Members of the Board of Burgesses were told at their August 28 meeting that the Borough of Newtown has an “organizational and supervisory role over what happens” regarding the quality of Newtown’s future water supply. “There is no question we have one of the greatest resources in the world in clean water,” Dr Thomas Draper, Newtown Health Officer, told the burgesses, after reviewing information brought out at a meeting of the Board of Selectmen attended by representatives of other town agencies and the Borough. “How we manage this resource will have more effect on the quality of life in Newtown in the next 50 years than almost any other factor.”

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The entire family and some 100 friends and fellow workers at Fairfield Hills Hospital turned out Friday, August 25, to honor Francis Hoffmann of 42 Queen Street, who will be retiring as director of personnel at the state institution on September 1.

***

On the grounds surrounding Vangor Engineering scallions, tomatoes, green peppers, corn, and a small orchard thrive. It’s probably the only vegetable garden in the Newtown Industrial Park. “We just couldn’t see the land going to waste,” explained owner William Vangor. “It’s so nice up here sometimes we come over on Sundays and have a picnic.”

***

A saddened Republican Town Committee Chairman Marie Kertesz eulogized Judge Benjamin Blanchard this week by referring to his death as a terrible loss. “Ben was a gentleman in the true sense of the word. He always had a smile and always a kind word for everyone.” Judge Blanchard’s death left a void on the upcoming Republican slate for the November elections since he was the party’s choice to run for a third term as probate judge.

***

A report of a fire at Nunnawauk Meadows, Head O’ Meadow School, Hawley School, the high school. Men and equipment roll, at least two companies, sometimes three. A few minutes later they are returned to station. The alarm was false. These false alarms have been steadily increasing, and causing a major headache for the town’s volunteer fire companies. They are happening most frequently at Nunnawauk Meadows, the housing complex for the elderly, and at the new Head O’ Meadow School. They happen fairly often at the high school, and this past week there were two such calls from Hawley. They happen any time of the day, and in general are caused by what Chief Joseph Wupperfeld of Newtown Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 refers to as “super sensitive” smoke detectors.

***

Tuesday night, at a special meeting of the Board of Education, freshmen football was reinstated, and it looks as though the rest of the freshman sports to come up — boys basketball and boys baseball — will fare just as well later on in the school year. Funds will come from the outside, not within the board’s budget. The reinstatement of the sport came after a special committee got together over the weekend to come up with the idea to present to the board which would enable freshmen sports to be reinstated.

***

The first hookups of cable television in Newtown could occur by the end of December in the borough area in the town’s center, Housatonic Valley Cable Vision Company general partner Paul Hancock said last week.

SEPTEMBER 4, 1953

A new high-water mark for enrollment in Newtown schools will be realized next Wednesday morning, September 9, when Newtown High School and Hawley School reopen after the summer vacation. A total of 954 students are enrolled in the schools, an increase of 119 pupils over last year’s total for both schools.

***

With the opening of the Newtown Schools on September 9, a new program of oral hygiene will be offered to all pupils, starting with grade one. This service is made available under the co-sponsorship of the Board of Education and the Dental Committee of the Newtown Visiting Nurse Association, and at the suggestion of the State Bureau of Dental Health. A subcommittee of the VNA Nursing Committee has studied the advisability of such a program as a public health and education measure.

***

 William Ferris, Jr, Sugar Street, won new ribbons with his team of Devon steers at Chester Fair last Saturday, August 29. His team won first place in show, first in trained steers and third in the pulling contest.

***

 Main Street took on the air of a college town this week with the presence of a number of young men around Hawley Manor and the Cyrenius H. Booth Library noted by many passersby. Representatives of the faculties of 10 Eastern and New England colleges and universities have been participating in a five-day regional conference arranged by the Citizenship Clearing House, a national organization devoted to encouraging more active participation in politics by college men and women.

***

Members of the Town Development Committee, which has conducted a series of district meetings for the discussion of zoning the town districts, reached one milestone Monday evening with the completion of the last of 21 initial district meetings held over a period of several weeks.

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The annual budget request made by the Board of Selectmen and the Newtown schools reaches a new total high of $272,339.55, and will be aired at a public hearing of the Board of Finance in Edmond Town Hall next Tuesday evening, September 8, at 8 o’clock. The requested budget for the coming fiscal year allows a total increase of $60,880.75 over the 1952–53 budget of $211,358.80.

***

The annual Pohtatuck Grange Fair, to be held in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium this Saturday, September 5, promises to be widely attended by many friends of the Grangers, including many from subordinate Granges over a wide area.

AUGUST 31, 1928

Mrs Kwasnick entertained most pleasantly with a bridge party at her home at the Newtown Academy on Wednesday afternoon. Mrs Charles Meeker was fortunate in winning first prize, and Mrs Charles Cole won second.

***

The community hymn sing and organ music at Trinity Church last Sunday evening was well attended, despite the inclement weather.

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William H. Egan, who is enjoying life at Camp Egan at Walnut Tree Hill, received by express, Tuesday, a mammoth watermelon sent him by Editor Carter, owner of the Star Telegram. The watermelon weighed over 100 pounds and will make some juicy eating.

***

A.E. Brinton is installing gutters and leaders on the new residence of Marlin A. Moller. He has also installed a Richardson & Boynton pipeless heater and bathroom facilities in the same residence.

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The Republican caucus was held at the Town Hall, Monday night, with about 35 voters in attendance. Rodney P. Shepard was made chairman and Allison P. Smith clerk.

***

Local stockholders of the New York and New Haven road are hugging themselves with joy, as another dividend was declared on Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 4, 1903

The informal reception and opening at the new office building of The Bee Publishing Company Thursday afternoon and evening was attended by somewhat more than 100 people. The oldest person present was Zalmon S. Peck in his 91st year, and the youngest, Master Donald Wright, the young son of Mr and Mrs Frank Wright.

***

Deacon George Ruffles sprained his ankle quite severely one day while at work in an apple tree. Dr Paul U. Sunderland of Danbury attended him.

***

As Newtown is the only agricultural association in New England to have stake races, this year, it goes without saying that it will have a string of horses not ordinarily seen on tracks of fair associations.

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The Academy private school will open Monday, the 14th, with Miss Briscoe as teacher.

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Jerome Platt, Marshall Warner, and B.D. Beardsley, who have been furnishing Hubbell Brothers milk, are now taking it to Johnson’s creamery.

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Dr F.J. Gale of East Calais, Vt., announces that he will open an office in the Beers house, Newtown Street, about October 1.

***

John H. Blake, Mrs M.F. Gaffney, and Miss Inez Egan, members of the Eagle Rock Council, left for Philadelphia, the first of the week, where they will spend ten days attending the convention of the Foresters of America.

***

Messrs Corey and Donohue have been doing some good work on their roads over Walnut Tree Hill.