December 3, 1993

Three artists have donated items to be raffled at the Newtown Singer’s Madrigal Feast on Friday, December 10, at the Hawley Manor Inn. These items include a four-piece cannister set painted with buildings of Newtown, by Kathy Carlucci; a watercolor by Carl Lemb; and an oil painting by Ed Anderson. Refreshments will be served at 6 pm and dinner and entertainment will start at 7:30 pm.

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Newtown High School has started cracking down on students who park vehicles on school grounds without the required parking stickers. Assistant Principal Jules Triber said that on three school days in the previous week the school started issuing detentions to students lacking permits. Each of those students was given the opportunity to avoid detentions by purchasing a sticker. Starting November 30, the school was prepared to respond to further parking violations by revoking student privileges to park at the school. If a student losing privileges is found parking a car at the school, the car will be towed. This is the first year the school has charged students for parking stickers. The fee was established to defray costs of a security guard, whose duties include patrolling the parking lot, where some cars have been broken into.

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TIME TO TAG A GIFT: On the Christmas tree in Newtown Savings Bank at Sand Hill Plaza are ornaments that indicate the name and age of a child. Through this tag-a-gift program, which includes similar ornaments on trees at Shawmut Bank on Queen Street and Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Main Street, the Junior Woman’s Club asks that people take an ornament and purchase a gift for a child listed on the ornament. These gifts will then be distributed to children through The Newtown Fund’s Christmas basket program.

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A Garner Correctional Institution inmate in the prison’s mental health unit became involved in a fight last week with six corrections officers, injuring several of them. Department of Corrections spokesman William Flower said that inmate Leotis Tyson, 36, created a disturbance in his cell in the mental health unit on Thanksgiving. Officers attempted to calm him down, but couldn’t, so they called in a lieutenant for help. The officers then entered Mr Tyson’s cell in an effort to prevent him from hurting himself. An altercation ensued. State police said Lieutenant Timothy Woodcock was bitten on the left temple by Mr Tyson and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Other officers received bumps, sprains, and various injuries during the incident. Garner, a high-security prison, opened just over a year ago and contains special cell blocks for psychiatric prisoners.

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A Massachusetts law of 1659 banned Christmas, reading: “Whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forebearing of labor, feasting, or in any other way … shall be subject to a fine.” It’s since been repealed.

December 6, 1968

How many Bee readers, along with Bee editors, have lost a couple of heart beats when the headlights of their cars picked out, much too close, the dark figure of a child walking the side of the road on the way home from the second session of school? Please, parents, add that bit of white which can be seen at night — a white hat, gloves, a scarf, a white band around the sleeve, even a white cloth around books. And remember drivers, those really are school buses stopped along roads long after dark. Those flashing lights mean STOP.

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The Ladies Auxiliary of the Sandy Hook Fire Company will have its annual Christmas party Tuesday, December 17, in the fire house following the regular business meeting. Refreshments will be served, and all members are asked to bring a gift for the grab bag. The fire company and Ladies Auxiliary will entertain children of members at a Christmas party Sunday afternoon, December 15, from 3-5 pm at the fire house. Santa will be on hand.

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Mr and Mrs Louis Lovell of Topside Lane celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. The couple was married 50 years earlier, on November 27, 1918, at the bride’s Mile Hill home by the Reverend O. Grishbrook, pastor of Newtown Congregational Church. It was a quiet family celebration last week, with Mr and Mrs Arthur Page, who were in the wedding party, as special guests. The Lovell’s son, Edward, flew up from Florida for the day. Also celebrating with their parents were Mr and Mrs William Lovell of Danbury and Mrs George Knapp and family of Sandy Hook. More than 65 congratulatory cards were received by Mr and Mrs Lovell.

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Turn on to the music of the “Shades of Blue” this Saturday night at the Edmond Town Hall from 8–11 o’ clock. Newtown teens are allowed a guest. Admission is $1.50 per person.

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Newtown friends of Alexander Clark of Bronxville, N.Y. will be pleased to know that he has been made vice president of Kidder-Peabody Company in New York City. He is the son of Mr and Mrs Robert J. Clark of Hawleyville.

December 10, 1943

To the Newtown Fire Department who responded so promptly to my call of distress when my little home and its contents, located on the Sandy Hook-Stevenson road, was completely destroyed by fire; and to all my kind friends and neighbors who so generously came to my aid, I wish to extend my heartiest thanks. —Joseph W. Crowther.

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Miss Mary Barry of the Hawley School faculty had the misfortune to sprain her ankle on Monday. Her classes this week are being taught by Mr and Mrs Hames B. Forbes of Wendover Road, Mrs Forbes teaching French and Mr Forbes teaching the classes in Latin and Mathematics.

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“Doc” Crowe of Sandy Hook has now swelled his picture collection of local boys in the service of the United States to some 80 pictures, of which he is justly proud. However, he hopes his gallery will continue to grow, and will appreciate pictures of other Newtown boys now in service, here or overseas.

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We are now confronted with a serious truck tire shortage throughout the nation, and as a consequence national rationing boards are receiving monthly quotas that are far less than the demand for new tires. Indications are that the local board will be unable for some time to come to issue certificates of purchase for all the truck applications now on hand. It is urged that every precaution be taken to eliminate tire abuse caused by improper inflation, speed, overloading, etc., and that all tire carcasses be recapped before they are worn beyond repair.

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I wish to express my deep thanks and appreciation for the great service rendered me by the Woodbury, Southbury, and Southbury Training School fire departments and the kindness of friends and neighbors. —Janie G. Pierce.

December 6, 1918

MR MITCHELL WITH HIS BUNCH OF BOGUS CHECKS, Doesn’t Land His Bird In Newtown But Has Better Luck In Danbury — Runs Off With Local Auto — A Bad Actor Sure Enough! A young man of about 25 years of age, giving the name of William Mitchell, and claiming to be the son of a Texas cattle king, blew into town about two weeks ago and registered at the Newtown Inn. While here he made numerous trips to Danbury and Bridgeport. Saturday, he appeared with a local citizen at Newtown Savings Bank and requested the treasurer to cash a check of $200, drawn on a New London bank. Mr Nettleton declined to do it, but later suggested he would telephone the New London bank to see if the check was good. While Mr Nettleton was telephoning, "Mr Mitchell" said he would return to the Newtown Inn, and his friend would bring down the word. It appears that Mitchell went to the Inn, jumped into the auto of J.E. Corbett, hotel manager, and “flew the coop.” He was seen going out of town and the police in Danbury and New Milford were notified. With A.E. Brinton, Mr Corbett set out to hunt up his car and found it Sunday morning in Pawling, N.Y., where it is alleged that Mr Mitchell attempted to sell it for $150. They brought the car back to Newtown under its own power. From a photo sent to Mr Nettleton, it would appear that Mr Mitchell had at one time been connected to the Marines and is possibly a deserter from that branch of the service. While Mitchell was stopping in Newtown, he made several visits to Danbury and on at least two occasions succeeded in obtaining money there. It is said that he also bilked several Newtown residents during his stay. The authorities have a fairly accurate description of the man and it is expected that he will soon be apprehended.

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Capt. George Ferris of Washington D.C. is enjoying a brief furlough at the home of his mother, Mrs Bertha Ferris of Sugar Street. Mr and Mrs John McNamara of Boston, Mass., came to Newtown on their wedding tour, stopping at the Sandy Hook Hotel on Thanksgiving day. Mr McNamara was a former resident of Sandy Hook, leaving here about 20 years ago. They returned to Boston Saturday.

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The patrons and friends of the library are asked to give during the week of December 9-14, for the purchase of new books and the very small expense of the library maintenance. Solicitors will ask you for a contribution. Meet them half way with money in your hand. It is a good investment.

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Max Schimelman has taken into partnership, Louis Schimelman, in the cattle and farm produce business. They have bought a new Republic truck and propose to pay the highest market price for goods offered.

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Morris Rosenburg of New York is visiting at his home in Huntingtown.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.