October 31, 1980

A record voter turnout is likely in the presidential election on Tuesday, November 4, as Newtown’s enrollment has surged beyond 10,000 for the first time in history, with 10,416 registered voters.

***

Sunday’s storm knocked down several large trees throughout town. Fallen trees which pulled down wires caused power outages to approximately 1,000 CL&P customers for as long as six hours.

***

A boat ramp leading into Newtown’s reservoir doesn’t quite reach the water because the current dry spell has lowered the surface 16 inches. Although Newtown Water Company is not yet concerned about the water supply, Taunton Pond has long been under attack for poor water quality.

***

Church Hill Gastop regained possession of second place in the National Conference of the New Milford Adult Touch Football League Sunday by shutting out Nestle’s, 19-0. The Gastop defense dominated the game, forcing six turnovers, three of which set up Gastop scores.

***

This year, students at Newtown High School will have the opportunity of viewing an exciting new series of science education films called Science Screen Report. Provided as a community service by Union Carbide Corporation, the film series is devoted to new developments in science, engineering and medicine and is geared primarily to high school students at the junior and senior levels.

***

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints officially dedicated its chapel on Saw Mill Road last August to become Newtown’s tenth house of worship. Bishop J. Russell Homer and his wife, Elaine, will be on hand Saturday, November 1, to meet the community as the Mormon congregation opens its chapel for an open house.

***

Expressing serious concern over the manner in which a freshman Health Education class is being taught at Newtown High School, Dr Robert Dole of Sugar Lane, urged the Board of Education at their Tuesday, October 28 meeting to investigate the classroom situation. “While I think the intention of the course is fine, I feel that perhaps a little discretion should be used in a coeducational classroom.”

***

The Turkey Hill Road bridge, which has been closed for repair for two years, will be reconstructed according to a plan the state Department of Transportation (DOT) presented to the town on July 1. DOT plans call for shifting the bridge and access road 150 feet north of the present site in order to increase clearance over the Conrail tracks by five feet, as well as to soften the curve to ensure sufficient sight lines and stopping distances.

 

November 4, 1955

The name of Lillinonah, the Indian princess who, according to legend, jumped with her lover from the rocky promontory at New Milford called Lover’s Leap, has been chosen as the name for the new lake in the Housatonic River, stretching from Newtown to New Milford.

***

The task of the town highway department in repairing the extensive damage done to the town roads by the heavy rain of October 15 and 16 was complicated by additional rain last Sunday, which washed away a considerable amount of temporary fill. This setback extended the time required to complete temporary repairs to roads damaged the week before last.

***

Col James A. Tobey, chairman of the Anniversary Executive Committee responsible for putting on Newtown’s 250th anniversary celebration last August 6, announced this week that the souvenir booklets commemorating the event will go to press about the end of November. Floods and unseen obstacles have delayed production until now.

***

Henry G. Carlson, of the Liberty Garage, will open his sales rooms to the public this Friday, November 4, to view the line of 1956 Chevrolet automobiles of which Mr Carlson will have several on display. In the 210 Bel-Air luxury line there will be several more new models in a wide range of colors coming in two doors, four doors and sports coupes. The cars this year have more power, greater beauty and more refinements than ever before.

***

A full-blooded Persian cat, pet of Mr and Mrs Thomas Goosman and family, was found dead a short distance from the Goosman home on Meadowbrook Road last week end, the victim of a hunter’s gunshot.

***

A flock of 80 or more sheep browsing over a lush pasture on Taunton Hill Road is an unusual sight in Newtown these days, but to the historically-minded it recalls the time when sheep-raising was an important agricultural industry of the town. Taunton Hill Farm, formerly the Popovitch dairy farm, has been a sheep-raising enterprise for little more than a year, but already has won several honors for the quality of its Dorsets. Mrs Brunot, wife of the president of Production and Marketing Corp of Bethel, entered the sheep business four years ago when she acquired nine Dorsets at their home in Stepney.

***

The generosity of Newtown’s children and the townspeople who filled their little containers for the Hallowe’en “trick or treat” campaign for United Nations Children’s Fund made 1955’s Hallowe’en something to be proud of. Besides giving the children a good time, the night’s receipts will help to purchase hundreds of bowls of rice and thousands of glasses of milk in some of the countries where the UNICEF operates.

 

October 31, 1930

“Let’s Go Native,” the mad and merry mélange of fun, frivolity and music which comes to the Edmond Town hall, Saturday night, November 1, presents what is believed to be the most imposing aggregation of Hollywood’s younger comedy and music celebrities since “Paramount on Parade.”

***

The new Majestic Electric ice box which Walter Glover recently accepted the agency for, is now on display in Mr Glover’s show rooms in the Morris & Shepard Block. The model shown is all steel construction with duco outside and white porcelain inside. The selling price is $210 delivered.

***

Dr Arthur Bingham of New York City, sustained a broken right ankle when the horse he was riding fell in Hawleyville, Sunday afternoon. The animal reared, stumbled and then fell, pinning the doctor’s right leg underneath.

***

There will be a Masquerade and dance at the Edmond Town hall, Newtown, Friday evening, October 31. Music will be furnished by John Ray’s orchestra. Prizes will be awarded.

***

Miss May Nichols, in charge of the work at St Andrew’s Industrial school, Ponce, Porto Rico, spoke to the Woman’s Auxiliary of Trinity church in the Guild rooms, Tuesday afternoon. She told a pathetic story of the needs of the people and how in religious, educational and industrial lines they are being built up spiritually, hygienically and economically.

***

NEWTOWN SAVINGS BANK Holds Its Seventy-fifth Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the corporators of the Newtown Savings Bank was held, Friday, October 24, 1930, in the trustees room of the bank. Arthur T. Nettleton, treasurer, read his 32nd annual report reviewing the operations of the bank for the past year. It was the best report Mr Nettleton has made in the 32 years he has been treasurer of the bank.

 

November 3, 1905

Dr B. Parmelee of Hattertown had a narrow escape from a severe accident, last Tuesday morning, while taking his milk to Long Hill. When about halfway between Upper Stepney and the Depot the trace dropped from the whiffletree and he got out to fix it. While doing so his horse started. Mr Parmelee seized the reins and tried to stop the horse but was flung down and run over by one for the back wheels and dragged quite a distance. The wagon was somewhat broken and several quarts of milk were spilled. Mr Parmelee escaped with one side severely bruised.

***

Attorney Charles G. Morris and John Keane have purchased of J.W. Penny & Sons of Stepney their hydraulic cider press and have moved it to Zoar, where they are putting it up in one for the buildings near Mr Morris’ house and will be ready in a few days to make cider.

***

The Fabric Fire Hose Co. is erecting a building just north of the factory for the manufacture of rubber cement. They are also soon to make extensive improvements on their office by building on an addition, just doubling the size of the office.

***

Heirs of Peter Lorillard Ronalds have now more to worry over than his transfer of a million dollars worth of property to Miss Elizabeth N. Blake. What the sons and other relatives particularly fear is that Mr Ronalds may have made further disposition of part of his vast fortune to the woman who has lived like a daughter in the aged man’s home the past 19 years to the exclusion of his two sons, daughter and widow.

***

Hon H.O. Warner of New Milford has kindly furnished the editor with one of the invitations to the husking bee at the Masonic home, Wallingford, which took place on Wednesday night. The invitations are printed on corn husks and are unique as follows: “The Fourth Meeting of the Masonic Home Husking Bee Club will be held in the Parlors of the Barn at the Masonic Home, Wallingford, November 1. All must report for duty at 7:30 sharp. No one will be admitted after 12 o’clock. Banquet at 1 am. Election of officers at 3 am, November 2. Installation 4 am…. Children not admitted.”

***

George R. Wilson has been unfortunate enough to lose one of his pair of horses.