September 21, 2001

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THOUGHTS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD: Having more than 5,000 people die in one place on a sunny fall morning changes everything. Whatever most of us may have been thinking about life on the morning of September 11, our view was suddenly and violently changed by the destruction of the World Trade Center towers and the attack on the Pentagon by terrorists. Life is neither predictable nor safe. It is not even assured. … The best way to see what the world will become tomorrow is to closely examine what we are thinking today. It does not bode well for the world if our own thoughts are filled only with hatred and intolerance — though it is fair to hate hatred and to be intolerant of intolerance. We are encouraged, however, by what we see right here in our hometown. People are thinking and talking about justice, compassion, patriotism, and resolve. So thought by thought, word by word, action by action, we believe the tide will turn on terror, and the world will become a better place.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Bill Brunetti, Jr.

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The massive flag that flew over Newtown at the Labor Day Parade earlier this month is long gone to some other ceremony, of which there are many these days. In its place, however, are thousands of much smaller flags around town. The flags are being put up by people who say they feel a deep sense of patriotism since last week’s terrorist attacks. They hang them from their homes, their cars, and even their hats. Others wear ribbons. Some have even painted their cars. One man was seen with an American flag draped over his shoulders at Sunday’s vigil at Newtown High School. Last week’s tragedy, many say, has stirred a reaction not seen from Americans since Pearl Harbor.

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The Newtown High School Freshman cheerleaders distributed red, white, and blue lapel ribbons at the candlelight memorial service held at Newtown High School on Sunday to solicit donations for the newly-established WTC Police & Firemen Memorial Fund. The squad collected more than $1,000.

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Newtown is supposed to be, as our unofficial slogan says, “Nice.” This is a town where people should still feel safe enough to leave their cars unlocked in their driveway, where new people feel welcomed at the sight of a stranger smiling at them for no reason at all, and where people can feel safe walking on their streets at dusk. But as has been proven time and again, Newtown is changing. And during a time of a national tragedy, when a community should pull together … someone is displaying some of humankind’s worst characteristics. … At least three Newtown families have had American flags stolen from their homes this week, and each act seems to have been done under cover of darkness.

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Three motorists were charged with DUI after being stopped at a sobriety checkpoint in Hawleyville Saturday night. It was the third such checkpoint of the summer. Ten officers and one supervisor staffed the roadblock and were paid through a grant from the Department of Transportation. A total of 600 vehicles passed the checkpoint and each was stopped and the drivers interviewed to determine if they had consumed alcohol before driving.

September 24, 1976

Zita McMahon, grants administrator for the town, appeared before the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night to explain how Newtown could possibly latch on to some of the funds from the 1976 Local Public Works Act. Although the act is passed, Mrs McMahon explained, the congressional appropriation of the funds has not taken place, but this is hopefully expected to occur before Congress recesses on October 2. The total bill would release $3.96 billion in funds, and out of this it is expected Connecticut would receive an allotment of somewhere around $250 million.

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On Monday, 24 children in grades K-5 were transferred from the Sandy Hook School to Middle Gate, and on Tuesday evening their parents went to the Board of Education to protest the move and ask the board to rescind its action which mandated the transfer. Although the parents argued their reasons for not wanting the transfer, the board’s action was not rescinded, and as of Wednesday the children were having classes at Middle Gate.

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“Never the twain shall meet” is seemingly the case when it comes to discussions between First Selectman Jack Rosenthal and Selectman Frank DeLucia about that much beleaguered subject, the Newtown landfill. This week’s chapter, including the usual exchange of charges and counter charges between the two, began at Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting when the Democratic First Selectman reported back to the board on his decision to purchase up to 1,500 cubic yards of material from Loma Sand & Gravel for use as cover material in the landfill operation.

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The Newtown Health Department has received a check for $300 from the Fairfield County Branch of Connecticut’s Christmas Seal-Lung Association to help finance a high risk patient swine flu immunization clinic. Mrs Laurie LeBouthillier, branch director, presented the check to Health Officer Thomas F. Draper, M.D., who is coordinating the flu immunization clinics for Newtown.

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Registering a new voter in her office is always a pleasure for Town Clerk Mae Schmidle, but last Friday was a very special voter-making experience for Mrs Schmidle. On that afternoon it was her pleasant task to register Mary Bernadette Barnett of Capitol Drive. What made the occasion so special was that Mrs Barnett had come straight to the town clerk’s office from court in Bridgeport where an hour before she had received her United States citizenship. Mrs Barnett was formerly a citizen of Great Britain, and she and her husband have lived in Newtown two years.

September 21, 1951

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — REAL SERVICE TO THE TOWN: This year’s town election in Newtown gives promise of considerable activity, which we believe is healthy. A sleepy electorate and an election without sharp contrast in issues and keen competition for elective positions is not beneficial for the town. The Bee is particularly gratified that the Newtown League of Women Voters has seen fit to hold another in its series of candidates rallies. … Similar rallies have proven well worthwhile in the past, and so this year’s rally is sure to attract, not only the full string of candidates, both Democratic, Republican and Independent, but also a large and attentive audience. Here is sound political activity at work. We compliment the League for this service to the town.

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The Newtown Parent Teachers Association held its first meeting of the school year at Hawley School Tuesday night, with the annual fair and agricultural exhibit, arranged under the direction of Vincent P. Gaffney, teacher of vocational agriculture, stealing the show in the course of the evening’s events. In the 1951 version of this yearly competitive exhibition, sponsored by the Parent Teachers Association and the Rotary Club of Newtown, more than 100 exhibitors with between 300 and 400 individual exhibits made the fair the largest and best attended in the history of like events in Newtown.

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A total of 136 new voters have been made in Newtown so far this year, according to figures released this week by Town Clerk May E. Sullivan, contrasting with 282 who were added to the town’s voting list last year at the same stage before election. … There were 58 voters made at the session held September 8 and 78 were added to the voting lists last Saturday.

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The Newtown Fire Company was called to Trinity Episcopal Church at 8:30 Wednesday morning when a fire was reported in the church basement. Prompt investigation on the part of firemen disclosed nothing more serious than smoke caused by its backing up from the furnace.

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Charles Ferris, with his pair of Durham oxen, won first place in the ox-drawing contest at the Terryville Fair this past week-end, competing in the under 3,000 pound class. This is Mr Ferris’ third straight win this fall in this weight class, having also taken top honors at the Goshen and Bethlehem Fairs.

September 24, 1926

Newtown citizens join in extending congratulations to Dwight Clark Wheeler, a former popular summer resident, whose marriage to Ruby Frances Conway of Bridgeport, daughter of Mrs Anna Bowman Conway, took place on Saturday, September 11.

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The Hawley school opened, this fall, with the following registration: High school, 122; Grades, 124. On returning the pupils found the school newly painted on the interior, and the grounds and lawn well taken care of during the summer.

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BASEBALL NEWS — Newtown 5, East Sides 1: Another victory for the locals, making the 6th straight win and the 11th triumph in 17 starts. As was predicted, the Danbury team came over to play the game of their lives, and Newtown was equally determined to repeat the former victory. Coyne and D. Griscom were the opposing moundsmen and the game was a pitchers’ battle from start to finish.

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It will be “Dairymen’s Night” in Newtown, Conn., September 29, 1926, when dairy farmers in this vicinity, and their families will be the guests of Newtown Coal & Grain Co., for the evening in the Town hall, Newtown, at 8 p.m. Newtown Coal & Grain Co., has secured a motion picture projector and has arranged for a special showing of an intensely interestingly three-reel motion picture, “Safeguarding the Foster Mothers of the World.”

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The bridge at the Newtown Country Club, held last Monday evening, was fairly well attended. The highest score of the evening for the ladies was won by Mrs Charles F. Cavanaugh and Mrs Sarah Beers Mitchell. William O. Pardee and L.C. Morris did the honors for the gentlemen. Mrs Cavanaugh and Mrs Mitchell, G. Herbert Beers and L.C. Morris are ahead for the month in scores.

September 27, 1901

A person driving on the highway past the property of E.L. Johnson sees some evidences of the recent cyclone in that section. But to give a correct idea of the damage done and of the terrible velocity of the wind on that memorable Sunday night of September 15, one wants to climb over the stone walls and go down into the fields. The other day, with Mr Johnson as guide, the editor took a tramp over a part of the territory covered by the tornado. And such a sight he never beheld in all his life. The damage, to Mr Johnson’s property, could not be placed lower than $1,200. Sixty-five apple trees were uprooted and blown over, and a section of one barn unroofed.

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Emerson Wilson and family of Redding passed Sunday with his brother, George R. Wilson, in Taunton. With Mr Wilson they visited Warren Pitcher in Bridgewater.

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Mr and Mrs Frank Smith had a new son arrive at their house, Tuesday, September 17.

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Warren Pitcher of Bridgewater was the guest, last week, of George R. Wilson. They made a fishing excursion on Pond brook, one evening, and caught 40 eels and 50 suckers.

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Miss Helen Bassett, a teacher in the Prospect street school at Bridgeport, came to Newtown, Friday night, remaining till Sunday night, the guest of Miss Kate Tomlin.

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Mr and Mrs Hobart Fairchild wish to extend their thanks to the friends and neighbors for their kindness and sympathy, and the flowers so thoughtfully sent at the time of the death of their daughter, Edna.

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 and details 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.