occasion was made cheerful by the many smiling faces of neighbors and friends who in their happy ways and sparkling wit as well as in keen remembrance of many tales of “ye olden time,” brought back fresh to the memory many scenes of youthful days to provoke the mirth and hearty laugh.

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It is reported that Rev J. Addison Crockett, well known in Newtown, has lately fallen heir to a fortune of $250,000 by the death of a relative. All of which is highly interesting, if true.

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Arthur Day of New York city passed Sunday with his mother, Mrs G.P. Sanford, at her pleasant residence at the head of the Street.

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Joseph Carney and William Morrell of Shelton were guests of John F. Keating, Monday afternoon and Tuesday. The party were on a fishing excursion and they did not go home empty. Monday evening, accompanied by Frederick Tripp and Mr Keating, they enjoyed themselves immensely fishing for bullheads, a species of catfish, which inhabit the waters of what is known as Cider Mill pond, near the late Charles Warner’s mill. The four caught 39 pounds. Tuesday they caught 28, a number of which were beauties. Four of the largest weighed two and three-fourths pounds. Mr Morrell formerly lived in Sandy Hook in the house now occupied by Mr Bassett.

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Miss M. Elizabeth Scudder and her friend, Miss Sadie Utter of New Haven, passed Saturday and Sunday with Mrs Samuel Scudder in Newtown Street.

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Dr J.W. Gordon successfully removed, last week, a growth from the face of Mrs John Brew, and she is now getting along nicely.

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.