April 27, 1990

Paul Scudder Smith, Former Bee Editor and Publisher Dies at 87: Paul Scudder Smith, 87, of Currituck Road, died on Monday, April 23, in Danbury Hospital. He was born on December 3, 1902, son of the late Arthur Judd and Caroline Frances Smith. Mr Smith, a lifelong resident of Newtown, was born in a house on Main Street and graduated from Newtown High School… He spent one year at Wooster Academy… entering Amherst College, where he graduated with honors in 1924… Mr Smith spent three years working in the publicity department of the General Electric Company in Schenectady, N.Y., and later moved on to McGraw Hill Publishing in New York City… Mr Smith returned to Newtown and The Bee Publishing Company in 1932, first to replace his father, Arthur, who retired as business manager, and later to become editor/publisher in 1934 upon the death of his uncle, Alison P. Smith… During his 40 years as editor/publisher, Mr Smith remained true to his belief that he should not hold any political position nor serve in any elected capacity. His presence, however, was felt through his work establishing and assisting the Chamber of Commerce, SAC… Newtown Historical Society… and as a member of the Historic District Commission. Mr Smith was a member of the Horticultural Club, the Sons of the American Revolution, The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, and Hiram Lodge No 18 AF and AM.

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They’re coming. And as the town’s conservation director, David Thompson declared, “It’s every man for himself.” They are the caterpillars which will become gypsy moths. This year, according to a survey recently done in Newtown, they are going to cause moderate to heavy defoliation in town. Mr Thompson explained that such surveys are done by counting large egg masses in different areas.

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At a recent P & Z meeting, zoners rejected the idea of a miniature golf course by a vote of four to one. Their reason, according to Ann O’Donnell of the P&Z office, was that the “proposed use was not in harmony with the general character of the town.” The proposal was for a miniature golf course off Route 25/South Main Street on the lot adjacent to the hot dog stand, where a small building currently stands.

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The Legislative Council has asked its ordinance committee to review the possible need for an ordinance that would restrict the discharge of firearms in town. Several months ago, Doug Rogers, president of the Newtown Forest Association, gave the council a petition with 300 names of persons seeking such an ordinance.  He is seeking a legal ban on the discharge of firearms on the Newtown Forest Association properties; on Parks and Recreations properties; and on or near school properties.

April 30, 1965

A call was received at the Newtown High School switchboard at 1:37 pm, Tuesday, April 27, to the effect that there was a bomb in a locker. The building was immediately evacuated and firemen from the Newtown and Sandy Hook companies and police, responded promptly. All lockers were checked and no bomb was found. Newtown schools have never before received such a call and an investigation is under way to identify the caller. Connecticut State Law makes the placing of such a call a serious offense, with a fine  of $500 and/or a year in prison as the maximum sentence.

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The park will officially open on Memorial Day and a new ruling will go into effect: all organizations wishing to use the park facilities must notify the park superintendent at least two weeks in advance. It is with deep regret that the commission has had to postpone the erecting of a new pavilion at Dickinson Memorial Park. Contributions have failed to come in sufficient quantities to start the work, and the commission felt it was better to postpone the building until funds were raised, and to have the pavilion be a credit to the town.

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On May 8, at 8:30 pm, the Newtown Rotary Club will present a concert in the Edmond Town Hall for the benefit of the Newtown Scholarship Fund. At this time, two newcomers will make their debuts: the Newtown Choral Society, under the direction of Joseph Grasso, accompanied by Mrs Grasso; and Milorad Popovic, appearing as guest pianist for the first time on American stage. Mr Popovic received his initial musical education at the Josip Slavensky Music School in his native Belgrade, Yugoslavia. In 1961 he received the first of three annual state scholarships for study in Paris and at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau.

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The Fairfield Hills Hospital will observe National Mental Health Week, May 1 through 8, with an open house and patients’ art and craft show to which the public is cordially invited. Guided tours will be conducted by staff members of the facilities of the rehabilitation center and reservations for groups or organizations can be made by calling Gordon D. Homes, director of rehabilitation services, at the hospital. The exhibit this year features a display of specially designed hooked rugs.

 

April 26, 1940

Big News For Refrigerator Buyers! You Can Now Buy This Big 6 cu. ft. General Electric AT THE AMAZING PRICE OF $114.75. 6.2 Cu.Ft, Storage Space, 11.7 Sq.Ft. of Shelf Area, 8 Lbs. of Ice — 80 Big Cubes — At One Time, Fast Freezing Stainless Steel Super-Freezer, All-Steel Cabinet — 1-piece Porcelain Interior, Automatic Interior Lighting, Sealed-in-Steel GE Thrift Unit. Danbury & Bethel Gas & Electric Light Co. Phone Newtown 288.

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One of the outstanding residences to be erected recently in Newtown is located on Currituck road. It is characterized by its simple formality, designed in the regency style. However, it is well proportioned and logically planned inside. The home was designed for a well-known author and extensive traveler, Miss Mary Pennell, the rooms being particularly planned to provide a place for her Early American furniture and articles collected in various countries which she has visited throughout the world. The architect was Frederick H. Beckwith of Bridgeport and the builder was Arthur E. McCollam, local contractor… The living room, with its fireplace and bookcase opposite the hall entrance is most inviting and has a doorway heading out onto a large screened in porch, which offers scenic views to the north of the beautiful Shepaug valley. In the evening the distant lights of Bridgewater may be seen.

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There have been several inquiries about the clam chowder made by the Parker House for the Boy Scout Father and Son Banquet. Mrs Parker has chowder made every Friday and will gladly sell it at 40 cent a quart. Bring your own jar.

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D.N. Popovitch of Taunton district has reported damage to the Chamber of Commerce “Welcome” sign located at the town line in Dodgingtown. The sign has evidently been the target for rocks hurled by boys who should know better. It is rather a serious offense to destroy property in any such way, and a word of warning is given, so that those at fault will not make themselves liable again.

 

April 30, 1915

One thing, which everybody notices at this time of year, is the number of tent-caterpillar nests. Every wild cherry is covered with these white nests. One place near the center of town where tent-caterpillars are more than plentiful is along Queen street, especially near the watering trough. If these nests are destroyed before the caterpillars leave them, a surprising difference will be seen in the number of apple trees destroyed by tent-caterpillars this year.

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E.B. Stevens has presented the Dodgingtown school with a 40-foot flag pole. It is hoped that the flag will be seen flying on school days after this.

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On Saturday morning at 4 am, a fire was discovered by Thomas Dillon in the mill of John Sammis. Help was quickly called, but so rapidly did the flames spread that the building was a mass of flames before anything could be saved. Mr Sammis places his loss at about $500.

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Ezra J. Hall is slowly recovering from the awful beating he received at the hands of his murderous assailants, three weeks ago. He now visits his office daily and is attending to business. Mr Hall says it has been intimated to him that in his testimony in the Justice’s court he was trying to cover something up, and that he was not telling all that he knew about the case. Mr Hall says emphatically that this is not so, and that he is not trying to cover anything up or shield anyone.