Suggestions ranging from improving the present utilization of space, and modernizing the book selection, through a “barn-raising” effort by Newtown residents to build an addition, through satellite library services or a complete new library, were tossed to the C.H. Booth Library Board of Trustees November 13 at a public forum.

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Three months into the current school year, school administration officials are now predicting a $79,000 deficit in the budget for the 1980-81 school year.

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The High School Marching Band joined forces with the Middle School Band and performed before the football game against the Weston Trojans. They also played in the stands, cheering their team to victory as Newtown beat Weston 21-6.

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The largest crowd ever danced to the music of Barry Bockus last Saturday night at the Scholarship Ball, the annual fund raising event for the Newtown Scholarship Association. The dinner-dance, featuring a choice of chicken or roast beef, was at the Ridgefield Country Club in Danbury.

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A flurry of activity was noticed in the Newtown Middle School this week as reroofing work began at the school. Because of the nature of the work classes underneath the work area had to be moved to other areas of the building to ensure student safety.

***

The town of Newtown, as it has for the past 15 years, according to First Selectman Jack Rosenthal, continued its battle against the state Department of Transportation’s plan to abandon Glen Road and the “silver bridge” over the Housatonic River, and turn it over to the Town of Newtown.

***

Through controversy, battles between town departments, cost overruns, and seemingly endless dispute, the Town of Newtown is on the verge of opening Town Hall South, the former Lovell’s of Ruwet-Sibley tractor and hardware outlet, for use by town offices.

November 25, 1955

Correct addressing by correspondents, publishers, advertisers and others from whom you receive your mail will ensure prompt delivery, Postmaster Albert H. Nichols of the Newtown Post Office told patrons of his office, in substance, in a form letter last week. “To continue to serve our record number of approximately 6,800 postal patrons efficiently and well, we are asking you to help,” Mr Nichols said. Identification of the proper RFD route or post office box number by correspondents is requested.

***

On Sunday, November 20, the Girls Scouts held open house at their newly renovated Girl Scout Cabin on Church Hill Road. The purpose of the open house was two-fold, to show the people of Newtown the comfortable, attractive cabin the girls now have, and to publicly thank Frank Bawden and the other men who gave so generously of their time and skills to make the cabin the comfortable, attractive one it is.

***

An apparent aftermath of this year’s heavy rains occurred Tuesday morning when a large section of an embankment in the French’s Cove section of Oxford slid into Lake Zoar. The slide was witnessed by Walter Knorr, who noticed water spouting five feet above the lake near his home. This was followed by an earth tremor and a 110-foot section of the 50-foot high embankment, near his house and garage, slid toward the water.

***

Members of the senior class who are planning to go on to college are busily taking the American Council on Education Psychological Aptitude Test.

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SAC notes: A large box of beautiful Christmas cards has arrived with “Boys Club of Sandy Hook” printed on the inner page, which was sent from the Pestalozzi Foundation by SAC’s good friend H. C. Honegger. The cards arrived in time for Thursday’s meeting and a vote of thanks was given Mr Honegger for his kindness and some of the cards were immediately addressed to GI members who are overseas.

The Parents-Teachers Association Harvest Dance last Friday night, November 18, proved to be a great success with approximately 100 mothers, fathers and children of the upper grades enjoying the dancing, decorations and refreshments in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium. The hall was strikingly decorated in red and yellow, with gourds, corn stalks and pumpkins carrying out the harvest theme.

***

“It is entirely possible for Newtown to go through ‘S-D-Day’ — Safe Driving Day, Thursday, December 1 — without a single traffic accident,” First Selectman Edward J. Coleman said this week. “We can achieve this goal of no accidents on S-D Day,” Mr Coleman said, “if we accept the idea that traffic safety is an individual personal matter.”

November 21, 1930

Work is going steadily forward on the foundations for the first unit of the Fairfield State Hospital on Mile Hill. About 150 men are now employed by the contractors, C. Abadessa & Brothers. The foundations for the central dining hall and kitchen on the south side of the Mile Hill highway are well along.

***

The Danbury and Bethel Electric Light and Power Co is extending its lines into Walnut Tree Hill district and poles already have been laid to the residence of Mrs Elizabeth Driscoll.

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Newtown had a spectacular fire, Sunday, when the wooden railroad bridge over the Housatonic river at Sandy Hook was burned. The fire, it is believed, started from a hot cinder from a freight train which passed over the bridge an hour before the fire was discovered. In a few moments, the whole span was ablaze, the old wooden framework being eaten up by the flames like shavings.

***

Homer Conger, who is 65 years old, was struck by a hit and run driver about 6 o’clock, Tuesday night, as he was going to the village from his home on Washington avenue. He had several ribs broken and was more or less cut and bruised about the head.

***

One of the worst automobile crashes that has ever occurred in Newtown took place on Dead Man’s curve, in Botsford, on Wednesday afternoon. A five ton Mack truck loaded with crushed stone on the way to Newtown crashed into a light delivery car owned by Isaac Weiner, auto supply dealer, of New Haven. The force of the collision as they met head on threw the New Haven car a distance of over 100 feet, turning it over and completely wrecking it. The driver of the delivery truck was badly hurt. The driver of the truck was pinned under the wreckage. W.H. Coy, of the SNE Telephone Co was passing and with the aid of a hack saw from his tool kit, sawed the steering wheel and released the young man. Dr E.L. Kingman found that he was unhurt.

***

St Rose’s parish supper was a very wonderful success, with nearly 1,000 people being provided. The supper was an excellent one, and it was a pleasant social occasion in every way.

November 25, 1905

Rev John R. Peal and Mrs Peale were among the five missionaries of the Presbyterian Board of Mission massacred at Lienchow, China. Mr Peale is a brother of Charles Peale of Newtown. Mr Peale informs THE BEE his brother was married only on July last.

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The editorial committee appointed to issue the Bi-Centennial history, have made a contract with Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor of New Haven, for printing a limited number of copies of this book. The book will contain about 40 fine half tone illustrations, and will be practically a complete history of Newtown.

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Botsford Brothers have hustled the work right along on the new Postoffice and Library building at Sandy Hook. The building presents a very neat and attractive appearance and is a credit to Sandy Hook

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Edward Botsford saw a mammoth eagle on Botsford Hill, while driving to Sandy Hook the other morning. The bird sat on a tree, and flew away as Mr Botsford approached.

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Carpenter Charles Stevens of the Fabric Fire Hose Co caught his finger in a buzz saw, last week, nearly severing the finger.