April 27, 1984

The Legislative Council’s proposed $19,395,059 town budget for fiscal year 1984-85 was unanimously approved at the town meeting April 24 in the auditorium of Newtown High School. Except for brief explanations by town officials of the expenditures, there was no discussion or debate by the 120 residents on either the budget or on borrowing the $679,000 for capital items.

* * *

The dispatchers at Edmond Town Hall, who handle routine telephone calls to town hall and emergency response calls for the fire departments and ambulance service, would be moved to the police station in Town Hall South under a proposal by the Board of Selectmen. The selectmen are looking into the feasibility of combining the Edmond Town Hall dispatchers and the police department dispatchers. If the town decides to combine the two operations, the town would probably have two dispatchers on duty during normal working hours on weekdays.

* * *

Police Chief Louis Marchese has recommended the town’s alarm ordinance be changed to reduce fines from $40 to $25, and to clarify certain confusing language in the original document. The ordinance was adopted in an attempt to reduce the number of false alarms. The town attorney said that the town would have better success in collecting the fines if the amount of each fine is reduced.

* * *

The first day of fresh water fishing in Connecticut opened with at bang, literally, at Taunton Pond last Saturday morning. At 6 am, a cannon shot signaled the start of another angling season for some 250 members of the Newtown Fish and Game Club. Bud Walters of Danbury made the biggest catch — a largemouth bass estimated at six pounds and 23 inches long.

 

May 1, 1959

A group of Newtown men, concerned over the welfare of some of the families in town, are organizing to help needy men, women and children. It is the intent of this group to be prepared — prepared to help in emergencies and in the course of every-day living, and to help maintain the dignity of each individual in the community. Representatives from all of the organizations in town, as well as interested members of the community, are invited to join the Newtown Fund, Inc.

* * *

The May meeting of the PTA will be a farewell program in tribute to Carl LeGrow, superintendent of schools, who is retiring after 30 years of service in the Newtown schools. Mr and Mrs LeGrow came to Newtown in 1929 from Sharon, Conn. At that time, he was a teaching principal at Hawley School. While a science teacher, he also coached baseball and dramatics.

* * *

As The Bee goes to press, it learns that a petition with more than 60 signatures has been presented to the Board of Selectmen, asking for another special town meeting to consider restoring Castle Meadow Road to the list of roads to be improved with state funds to be available this year under the dirt road program.

* * *

James F. Hinckley, principal of Newtown High School, has been awarded a year’s contract by the Board of Education to serve as superintendent of schools beginning July 1, at a salary of $12,000. Mr Hinckley came to Newtown in 1953 to take the position of principal at Newtown High School.

April 27, 1934

William Leahy, the popular golf professional at the Newtown Country Club, and noted baseball star, had quite a unique experience while on a brief vacation at St Petersburg, Fla. He went up several times to the training camp of the New York Yankees and had the pleasure of a brief chat with the nation-wide baseball favorite, “Babe” Ruth. He readily consented to stand up with Leahy for a photograph, which the Newtown young man prizes highly.

* * *

A coupe driven by James Peck, employed at the Fairfield State hospital, who was accompanied by Mrs Peck, was crashed into by a New York car on the Southbury road, Sunday afternoon. The Peck car was taken to the Liberty Garage in Newtown. The fenders and running board on one side were nearly sheared off. The occupants of the Peck car were uninjured.

* * *

D.N. Popovitch of Clover Ridge Dairy Farm is the proud owner of a week old colt, Sir Gilbert, 2nd, out of Dolly, Queen of Dolls, by Sir Gilbert, owned by Stephen Budd of Roadside Farm, who holds many cups won by Sir Gilbert at some of the leading horse shows of the East.

* * *

“Steph” Smith, Bridgeport’s popular professional boxer came up to the Edmond Town hall Gymnasium, Tuesday night, with Attorney Earle W. Smith, and gave Francis Lynch some instruction and a tryout at boxing. Lynch showed surprising ability and gave Smith a real contest.

 

April 30, 1909

Hattertown — Joseph Brenner has bought about two acres of land across the road from the cemetery. He has bought the judge’s stand at the Fair Ground of C.B. Taylor, and George Northrop is building it over into a house, facing the crossroad.

* * *

Mrs Julia L.M. Woodruff, whose obituary notice appears in the Washington news, was a native of Newtown, having been born in Zoar district. Her first story, “Shiloh,” had its scenes laid in our own “Shiloh,” located in Zoar and Gray’s Plain districts. The characters in this story were all residents of the town and some still reside here.

* * *

Miss Elizabeth Blake, the owner of Castle Ronald, has leased the castle property to Dr Herbert Wiley of New York City, who will open it as a rest cure about May 15. New bathrooms and furniture are to be installed. Miss Blake has had a number of parties who were very desirous of securing the Castle. One party stood ready to pay $10,000 in cash and $90,000 in bonds. Miss Blake is hopeful that the new deal will be beneficial to Newtown.

* * *

A new Sunday school was organized last Sunday in the Hattertown schoolhouse under the Methodist church pastor, which will be held every Sunday at 4 o’clock. All are welcome to help along this good cause.