August 6, 1965

A 50-acre industrial park with a new shopping center on Church Hill Road is in prospect for Newtown. The property involved is bounded in general by the New Haven Railroad, I-84, and Fairfield Hills Hospital. A portion of the new access road has been approved. This would lead off Church Hill Road below Connors Road, which it might eventually replace. Near the entrance to the industrial park, a new 100,000-square-foot shopping center is proposed, some of it already in the leasing stage. Some of the leases might be named next week; they would extend the variety of goods and services available in town.

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Members of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newtown recently approved the preliminary plans, exterior design and financing for a new $171,500 church. The target for completion is 1966. The new church will consist of a sanctuary and nave with a seating capacity of 250, administrative offices, parlor, and six classrooms. Since the inception of Christ the King Lutheran Church in January 1961, the worship services have been held in the auditorium of the Hawley School.

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Labor Day Week-end, Progress Days in Newtown, is five weeks away, and plans for another successful program is underway. The outstanding feature of Progress Days will again be the parade on Monday, September 6. In the past years, over 8,000 spectators have enjoyed marching bands, floats, decorated units, all of which will be back again.

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Recent incidents of vandalism at Pootatuck Park have been disturbing and costly, to residents living in that area. The size of footprints and the sort of destruction give evidence that much, if not all of it, is the work of juveniles who should know better. Obviously, the strong arm of the law is needed — not only to correct an unfortunate condition at Pootatuck Park, but to convince everyone in Newtown that nothing less than orderly conduct will be tolerated. To law offenders of all degrees, the warning is given that the people of Newtown will stand for nothing less than law and order at all times.

August 2, 1940

Preparations are under way at the Fairfield State Hospital, Newtown, for the opening of new buildings, which will increase the capacity of the hospital to 2,056 beds. The actual opening date has not yet been determined, but the staff is now being increased, particularly in key positions. The Superintendent, Dr Clifford D. Moore, announces appointments to the following three medical positions: Clinical Director, Director for the Laboratory, and Resident Pathologist. Dr William F. Green, a native of New Milford, comes to the position of Clinical Director. The laboratory service for the hospital has been developed along cooperative lines with the Department of Pathology of Yale University, School of Medicine, and both Dr Philip M. LeCompte, who will be in charge of the laboratory, and Dr Lester S. King, Resident Pathologist, will have teaching appointments at Yale.

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The house and parcel of land owned by Mrs John Pierce, the former Ada Belle Kellogg, which is located in the Hanover district of Newtown, has been sold to Mr and Mrs Robert Jordan of New York City. Attractively set with a frontage on Pond Brook, the house overlooks part of the valley along the old Shepaug railroad. Mr and Mrs Jordan plan to use the property as a week-end home until they can reside permanently in Newtown.

Monday evening’s Patriotic and Defense meeting sponsored by the Charles Howard Peck Post VFW, at the Edmond Town Hall, attracted an audience of 400 townspeople. Highlight of the occasion was the talk by Governor Raymond E. Baldwin, who, although forced to arrive late because of other engagements, gave his listeners a most informative talk on measures being taken by the State along lines of patriotism and defense. Governor Baldwin emphasized the necessity of a drive against general apathy, believing our greatest guarantee for peace to be proper preparedness. The Governor spoke of the advisability of reporting any un-Americanisms.

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The preparations are all committed to make “Everybody’s Auction” one for the greatest fundraising events ever staged in this vicinity. The sale will be held this Friday, August 2, in the gymnasium of the Edmond Town Hall, starting at 1 pm. Every cent taken at this humanitarian sale will be turned over to the Red Cross War Relief Fund. A box supper, prepared by the ladies’ organizations of the town churches, will be served from 5:30 to 6:30. Between three and four hundred donated antiques await the call from bids from Wilton Lackaye, the popular auctioneer, who will have full charge of the various sales.

August 6, 1915

Chicken Chowder makes Chesty Chix: Makes them grow twice as fast, Chicken Chowder should be fed in a box or hopper in addition to Purina Chick Feed. All authorities agree it pays to feed a Growing Feed and Purina Chicken Chowder is the best growing feed in the country. We sell it Drop in and get a small bag. Ask us about our FREE POULTRY BOOK OFFER. MORRIS & SHEPARD, Newtown, Conn.

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One of the brightest comedy pieces ever presented before the local footlights was the amusing piece “All Tangled Up,” given by members of the St Rose Dramatic Society, Wednesday night, at the Town hall. The hall was well filled by an audience, which greatly enjoyed the production. The cast was a capable one, all having their lines well in hand. A favorable word is deserving each member of the cast.

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E.J. Thrall, Jr is taking steps to organize a new company of Boy Scouts in Sandy Hook. Any boys desiring to join are asked to communicate with Mr Thrall. In case the company is organized, he plans to arrange a camping expedition for them the last part of August.

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The electric service went out of commission about 11.50 am, Wednesday. Manager John Sanders of the Danbury & Bethel Street Railway Co., was notified and men were put out at once in search of the trouble. The source of mischief was a branch of a tree, which had fallen on the wire. It was located, and the power went on again about 2.15 pm, the same day, much to the satisfaction of the local users of the juice.