September 10, 1993

A WORD ABOUT PARADE ETIQUETTE:  As much as we like the freewheeling spirit of Newtown’s Labor Day Parade, we saw some things at this year’s parade that should be reined in. First, the proliferation of spray-string may be intended to add a festive air to proceedings, but on Monday much of the stuff was aimed at fire trucks and antique automobiles. Squirting sticky, fluorescent webs of string on these vehicles was hardly the way to show how much we admire and respect the work and effort that went into these vehicles. We also noticed that poppers, those little explosives that crack and pop when thrown to the ground, were in use along the parade route. Some were thrown when horses passed by. Thanks to the poise and control of the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard and other riders, serious problems were averted. But throwing poppers around horses is still a dumb thing to do. We would suggest that vendors working the parade be prohibited from future sales of spray string and poppers.

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Police this week continue seeking an escaped felon who fled Garner Correctional Institution in a daring jailbreak on August 30. Escapee George Galberth, 35, of New Haven was spotted September 7 in Wolcott following a burglary at Boundline Road. State police said that after committing the burglary, Mr Galberth fled the scene in a 1989 Ford Escort which he had stolen from the center of Newtown after escaping from Garner. Police took chase, following Mr Galberth until the Escort became involved in an accident. After the crash, Mr Galberth fled into the woods, state police Sgt Scott O’Mara said September 9. State police, Wolcott police and Waterbury police became involved in the search. State police used tracking dogs in an effort to locate Mr Galberth in a 100-acre wooded area but were unable to find him. Mr Galberth apparently hid out until he stole a Ford pickup in Wolcott on September 8. The truck was later found in New Haven. Police are continuing their intelligence work. Mr Galberth was serving a 28-year sentence for his conviction of attempted murder of a Wallingford police officer.

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Police Commission members have decided to seek state approval to install high-visibility traffic barrels which would clearly mark the crosswalk on Main Street in front of Edmond Town Hall. A proposal to install a pedestrian-activated traffic signal in front of town hall failed to gain public acceptance. Police Chief Michael DeJoseph told commission members barrels on the road shoulders is subject to approval by the state Department of Transportation. The barrels sought are plastic and filled in part with sand for stability. They typically have orange and white stripes to make them highly visible.

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Chunks of concrete fell from the I-84 overpass onto Hanover Road about 8 am Wednesday, narrowly missing a VW Rabbit pickup passing underneath, when a workman’s truck slipped partway through the bridge decking. Gary O’Connor, a State Department of Transportation engineer said the truck, owned by Brennan Construction Company of Shelton, was backing up to offload beams in preparation for crews to remove the bridge decking when it began to fall through the deck. The condition of the bridge “obviously was pretty bad,” Mr O’Connor said.

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The Newtown Environmental Action Team is making plans for its fourth “Lose The Litter Day,” scheduled Sunday, September 19, from 9 am to 1 pm. Individuals, families, neighborhood groups, civic organizations, and church groups are invited to stop at the front lawn of the Middle School during that time to sign up for a rod where they will collect litter. Work gloves, and bags for collection will be available to all volunteers. People may select their own roads, or choose from a list.

September 13, 1968

An early morning fire last Friday, September 6, destroyed the Butterfield Road home of Guy Leroux. The family was away at the time. According to Fire Marshal James Cavanaugh, the fire was well advanced when the call came in at 2:28 am. It was reported by a neighbor. The roof collapsed as firemen arrived. The fire was under the direction of Chief Lee Glover assisted by Ken Pelletier of Hook & Ladder Fire Company. Hawleyville and Botsford tankers also responded. The aerial truck driven by Richard Liska proved useful because the structure, a fairly new split-level, was too weak to support standard ladders. In all about 50 firemen fought the blaze for nearly four hours. A swimming pool on the property was used as a water supply in addition to the tankers. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Press releases now reaching us from Washington D.C., if placed end to end, would build a paper path from coast to coast. We dutifully inspect them all — studying those which are informative and shuffling off those whose main purpose is aggrandizement of the author or the making of political hay. Of late, with November’s national election fast approaching, the tenor of most releases has become noticeable partisan... Perhaps one of the most timely releases that has come to our attention in recent days was issued by Congressman Thomas Meskill. He urged that Congress finish up its essential work, “then close up shop and go home.” He said that in a few weeks there will be a new president and a new Congress. “The 90th Congress is pretty much a lame duck. It speaks only for itself.” The Congressman is so right.

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“Barefoot in the Park,” a bubbling, rib-tickling comedy by Neil Simon (that odd fellow whose latest Broadway hits are “The Odd Couple,” and “Plaza Suite” is off to a flying start in the rehearsals now underway at the Little Theatre on Orchard Hill Road. By holding try-outs and casting even before the Town Players highly successful summer venture into children’s theater with its children’s workshop and production of “Pegora,” Evelyne Thomas, who is directing the Simon funfest, is realizing a director’s dream — rehearsals with a cast knowing its cues and lines.

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Sam Rudolph of the Quality Cleaners, Newtown Shopping Center, is taking an advanced course in the newest methods in cleaning and spotting. It will cover all phases of the correct ways to clean the newer types of materials.

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First Selectman Timothy B. Treadwell has been advised by the New Haven Railroad that the railroad bridge on Buttonshop Road will be closed on Monday, September 16, at 8 am for three to four weeks, to repair the abutments and replace the deck.

September 17, 1943

Definite word has been received by Mr and Mrs Herman Tiemann, Jr., of East Hartford, in a letter form Sergeant George Tiemann’s friends in service with him, that he was instantly killed on July 30th in the South Pacific, while rendering first aid to one of his injured men. He had been acting as a lieutenant for some little time before his death. His parents have been notified by the War Department that the award of the Purple Heart has been made to him posthumously for his record of military merit and receiving wounds in action.

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At the insistent request of Newtown Fish and Game Club members and friends, Turkey Shoots will again be held this fall. The first is Sunday, September 26 at 2 o’clock on the property of George K. Knappin the Walnut Tree Hill section of Sandy Hook. A second Turkey Shoot will be Sunday, October 3 at 2 o’clock on the property of D.N. Popovitch in Taunton District. The club plans to have shoots each successive Sunday afternoon until the available supply of turkeys or ammunition is exhausted. These affairs are well worth attending as any contestant in last year’s Shoots will attest.

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Generally speaking the food crops available for harvesting in the county are below what was planned due to a variety of reasons among which were shortages of labor, adverse weather conditions, and an unusual disease and insect situation. Therefore it is paramount that what crops are available should be harvested one hundred percent. To accomplish this, the growers must have labor. The public is urged to realize the seriousness of this problem and volunteer their services at once. The two main crops, the harvesting of which is worrying the growers right now, are apples and potatoes. Saving these crops demands immediate action. The Connecticut Agricultural Extension Service appeals to every patriotic American in the locality.

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A number of boys from Hawley School have been assisting in the harvesting of potatoes, this week, at the farms of Banjamin Bernstein and Charles Platt and a large potato acreage of Messrs Reynolds, York, Shawl, and Fauls in Sandy Hook.

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The September 13th issue of Life magazine carried a most interesting picture-story, “Life Goes House Painting” showing Mr and Mrs Harold Wallace Steck and a number of their neighbors at a house-painting party on Saturday, August 21. From the pictures it is difficult to determine how well the paint spread, but certainly no effort was spared by such versatile gentlemen as Harry Hillhouse Rea Irvin, J.R. Wells and others, not to overlook the wives, and small children who specialized on pieces of furniture. The Bee is sure the same crowd could paint the town red — provided they had enough paint!

September 13, 1918

The most important real estate transaction that has taken place in Newtown in a number of years is the sale of the Castle property by Taylor & Buckingham of New Milford to Banjamin Beard of Shelton. Mr Beard has bought it for a second party, but does not desire at this time to disclose the name of the future owner. Mr Beard has already taken possession of the property. The castle was built by the late P.L. Ronalds as a residence. At his death he willed it to Miss Elizabeth Blake who enlarged it and spent many thousands of dollars in building towers on the wings and improving it. Her efforts put her in financial difficulties and Taylor & Buckingham foreclosed their claim. The castle has one of the most beautiful spots in New England and The Bee hopes the new owners will further improve and develop this wonderful piece of real estate.

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Christian Baur of Danbury has raised some champion tomatoes. A specimen from his garden weighs one pound and eight ounces and he wonders if anyone can beat it. It was not only a large specimen, but of fine quality as well.

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A dance will be given at St Mary’s Hall Friday night for the benefit of the Red Cross. Prizes will be offered for dancing. Conger and Bevans will furnish the music.

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Mrs Schoonmaker will give another of her lectures next week, Thursday afternoon at the Newtown library. Following the lecture, The Newtown Equal Franchise League will have a meeting.

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.