November 22, 1996

STATE CHAMPIONS! Newtown Brings Home First-Ever Volleyball Title — Newtown High School’s volleyball team blasted Bristol Eastern, 3-0, last Saturday night at Shelton High School, earning Newtown’s first-ever CIAC Class L state volleyball championship. When the final point was scored in the win over Bristol, one of the first people jumping highest off the bench on the floor to congratulate the Lady Nighthawks was assistant coach Russ Weiss. Coach Weiss had been there at the very beginning, almost from the moment the team was born back in 1975.

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In less than two weeks, Middle Gate School will welcome a new principal, native Australian Gary Hexom, 51. Mr Hexom has spent 28 years in education in the state of California, first as a teacher in grades two through twelve, and then as a school administrator. He will step into the Middle Gate position Monday, December 2, enabling the school’s acting principal, Robert Kuklis, to return to his previous full-time post as assistant superintendent of schools.

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The Charter Revision Commission was expected to start getting down to business in its discussion of town charter alterations, just not this soon. Last Thursday night’s agenda called for the addressing of some preliminary loose ends, but the meeting unexpectedly turned to more substantive matters. Vice chairperson Mae Schmidle barely got the words “board of selectman” and “town manager” out of her mouth when member Stan Karpacz made a motion to eliminate any consideration of a town manager form of government. The commission had planned to discuss the issue in more detail, but Mr Karpacz felt the issue was mute. His fellow commission members agreed.

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A Melburn Truck Lines, Inc trucker driving a tractor-trailer truck full of wooden doors westbound on Church Hill Road Tuesday morning smashed into the low railroad overpass near Wall Road. The impact ripped the roof off the trailer. The trucking line is based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Traffic delays resulted for eastbound and westbound vehicles.

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The owners of The Book Review in Sand Hill Plaza have long known there is a market for bargain books — publisher overstocks, closeouts, or remainder books returned to the publisher by book stores. And now that space has become available next to their store, they have decided to test the market by operating The Book Review Bargain Annex through the holidays.

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The Newtown Scholarship Association held its annual ball on November 16 at the Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury with Dr J’s All-Star Band providing the entertainment. Attendance for this year’s ball was up from years past. The committee reported seeing many new faces at the event. The NSA provided the silent auction, receiving donations from local businesses to raise money for its scholarships to local students.

November 26, 1971

Two generous gifts were made this week by Otto W. Heise, one in the amount of $40,000 to Danbury Hospital and the other in the same amount to the Town of Newtown. The checks were presented by Mr Heise at the Heise-Bourdon plant on Route 25 to Perry Roehm, president, and Dr Robert Grossman, assistant chief of surgery, representing Danbury Hospital, and to Timothy Treadwell, first selectman. While Mr Heise hesitated to mention particular use for his gift to the town, he did suggest that one-fourth be used to improve Taylor Field, where better drainage is sorely needed, and Edmond Town Hall, which has been allowed to deteriorate in recent years because of inadequate funds for maintenance and upkeep.

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Newtown Historical Society announced the purchase of an embroidery which is of great local significance. The mourning picture was executed by Narcissa Botsford in 1806 in her 13th year. The silk embroidery features Newtown’s Main Street in the background, with a young woman and a monument marked “SB” in the foreground. The embroidery was once owned by Howard B. Peck of Fall River, Mass., and later became the property of Samaha’s Antiques in Milan, Ohio. The piece came to auction recently and the historical society was the top bidder.

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At special meetings of the Board of Finance Thursday evening, the board took action on several proposals. It recommended to a town meeting a special appropriation of $80,350 to implement the federal emergency employment program in Newtown with the cost to be paid by federal funds. It recommended a special appropriation of $5,400 for legal services in connection with a suit against the Francis D’Addario and Campanella Construction companies for removing gravel from a site off Mile Hill Road. The board decided against transferring additional money needed for insurance. Instead, a special appropriation will be asked to cover the additional money needed for insurance costs.

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The Zoning Board of Appeals this week unanimously denied the application of the Humble Oil and Refining Company to put a gasoline station on the corner of Church Hill Road and I-84 in a six-acre zone. Among the reasons given for the denial was that there was no demonstrated hardship related to the land. The company had requested to buy 1.8 acres and lease .85 acres of the property, which is owned by Noie Richards. The area proposed for the gas station would have left only .256 acre for the existing Highway Cleaners, an area smaller than the smallest zone in Newtown.

November 22, 1946

Some 2,000 residents of Regional School District No 3 will soon be invited to take a hand in the planning for the new regional high school, according to the regional board of education. The five groups which will receive a survey include parents of all children now in school, all students in grades 7-12, high school graduates since 1939, teachers of grades 7-12, and employers of the area drawing workers from the district. Information from the questionnaires will be used in the determining of the curriculum for the school, which will serve Newtown, Southbury, Woodbury and Bethlehem.

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The paving of Queen Street and Glover Avenue have greatly improved conditions for traffic on those streets, providing a cut-off for motorists who want to go to Lovell’s corner (Main Street and Route 302). But two accidents at the corner of Queen Street and Church Hill Road in the past few weeks are raising concerns about whether a traffic light will be needed. Because Church Hill Road is a state highway, the matter must be handled by the State Highway Department.

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The Visiting Nurse Association has launched the 40th annual Christmas Seals campaign. Tuberculosis is the greatest killer in the United States of people between the ages of 15 and 45. The purchase of seals is a democratic way to help yourselves and your neighbors. Proceeds from the sale are used for X-rays, the purchase of eye glasses for those unable to pay for them, and for other VNA causes.

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A meeting to organize a club for the young ladies of St Rose parish was held in the St Rose Hall on Thursday evening under the supervision of Father Conroy and Father Culiton. Lorraine Shepherd was elected president; Mildred Leavy, vice president; Priscilla Carmody, secretary; and Rosemary Kilbride, treasurer. Mary Lou Bradley was made chairman for a Christmas party, which will be held at the December meeting. All young ladies of the parish above sophomore year in high school are invited to attend.

November 25, 1921

The dancing class of Miss Crowe started off in good shape, last week Saturday. The afternoon class started with better than 20 members. This week it is requested that the younger members of the afternoon class be present at 3 o’clock. The evening class was a pleasant surprise to everyone, as there were 27 present, with about an even number of young men and ladies. A few more will be welcome for both the afternoon and evening. Fancy dancing will be taught as the exercises progress.

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NEWTOWN CITIZENS ARE THANKFUL … for the new Hawley School building. | ...that soon the major part of our school children will be housed in a school building of the most approved type. | …that they live in the most beautiful and attractive section of Fairfield County, baring none. | …our Sandy Hook friends are thankful for the promised electric lights. | …and the citizens of Sandy Hook are also thankful that Art Crowe has taken in his Danbury Fair sign.

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Mrs Edgar F. Northrop had an excellent article on the public schools at the Grange meeting, Tuesday night. Rev J.L. Lasher gave an excellent paper on “Thanksgiving,” and Mrs Adolph Carlson sang a [illegible], Mrs A.B. Blakeman read an original poem on “Thanksgiving.” The first and second degrees were conferred. Refreshments were dispensed.

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The death of Miss Sarah Louise Hawley, formerly of Hawleyville, occurred at her home in Pittsfield, Mass., on Thursday, as the result of an illness following an attack of appendicitis, for relief from which she underwent an operation about a month ago. Miss Hawley, who was 42 years of age, was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs Homer A. Hawley, for many years residents of Hawleyville, but now of Pittsfield. She was born in Hawleyville and her girlhood was spent in that place. She was educated at the Northfield Seminary, Northfield, Mass. She was a member of one of the oldest families in Hawleyville and had many relatives and friends in Danbury, Brookfield and Newtown. Miss Hawley was secretary to the Rev Mr Michelson, rector of St Stephen’s Episcopal church in Pittsfield. From childhood she had been a member of Trinity church, Newtown, of which her father was for many years a warden. She is survived by her parents and one brother, James Hawley, of Washington, D.C. The interment took place in the family plot in the Hawleyville cemetery, Monday morning, upon the arrival of the 10.28 train from Pittsfield. The committal service was conducted by Rev Mr Michelson of Pittsfield, assisted by Rev J.L. Lasher of Trinity church.

November 27, 1896

THE EDITOR’S FAMILIAR CHAT: Holidays make extra work in newspaper offices as well as in stores, and the newspaper men have the same problem that faces the merchant on holiday weeks, of putting four or five days’ work inside of three. But The Bee’s force of workers have been active and the paper comes to its readers in time to be perused while waiting for the Thanksgiving turkey, another cause for thanksgiving. It is human nature to think our burden is greater than our neighbor’s, but while we are returning thanks to the Giver of All Good, it is well that we should remember to brighten, if possible, the pathway of some one whose lot is not as fortunate as ours. And here’s hoping that the true spirit of the Thanksgiving season may reign in every household that this journal enters.

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The Whist club of Newtown Street and vicinity held its first meeting for the season on Friday last with Lawyer and Mrs W.J. Beecher. There was a good attendance of the members and much interest was manifested in the whist contest. At the conclusion of the playing the victors were found to be Mrs Edwards M. Smith and W.A. Leonard, who won the first prizes, Mrs S.C. Glover and Dr Edwards M. Smith the second prizes and Mrs Levi C. Morris and Arthur S. Hawley the booby prizes. Refreshments were served.

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As noted in last week’s Bee, a men’s whist club has been organized, the first meeting being held next Friday night. The following invitation has been issued to the members: You are hereby cordially invited to attend the first regular meeting of the Men’s Whist Club of Newtown, at Dick’s hotel, as guests of W.A. Leonard, on the evening of November [illegible], at 7.45 sharp. It is proposed to have the club meetings held every other week, beginning with the date above given.

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Station Agent Taylor at Botsford is building a new barn east of his house for the accommodation of his trotter. Mr and Mrs Taylor expect to spend Thanksgiving with Mr Taylor’s parents at Monroe station.

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John Keane, Jr, of Zoar, has made great improvements about his house. He has built an addition in the rear and put in new windows all over the house, besides painting. A new hennery is now being built.

Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.