The Newtown Congregational Church has once again reminded the Town of Newtown of its interest in selling its church house on Main Street, adjacent to the town hall. Robert Hamilton, chairman of the church’s building committee, delivered a letter Monday to First Selectman Jack Rosenthal, reminding him that the building committee wants to reestablish communication with the town about the sale of the property.

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Some area gasoline retailers say there is no gas shortage, and they’ve received all requested deliveries. Others, when questioned, refused to comment. A few, like the management at Oberg’s Village Texaco, say their supply this month has been substantially cut back. Of unleaded, that is. And some wonder what new game the oil companies are playing. Are the cutbacks announced last week by the country’s largest gasoline marketer part of another scheme to raise prices further?

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If the town decides to vote the purchase of the Ruwet-Sibley building on Main Street, as it stands now, architectural plans would call for the police headquarters to be located in the lower part of the building in the back, now that the fire department says it doesn’t want to leave its station behind town hall. Monday night the Board of Police Commissioners expressed its displeasure at the plan, and also that the alloted amount of space may be cut down to save on costs.

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The findings of Newtown’s Youth Services Committee, an ad hoc group set up by the selectmen in April to determine the needs of Newtown’s youth, will be presented Monday evening at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting. During the past seven months the committee has polled high school students, parents, and community civic, church, and service organizations.

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A sample of Newtown residents was interviewed by the League of Women Voters last spring about the recreational facilities in town to determine town satisfaction with present facilities, and what direction future recreational planning should take. The sample included 200 residents chosen at random who were interviewed by telephone by League members. The respondents were anonymous. Except for the area of town in which they live and their age-family category. This was done to ensure an adequate representation of the town according to the 1970 Census Bureau date.

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The Christmas season in Newtown will be heralded in on Friday, December 8, at 6 pm with the annual Christmas tree lighting in front of Edmond Town Hall, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

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A town meeting is expected to take place on or around Thursday, December 21, to act on the Legislative Council’s recommendation that a special appropriation of $75,000 be provided to buy a four-acre tract of land as a source of sand and gravel for the Town of Newtown.

DECEMBER 11, 1953

Last Sunday night a high wind swept across this part of Connecticut, driving a downpour of rain before it which lasted most of the night. Newtown suffered little serious damage, but trees came down, bringing with them power lines which disrupted electric service in all parts of town for varying lengths of time. Signs blew down and at least two windows were smashed at the business block in the shopping center.

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The property of an old Newtown business changed hands last week with the reported sale of the lands, buildings, and inventory of the Newtown Coal and Grain Company on Church Hill Road by John T. McCarthy to Charles H. McLaughlin, Walnut Tree Hill. Since taking over last week, Mr McLaughlin has revealed to The Bee plans for carrying on a coal and building materials business on the site where coal, lumber, or grain have been sold for over 75 years.

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A general discussion on public school education took place Monday evening in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library when the Citizens Committee on Education held its second public meeting. Mortimer B. Smith presided and read a prepared statement which presented his own views on the subject, and various subcommittee chairmen, Dwight W. Norris, Mrs Sydney B. Dobbs, and Mrs Robert P. Stokes, submitted reports. About 75 were in attendance.

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An effort to establish the machinery for zoning the town by school districts, begun by the Town Development Committee early this year and supported by many townspeople, came to naught last Friday, December 4, when the opposition to the plan turned out in force and killed the proposal in a day-long referendum on the voting amchines. The vote was 896 against zoning to 576 for zoning, with 101 votes not registered by the machines. A total of 1,573 voters were recorded at the polling place in Edmond Town Hall gymnasium.

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The Rochambeau Bridge, the Housatonic River crossing for the new Route 6 cutoff in Riverside, will be dedicated next June with Frency military units participating, according to Raymond Miller of Waterbury, chairman of arrangements for the dedication.

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Employees, students, and patients of Fairfield State Hospital will collaborate in the presentation of a Christmas pageant Wednesday evening, December 16, in Bridgeport Hall as one of the high spots of the holiday program for the patients of the hospital.

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After having spent a furlough at home, Pvt Allan E. Rasmussen, son of Mr and Mrs A.W. Rasmussen, Botsford, reported to Fort Dix, N.J., last week and on Friday flew to Oakland, Calif.

DECEMBER 7, 1928

The committee in charge of the Christmas party at the Congregational Sunday School, consisting of Mrs F.H. Johnson, Miss Ebba Moller, Miss Hazel H. Smith, H.C. Hubbell, and Rev Paul Cullens, met at Mrs Johnston’s Monday night to make arrangements for the event.

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Ethel M. Peck, daughter of Mr and Mrs John R. Peck, who has been doing Red Cross work for the flood sufferers in Vermont and more recently in Florida, has accepted a position as a social worker in charge of the work at the Marion Military Hospital in Indiana.

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There was opened at Hawleyville, during the past week, Brookside Lodge, which will cater to the public for banquets, parties, etc. They will also specialize in spaghetti a-la-Italiana.

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Miss Emma Moller has taken a position as substitute teacher at the high school at Greenwich for the month of December.

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Clinton Maynard has taken a position as chauffeur with Dr Wight of Bethel.

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On Wednesday afternoon of last week about 4 o’clock, the north corner of the western roof on the residence of Robert D. and H.A. Smith of Dodgingtown was discovered to be on fire. A crew of the gypsy moth men were at work in an adjoining lot, when Foreman Brown of the squad noticed the fire and hastened with his entire crew to the scene. Other workmen engaged in building the new garage and barn hustled into action and a bucket brigade was soon formed. Later help came from the Dodgingtown Fire Company and a pumper arrived from Danbury, and the fire was soon under complete control.

DECEMBER 11, 1903

The December meeting of the Men’s Club will be held at the Grand Central Hotel, next Monday night, Allison P. Smith being the host. The subject will be “Aaron Burr,” in charge is President David C. Peck of the Newtown Savings Bank.

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F.E. Burwell and men began work this week on the task of painting the remodeled convent building on St Rose’s church property.

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Harry Coger shot a large skunk Saturday, which had made its headquarters in and about the barn of Charles Beardsley.

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J.B. Fairchild has just had a small building built on the northern side of his wagon house in which he has placed his new five-horse power Palmer gasoline engine, which he purchased through the agency of R.C. Mitchell.

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The high school pupils have been presented with a lawn tennis net by the ladies of the Street and vicinity.

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A neat and attractive sign has been placed over the door at the entrance of The Bee office, the work of H.D. Hine, a New Milford artist.

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Ernest Sanford, Clarence Nichols, Oscar and John Carlson are new members of the Hillside Club.

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S. Bluman is turning out a double set of heavy Boston backer harness for H.P. Boyson, brass trimmed. He is also making a light driving harness for Mrs Schielk.

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During the recent snowstorm that popular gentleman, L.T. Briscoe, got out with a snow plow and made nice paths about the Hook.