October 29, 1993

It was August 28 1914. World War I had just broken out in Europe, causing much concern among immigrants such as William Gore of Church Hill Road. Mr Gore, a native of Germany, habitually set aside his cobbler tools each afternoon, when the paper was delivered, to scan for the latest war reports. He was also known to engage any willing customer on the topic. This warm Saturday began as any other. The observant eye, however, may have noticed later in the day the newspaper lay untouched in front of the shop and residence of the 64-year-old cobbler. One customer stopped in to find the shop in disarray with no sign of the owner. The customer went on his way, never suspecting a villainous crime had been committed. After attending Sunday mass at St Rose Church, a local man named Cavanaugh happened by to pick up his mother’s shoes. The September 8, 1914 Newtown Bee reported, “On looking over the counter he saw the legs of Mr Green [a false name used by Mr Gore] protruding, blankets, a mattress, and the pillow being on top of him. Mr Cavanaugh hastened up the street to give the alarm …” Mr Gore had been struck in the head six or seven times with the blunt end of an axe. The coroner reported that any one of the blows could have finished off the poor fellow. But this was not the last to be heard from the victim, or more accurately, from his spirit. The cobbler shop stood next to the Bee office where the parking lot is now. It was a tiny one-room building with a basement. Mr Gore lived in the back of the room and worked in the front. Soon after the deadly deed was committed, another cobbler, Mr Mooers moved in. Although a blood-spattered local man was held for questioning, he was never charged with murdering Mr Gore. No motive was determined. The perpetrator escaped without punishment. The restless ghost of William Gore plagued the new cobbler until he abandoned his business indefinitely. On departing he confided his torture to his neighbor, Bee Editor Allison Smith. Historian Dan Cruson related the incident in a 1993 issue of The Rooster’s Crow. “Beginning about three weeks before, Mr Mooers began hearing the murdered man’s ghost. At precisely 9:15 every night, he would hear the old man walk across the basement and start to climb the stairs. Mooers would run to open the basement door to find no one there. On some evening the ghost would rattle frying pans on the stove in the basement where the old man prepared his solitary meals." During his research. Mr Cruson found that the cobbler shop had been moved twice, and now transformed, is a guest cottage at a Huntingtown Road residence. But its basement lies beneath The Bee parking lot. If you are passing by at 9:15 pm, stop and listen. You just might hear the ghost of William Gore treading up the stairs.

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People in the center of town last Saturday were given a start when they looked up at the flag pole and saw James Foley Sr where the flag was supposed to be. Mr Foley, of Foley Steeplejack Services of New Haven, was removing the gold ball from atop the pole. The 16-inch gold aluminum anodized ball will be replaced with a gold-leafed copper ball of the same size. Mr Foley will also paint the pole after replacing the ball. The ball alone costs $500, and the Flag Fund is continually taxed by wind and weather that tear at Old Glory.

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Addressing the 175 people gathered at Newtown Meeting House on Wednesday night, Richard Gottmeier, meeting moderator for Parent Connection, said, “It is time for Newtowners to rally behind our children. We are in a crisis.” Parent Connection is a recently formed group of parents dedicated to attacking the problem of drinking and drug use by young people. The Parent Connection had invited parents to the meeting Wednesday. At the meeting, parents asked that police call parents whenever children are found in places where alcohol has been found, and parents also suggested the police department be further involved in the high school.

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The Newtown Parks and Recreation department held its annual Halloween Party for children on Wednesday afternoon at Dickinson Park. Although chilly and overcast, plenty of costumed partygoers and their moms and dads came out for the fun and games and to try out their costumes a few days early.

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SPORTS SHORTS: Jim Bowers is trying to organize a game between Newtown High School basketball alumni. The date of the game has not yet been determined but it will be played in the month of December. Any interested former NHS players may contact Mr Bowers. 270-9826.

November 1, 1968

One can hardly call it instant architecture since plans for Newtown’s current construction have been in the making for months and years — but it’s mighty impressive evidence of the town’s growth. A professional building, an industrial plant, a new high school, a church, a chapel, and a firehouse addition are only part of the overall picture. Grand Union is growing a new addition. The present high school is being enlarged with plans for a fourth elementary school in the making. And new houses by the dozen are being built.

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At 8:12 pm on October 24, a call came in about a fire at the home of Mr and Mrs Tracey Douglas, Taunton Lake Road. The fire was discovered by Edward Hart of Stratford and Mr Douglas. They had been working at Mr Hart’s new home in Sandy Hook and returned to the Douglas residence about 8:05 to find the building full of smoke. Mr Hart entered and found Mrs Douglas on the floor in the bedroom. He immediately took her out of the building. Mr Douglas had also entered the building and Mr Hart returned to bring him out. Mr and Mrs Douglas were taken to Danbury Hospital. The fire was investigated by Marshal James Cavanaugh and the cause has yet to be determined. Mr and Mrs Douglas were placed in the intensive care unit. Mr Douglas was discharged Tuesday. Mrs Douglas was reported in serious condition Tuesday morning.

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Let it be known that… Among the many Main Street homeowners on the job over the weekend were Stan Very with a paint brush, and the Cheney family, launching an attack on the leaves. Also seen creating a sack of leaves was Billy Honan. And by the way, any resemblance between Mr Honan and Santa Claus is purely coincidental. Quite a garage cleaning operation, at least that is what we think is going on, is in progress at the corner of South Main and Hawley Road. Someone has an odd sense of humor, as about 15 Red Cross flags were stolen from the Trinity Church yard during the last blood bank. West Street has been made wider by about three feet. Pumpkins and shaving cream were spread about town as early as Sunday night, possibly warming up for the trick or treat day.

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The Striders Drum Corps of Newtown is on the look-out for new members. Experience is not necessary. There are openings in all sections, although the need for expansion lies in the fife and bugle sections. Instruments are supplied by the corps. The drum section, led by James Gaboradi of Danbury, offers instruction in snare, tenor, or bass drum. This section is the heart of the corps and requires the most work. The fife section speaks for itself. Joseph Bogues has been the Striders fife instructor for many years and is anxious to add about 10 new members to the ranks.

November 5, 1943

There is one congenial person who has busied himself all over Fairfield County for the past twenty years, to whom The Bee would like to extend congratulations. That person is LeRoy M. Chapman, Agricultural Agent of the Fairfield County Farm Bureau, who on November 12 will have completed 20 years of service to the county farmers. “Chappie” has earned the friendship, respect, and admiration of everyone with whom he has come in contact. Agriculture is the richer for his good work, sound judgment, and perseverance.

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A letter received by the editor of The Bee from Seaman 2/C “Bob” Stephens, former member of The Bee staff, reports him “somewhere in the Pacific.” Bob says he can write yards on the places he has been and things he has seen, but the censors won’t allow it. He does write, however: “Without being censored I can say that I had been a pretty sick pup for a day or so just after we got underway, but I seem to be used to sea life now. When it’s real rough the old stomach doesn’t ask for food but manages to hold its own. Our mail is not delivered to us very often, but when we do get it, it is usually up to date. Newspapers are a bit slower and I seem to get The Bee in threes and fours and believe me I am like all the others who have written: I certainly do enjoy them and look for them in each mail delivery.”

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The Visiting Nurse Association is pleased to announce that Miss Helen Rutishauser is taking up the work of visiting nurse in town on Thursday morning of this week. Mrs Edward Davis has been carrying on for several weeks after Mrs Larkin was compelled by unforeseen circumstances to give up the work. Miss Rutishauser is a graduate of the Bridgeport Hospital. She has been associated with the Fairfield State Hospital for several years so is no stranger to Newtown.

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The first of the ROMPS being organized by the Sociology class of Hawley School and chaperoned by the PTA will be held this Friday evening at the Guild room of Trinity Church.

November 1, 1918

The editor received a handsome gift from the war garden of Master Allen Olmstead of Taunton. It was a beet which measured 20 inches around and weighed 3½ pounds.

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George Dunlap of Bridgeport was arraigned on Saturday before Justice P.H. McCarthy, charged with hunting with a silencer. He was fined $5 and costs, amounting to $21. The arrest was made by Special Game Protector Williamson of Bridgeport.

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Henry A. Birkenbine, chief engineer of the J. A. Crisfield Co., in charge of building the big dam at Zoar Bridge, and Mrs Birkenbine, were in Sandy Hook Wednesday.

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Charles F. Beardsley is holding a two-day auction at the W. M. Terry Warehouse in Bridgeport. As “Doc” Elwood, the veteran auctioneer, has died, Mr Beardsley will open an office in Bridgeport as there appears to be an opening for an auctioneer. Mr Beardsley is a live wire and will surely make a success in Bridgeport as he has done in the local field.

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Allison P. Smith kept open house Sunday afternoon, to a company of intimate friends, who called to help him celebrate his birthday.

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.