May 18, 1990

Heavenward the big arm climbed. In the bucket, clutching a gold bird, was the Reverend Steve Gordon. It was just before 5 pm on Thursday, May 5. Earlier in the day, we got a call from Bob Klein telling us that Bethel-based Highlift, Inc would be passing through Newtown, from one job in New York to another in Massachusetts. The machine would stop in Newtown later in the afternoon. The long awaited moment had come. At last the dove of peace weathervane Robert and Jean Klein had commissioned would sit atop the steeple on the new Newtown Congregational Church. The Kleins and church members have spent quite a few anxious months trying to find someone who had with a ladder or a piece of machinery high enough to get to the very top of the church steeple, some 80 feet.

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It looks as if the teenagers will have someplace to go this summer. Members of the Teen Center Building Committee and the Governing Board plan to have the Newtown Teen Center open by the end of next month, an event they were only dreaming about six months ago. The Teen Center, also known as “The Garage,” is located near the ConRail bridge on Church Hill Road in the old town garage.

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The Edmond Town Hall gym was transformed as the first of what organizers hope will be an annual affair took shape. The Newtown Trade Fair, sponsored by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, was designed to familiarize residents with local businesses and to encourage people to shop in town and support local enterprises.

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The Grand Union company will officially reopen its newly renovated 32,463-square-foot food market at 5 Queen Street this Sunday, May 20, at 9 am. There will be a ribbon cutting to officially mark the end of renovations and reopen the expanded market. Grand Union will donate a portion of the grand reopening day sales to the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The store has been completely renovated and enlarged by more than 7,700-square feet.

May 21, 1965

What is an Asian bird doing in Sandy Hook? For the past ten days a Myna bird has been feeding on our porch with the other common birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. This strange and interesting bird is now a captive. We know Myna birds are pets and can be taught to talk. This one hasn’t yet spoken to us. Are you the owner of this rare bird? ~ J.P. Jackson, Sandy Hook

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Mrs Robert J. Clark announces that her Land’s End Country Store will be open this week-end, starting its sixteenth season. As is so well known, the proceeds from this unique store are used to combat cancer, through the Bobby Clark Memorial Research Fund at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

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Edward F. Borodenko, president of the Newtown Jaycees, was one of the first to pop into the chair of the town’s newest barber, Jack Trinder, now located in the Dodgingtown Stores. This property was recently purchase by Mr and Mrs Paul Kipphut. Other businesses occupying the stores are the Dodgingtown Market, managed by Arthur Strano, and the Liquor Store operated by Mr Gracel. Mr Borodenko runs the meat department in the market.

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The sight of many old Packards in the parking lot of the Hawley Manor Inn on Sunday caused quite a bit of attention for both those passing by on the road and for those on foot. The reason for the collection of cars was a meeting of the Eastern Packard Club, Inc, with its headquarters in Bridgeport.

 

May 17, 1940

It is proposed to organize a Branch of the American Association of University Women for Newtown and vicinity. Graduates of approved colleges and universities with approved degrees, are asked to indicate their interest by sending name, address, telephone number, with name of college, degrees received and dates, to Mrs Benjamin Garrison Demarest, Taunton Lane, Newtown, phone 14. When the American Association of University Women was founded in 1882, educational opportunities for women were meager and openings for trained women few and far between. A little group of pioneers — seventeen graduates of eight colleges — launched the plan for an organization of college women for “practical educational work.” The Association today numbers approximately 60,000 members.

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A.B. Nichols, well known painter of Taunton district, was the victim of an unfortunate accident on Tuesday noon, while painting the residence of Mr and Mrs Stephen Budd of Main street. Mr Nichols was painting near one of the dormer windows when the step ladder on which he was standing slipped, throwing him to the ground. Mr Nichols was rushed to the Danbury hospital, where X-Rays were taken of the injured ankles. The accident is a most serious one for Mr Nichols and his many friends and neighbors hope that he will soon be about.

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On Saturday, May 18, at 3 o’clock, if the weather is fine, there will be a May Fete on the lawn of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. Marie Stanton, chosen Queen of the May by the popular vote of the children, will be crowned. There will be a May procession, songs by the maids of honor and the courtiers, a merry jester to entertain with his pranks, and a Maypole dance, given by twelve children to entertain their Queen.

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One of Nature’s freaks was born on Sunday at A.F.A. Konig’s Minkdale Farms in South Center district, when a 3-legged kid arrived, with two normal kids, to join Mr Konig’s herd of Toggenburg goats.

 

May 21, 1915

Ink Drops: Lovers of old Newtown and her history followed with deep interest the series of historical articles from the pen of the late E.L. Johnson, which for several years appeared in the columns of The Bee. The wish has often been publicly expressed that these letters might be gathered in book form and published. On Page 3 of this issue of The Bee is a letter from Mrs E.L. Johnson, offering to take up the task providing she receives encouragement from our readers. Let all interested write Mrs Johnson and subscribe for one or more copies of the proposed book.

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The Men’s club had a very fine meeting at the Newtown Inn, Tuesday night, with John J. Northrop as host and D.C. Peck in charge of the literary program. By request, H.N. Tiemann, Sr gave a series of lantern slides on Belgium, now the center of the war zone. Mine host Porter served the following fine menu: Strawberries, Bouillion in Cups, Relishes, Pickles, Radishes, Olives, Lamb Cutlets a la Monaco, Potatoes a la Mavarraise, Asparagus on Toast, Lima Beans Salad, Lettuce and Tomato Salad, Strawberry Ice Cream, Cake, Demi Tasse.

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Newtown High School Notes: Mr Brundage of Storrs visited the High school, Friday afternoon, and gave a short talk on Agriculture Clubs. Mr Pease, a special worker, accompanied him and succeeded in interesting several pupils in the dairy club. This week the Civics class is having good practice in map drawing. Newtown, with its different districts, has been the chief subject. Three of the younger boys of the school are sporting long pants but as yet none of them have nerve enough to wear them to school. They are Walter Glover, Earie Wentsch and Frederick Leiss.

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W.G. Hard has sold his attractive place in Cold Spring to the Bridgeport Hydraulic Co. Mr Hard is building a very pretty bungalow, 26x24, on the old Elam Tongue property, which he now owns. Mr Hard is 72 years old and is building it himself. He was born in Newtown and has never lost his love for the old town. William G. Hard was the last schoolteacher he studied under in Newtown.