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The Newtown High School Honor Band will start what it hopes will become an annual tradition on Memorial Day by holding a ceremony at the town’s Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Main Street, May 31. Band Director Joseph Grasso informed First Selectman Jack Rosenthal this week that the band members proposed a half hour ceremony at the monument, to include numbers performed by the band.

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Ninety-three signatures were filed by Wednesday afternoon in the town clerk’s office on petitions calling for a referendum vote to defeat the $17,001,801 budget which was passed overwhelmingly on a voice vote by the 205 voters at Monday’s town budget meeting. Edwin Baumer of the Newtown Concerned Taxpayers submitted 93 signatures for verification to Town Clerk Betty Smith by Wednesday. The Concerned Taxpayers are opposing the 3.61 mill tax jump the $17 million budget would carry.

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A fire started by the ignition of gasoline fumes in the basement area of a boarding house at 87-89 South Main Street spread within a matter of minutes to the top two floors last Friday evening, May 14, gutting the interior and causing an estimated $150,000 worth of structural and personal property losses. It was Newtown’s largest fire since the Yankee Drover Inn was destroyed January 28, 1981. Both before and after the fire last Friday, local building and zoning officials were looking into conditions in the boarding house because of the reportedly unhealthy condition in which it was maintained.

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The membership of the Newtown Congregational Church will discuss the fate of the now-vacant church parsonage on Main Street after services this Sunday. If the structure is torn down, the hopes of at least a few townspeople will be dashed along with it. Last Wednesday night, a group of citizens and clergy met in the Church House behind the parsonage to discuss a new location for a youth shelter formerly housed at 18 Main Street, the home of Don and Charley Schumann. Mr Schumann said the possibility of restoring and using the parsonage was discussed.

* * *

Six-year-old Ryan Switz was happily surprised last Wednesday, may 19, when he discovered a balloon near his Newtown home that came from Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. According to an attached note, the balloon was sent from Bogert School which launched several as part of a fund-raising project. The note included that cash prizes will be awarded to those who find balloons at the farthest distance from the New Jersey school.

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A 1982 Toyota four-wheel drive pick-up truck was totally destroyed by fire in an almost inaccessible wooded area off Toddy Hill Road Tuesday afternoon, May 18, after the truck turned over. In the process, it ignited a half-acre brush fire. Sandy Hook Chief Bill Halstead said the driver was “very lucky” because if he had been injured and unable to leave the vehicle before it burned, he was a long way from help.

 

May 24, 1957

A glowing national tribute to the effectiveness of the Newtown High School’s physical education program will be found in the May 27 issue of Sports Illustrated, the Time Inc weekly sports magazine. In “One Town’s Secret” Sports Illustrated staff writer Dorothy Stull points out that Newtown students compiled the best record of all of the US public schools given the Kraus-Weber test of minimum muscular fitness.

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More than half of the $10,000 necessary for providing Congregation Adath Israel with additional facilities for a temple has been subscribed. Abe Nezvesky of the Huntingtown district, where the temple is located, reports that 53 percent of the goal has been pledged thus far. The present temple was erected in 1916 on land donated by Mr Nezvesky. Improvements to be added include a basement for the present structure and the inclusion, for the first time, of heat and water facilities.

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Members of the Garden Club of Newtown will take a field trip this Friday afternoon, May 24, around the grounds of Fairfield State Hospital to observe conservation practices put into effect by Floyd Hileman, farm manager. Other local garden clubs have been invited to attend.

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The unusual treasure hunt held by the Couple’s Club of the Newtown Congregational Church last Saturday evening proved an amusing and entertaining evening to all who attended. A musical treasure hunt was prepared by Miss Mary Cullens. Notes of music were the only clues to songs, in whose title key words gave the location of the next set of musical notes. Long-playing records were given to three successful couples.

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The Newtown Schools’ Music Department presented its annual Spring Concert last Friday evening at the Newtown High School. A capacity crowd was on hand to hear the Junior Band, string class, the Symphony Orchestra, the Senior Band, and Vocal Ensemble. The Arion Medal was presented by the Music Department to William Canfield as the graduating senior who has contributed the most toward the success of a high school musical organization.

* * *

Although the Town Forest is a special project of the Horticulture Club of Newtown, members of the Board of Directors have decided to express their interest in Dickinson Park by making a club contribution to help with its beautification. At a meeting held Tuesday evening at the home of President and Mrs James Brunot, it was voted to appropriate $50.

 

May 20, 1932

At the meeting of the executive committee of the Newtown George Washington Bi-Centennial Celebration held Monday night, at the Edmond Town hall, Attorney H.A. Symonds, secretary of the speakers’ committee, announced that Lieut Gov Samuel Reed Spencer of Suffield had accepted the committee’s invitation to be present at the celebration on July 1 and present the greetings of the State of Connecticut.

* * *

A great deal of interest has been aroused over the fact that the Brookfield Players, a professional theatrical company, with summer headquarters at Brookfield Center, have chosen the Edmond Town hall in Newtown for their productions of four, full length, new plays by important American Writers.

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Some up-to-date warning lights have been placed at the crossing at Hawleyville by the New York & Haven railroad, and this protection will be appreciated by the public. The need of this improvement was first called to the attention of the Public Utilities Commission by Representative Honan.

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About the midnight hour, Friday, the auto of William Pechaski, Jr, of Brookfield, crashed into the rear end of the car of Unto Herman of Greenwich. The accident occurred in front of the residence of Allison P. Smith and the noise from the crash could be heard a half-mile or more. Herman had stopped his car to talk to two girls who sat on a nearby railing. Pechaski claimed that Herman had his lights switched off, but Herman emphatically says they were on. Pechaski’s car, a Pontiac, was badly damaged.

* * *

The 50th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of St Rose’s church will be observed at the church next Sunday morning and evening. The observance will open with a solemn high Mass at 11 o’clock, Sunday morning. The first Catholics to reside in Newtown came not voluntarily but were billeted on the town by act of the General Assembly, January, 1756.

* * *

A year’s survey by the Legion shows that there are only 15 homes out of every 100 that have an American Flag, and the main cause of this deplorable condition is not lack of the desire to display our flag as an emblem of the individual patriotism, but rather the impossibility of securing a flag or pole without going to great trouble and expense. The Waterbury Brass people have furnished us with a beautiful 13-ft bronze telescope two section pole with solid brass eagle and brass socket with screw cap. The whole outfit installed, together with a Government standard sewed star flag, is furnished to homes and stores at a very low price.

 

May 24, 1907

Patrick Gannon, who was elected foreman at the recent re-organization of the Newtown Hook & Ladder Co, has taken a deep interest in all matters of fire protection in the borough, and when the company was reorganized he was recognized as the man for the place. Mr Gannon has taken especial interest in keeping the fire hose and apparatus in good condition.

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Miss Ruth E. Snow of North Montpelier, Vt., arrived in Town, Tuesday, and has entered upon her duties at the High school, succeeding Miss Welch. She has taken a room at the residence of the Attorney Northrop and is boarding at the Grand Central.

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Mr and Mrs Frank Morgan were the victims of quite a serious accident, Monday morning, while out driving. On the hill by Hobart Camp’s, the horse became frightened and at the foot overturned the wagon, throwing the occupants out. Mr Morgan escaped with slight injury, but Mrs Morgan received a gash over the eye which required five stitches to close it, and is also suffering from other injuries.

* * *

The Southern Jubilee singers, under G.A. Morris, will appear at the Methodist church, Friday evening, May 31. Their programs are varied, consisting principally of the old time plantation and jubilee songs, duets, solos, quartets, and stories from the Southern life. Tickets, 25 and 15 cents.

* * *

The Hopewell Improvement club held a sale of fancy articles, cake and ice cream at the home of Mr and Mrs T.E. Platt, last Wednesday afternoon and evening, which was enjoyed by a good number. The company was also entertained with music and speaking. Quite a goodly sum was realized by the club from the sale.