USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Newtown > Newtown, Connecticut, past and present > Part 7
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The Newtown Forestry Association holds a tract of 18 acres of woodland on Castle Hill Road, near the center of the Town. This land was left to the association to be used as a town forest.
The Newtown Park Commission has recently acquired a park site to be developed as a recreation center. (See, also, Chapter IV.)
Fairfield State Hospital
The Fairfield State Hospital is located on Mile Hill in the South Center district. It was created by act of the General Assembly in 1929, to provide care for mental patients from Litchfield and Fairfield Counties and the lower Naugatuck valley towns in New Haven County. The hospital has responsibility to receive and to care for all patients from this district who are referred for treatment by their family physicians.
Supervision and control of policies are vested in a Board of Trustees which is appointed by the Governor.
The hospital plant is modern and attractive. Ward buildings include a 300 bed admission and intensive treatment building under construction, a medical department with medical, tuberculosis and infirmary wards, operating room, x-ray and dental offices, three small units for treatment of disturbed patients, and two large continued treatment buildings. There is a well equipped laboratory. Modern and complete utilities are provided to support all require- ments of the treatment services.
In 1953-54 the hospital cared for an average of 2850 resident patients and received and discharged approximately 100 patients each month. Some 400 patients are maintained at home on convalescent visit. Per capita ex- penditures are under $5.00 per day per patient.
The staff has grown to a total of 847 employees including 18 physicians,
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43 registered nurses, 376 psychiatric aides, and 32 technicians and special therapists.
The Fairfield State Hospital conducts recognized training programs in psychiatry and psychiatric nursing under the leadership of accredited clinical and nursing personnel. The hospital has pioneered in the development of psychotherapy, occupational and industrial rehabilitation programs, shock treatments, and the use of antibiotic and sedative drugs. These training and research activities are supported by affiliations with neighboring hospitals and with Yale University School of Medicine.
The citizens of Newtown take pride in the high standards and reputation of this large institution within their midst. Increasingly the staff of the Hos- pital and their families find their places in activities of the town. Likewise local citizens find through volunteer services, entertainments, etc. ways to express their interest and support of the Hospital's program.
Population Changes and Trends
The U. S. census reported the 1950 population of Newtown as 7,448 inclusive of the students and patients of the Fairfield State Hospital. In the absence of any actual enumeration since that date, figures on our 1955 popu- lation can therefor be based on estimate only.
As will be seen from the accompanying chart Newtown's population had remained fairly stationary for over a hundred years. In the 1930's it began a period of growth which was further accelerated in the census period 1940- 1950. Although there had been a definite increase in employment opportunities within the town itself, unquestionably a large portion of recent expansion is made up of people who work in the surrounding cities. Located as it is some 20 miles from the highly populated Long Island Sound Area, Newtown avoids the congestion of the industrial areas; yet has the advantages of accessibility. Rimmed about by the manufacturing centers of Ansonia-Derby, Bridgeport, Danbury and Waterbury, and within commuting distance of New York City, Newtown is, for better or for worse, in the direct path of the suburban move- ment.
Newtown's total population increased from 4063 in 1940 to 7448 in 1950. Omitting patients and students at the Fairfield State Hospital, the town population was about 3100 for 1940 and 5300 for 1950. This represented an average increase of a little more than 51/2% yearly for the 10 year census period. Assuming that the town has continued to grow at the same rate during the intervening years, the population for 1955 would be only about 6900 and for 1960 it may not exceed 9000.
Various figures which are available annually and indirectly reflect popula- tion change would appear to support a higher rate of increase.
In the public schools the annual percentage increases in average daily enrollment have averaged 10.6% during the past five years. (Average daily enrollment for 1949-50 was 676; for 1954-55 it was 1128 as of April 31, 1955).
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POPULATION OF NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT AT INTERVALS FROM 1774 TO 1955.
SOURCE- STATE OF CONNECTICUT, REGISTER AND MANUAL, 1954 (EACH SYMBOL REPRESENTS 500 PERSONS.)
1774 2229
1800
LA 0
09
11 11
11
9
/
1
? ?
- .
- ?
? ? ? ?? ? ???
Annual percentage increases in property values on the Grand List as re- ported by the Board of Assessors have averaged 8.6%. (For 1950 the Grand List was $12,744,600; for 1954 it was $17,719,330.)
If the population (excluding the State Hospital) has grown 8% yearly since 1950, it would be about 7800 in 1955 and may reach 11,500 in 1960.
Whether one's personal bent is toward the conservative 51/2% estimate of the 1940-1950 period or the 8% rate, the most telling evidence is probably that of personal observation,-the newcomers we meet daily, the sales and transfers of property we hear about, the new houses we see going up along every road. These are unmistakeable evidence of the growth of the town.
An expanding population affects every phase of town life. On the one hand, it brings new wealth into the town, increases business opportunities, tends to increase property values and raise wages and employment opportunity. In general it vitalizes the community economy. On the other hand it increases the demand upon schools, roads, fire protection, transportation, and all other public services. The challenge in the situation is, of course, that of being sufficiently foresighted to keep the two sides of the problem in balance.
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2903 1850 3338 1900 3276 1930 2635 1940 4023 1950 7448 1955
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11
Present Day Communities
Although the town has grown rapidly in recent years it is still semi-rural in character and appearance. In population, however, the township is highly decentralized with many small communities scattered throughout the area. The Borough of Newtown was the first to obtain a post office, receiving its franchise in 1800. Three other communities have their own post offices: Botsford (Cold Springs) secured a postal grant in 1834, Hawleyville in 1844 and Sandy Hook in 1862. The Newtown office is the largest of the four. It has three rural carriers who cover a total of 135 miles daily. Sandy Hook also has rural mail delivery.
Although the old school districts are no longer in use as such their names survive as the current designations of various communities and sections of the Town. They are:
1. North Center (1717)
11. Sandy Hook (1779)
2. Middle (1718)
12. Middle Gate (1783)
3. Taunton (1738)
13. Gray's Plain (1784)
4. Zoar and Wapping (1745)
14. Head of Meadow (1784)
5. Land's End (1745)
15. Hopewell (17 -- ) ?
6. Palestine (1748)
16. Halfway River (1786)
7. Hanover (1755)
17. Gregory's Orchard (1788)
8. South Center (1761)
18. Toddy's Hill (1789)
9. Lake George (1768)
19. Huntingtown (1794)
10. Flat Swamp (1769)
20. Walnut Tree Hill (1866)
The bounds of these districts are shown on the map of Newtown, published by the Newtown League of Women Voters, 1952.
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4 pm
COUNTRY STORE
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Chapter II ECONOMIC LIFE OF TOWN
There is no heavy industry in Newtown at present, but many sand and gravel trucks carry much of Newtown away daily. Approximately twenty interesting kinds of light industry exist in various parts of the town, ranging from Photo Science Laboratories on Walnut Tree Hill to smelting in Botsford, lamp adapting in Hawleyville and home manufacturing of Kabobs in Gray's Plain. No particular type of industry is confined to any one section of town. For instance, there is machine tool making in Sandy Hook and also in New- town. There is a plastic corporation in Sandy Hook and one in Hawleyville, each doing different things with plastics.
In the Palestine District famous precision gauges are made. These as well as many other products from Newtown's industries are sent to all parts of the United States and many foreign countries.
In the Glen, Sandy Hook, along the Pohtatuck River are two factories originally belonging to the New York Belting and Packing Company but now housing separate industries. The so-called "upper factory" is the home of the Plastic Molding Corporation and the "lower factory" the home of the Fabric Fire Hose Corporation. The latter which makes cotton rubber-lined hose is one of the oldest companies in the United States. It started in Warwick, New York in 1869 and moved here in 1900. It is the only remaining manufacturer of fire hose exclusively.
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At least two companies in Newtown are operated by the third or fourth generation. In Berkshire is the folding box company of S. Curtis and Son, Inc. (originally a comb and button industry). Located on the original site, it is now operated by the fourth generation of Curtises.
The Mckenzie Engineering Company which makes industrial machinery is another "several generations" industry, with the third generation of the family now operating the business. Established in New Rochelle, New York, in 1913 this company came to Newtown in 1935. The present factory, situated in South Center District, was built in 1950.
Handmade flowers, hydraulic equipment, precision parts for manufac- turers in various industries, dairy brushes and all kinds of wood cabinets are made in this town; also leather novelties, Yankee Clipper gardening tools and colonial type metal articles. "Scrabble" was born in Newtown in 1947 in a little one-room schoolhouse (formerly Flat Swamp School) in Dodgingtown. William A. Upham invented the tea bag in 1909 in Hawleyville.
Newtown abounds in special services such as bakeries, delicatessen, frozen foods, catering, florists shops, lumber yards, welding, well drilling, photo- graphy and a veterinary hospital-to mention a few.
Among many antique shops in Berkshire, Sandy Hook, Dodgingtown, South Center and Hawleyville is one run entirely for charity. It is "Land's End Country Store" in Hawleyville (in the former Land's End one-room school- house). It is for the "Bobby Clark Memorial Fund" at the Lenox Hill Hos- pital, New York, and is carried on by Bobby's mother.
Commercial centers are: near the Town Hall and the Flagpole on Main Street; the shopping center on Queen Street; in Sandy Hook, in Botsford, in Hawleyville, in Dodgingtown and in Huntingtown.
Banks-Two banks serve Newtown.
1. The Connecticut National Bank, Bridgeport. (Newtown Office) Hours :- 9 to 3 Monday through Friday
4 to 6 Friday 9 to 12 Saturday
2. Newtown Savings Bank.
Hours :- 9 to 3 Monday through Friday
This bank is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1955.
Newspaper-The Newtown Bee
The Newtown Bee is a weekly newspaper, founded in 1877. Its colorful history is recorded in the first section of this book.
The current circulation figures have reached over 7000, the number of pages 32. In addition to local news, it carries items from surrounding towns. It is famous for its advertising, which covers a 25 to 30 mile radius.
The Bee has received many awards. In 1948 the Connecticut Editorial Association gave it the first prize for best editorial, first prize for best feature
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story, and first prize for mechanical excellence. Since then there have been several other awards.
The Bee Publishing Company, which publishes the newspaper, is located on Church Hill Road. It does a great variety of commercial printing.
Agriculture
The 1930's saw the beginning of the major shift away from an agri. cultural community. This has continued every year since. The most recent picture in Newtown in terms of numbers of people living on farms or part- time farms (with the years 1920 and 1935 given for comparison to show the trend) is as follows:
Number of farms
1920 422
1935 389
1950 175 14,046
Land in farms (acres)
27,743
22,012
Cows, including heifers that have calved
1,800
1,638
1,237
Whole milk sold (gallons)
1,170,312
1,010,692
914,302
Chickens
Number of farms
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254
146
Number of chickens 4 mos. old and over
19,306
23,965
22,229
Chicken eggs sold (dozen)
134,975
247,799
230,518
Source: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce Washington 25, D.C.
The type of farms listed in order of importance is dairy, poultry, live- stock, vegetable, fruit. This list is based on numbers of each and the value of products sold. Dairy and poultry farms show a trend to grow larger and produce more. This is because of specialization and the need of larger in- come.
According to Newtown's 1954 Grand List there were 1581 neat cattle valued for tax purposes at $123,990; approximately 190 sheep, $570; 58 horses, $3,300; poultry (no number given), $16,820.
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Chapter III EDMOND TOWN HALL
As Newtown celebrates its 250th Anniversary, Edmond Town Hall cele- brates its 25th, having been presented to the Selectmen on August 22nd, 1930, to serve as the seat of the Town Government, general meeting place and recreation center.
In the past 25 years it has been the scene of many Town meetings, Com- mencement Exercises, rummage sales, Church fairs, dog shows, square dances, antiques auctions and Town Players performances. Day-by-day it has had a continuous parade of visitors going to the Post Office and to various Town offices, at night to the movies and, on Monday nights, a lesser group, meeting in the Town Court to serve the ends of Justice.
In its 25 year history, Edmond Town Hall has been the focal point of the community and, to newcomers and tourists, as well as to townspeople of long residence, a distinctive feature of Newtown. Its classic Georgian archi- tecture makes it unique among Connecticut town buildings, while its many- sided usefulness is the envy of other communities.
The administration of the Town Hall is as unique as the building itself. While the title is vested in the Town, the building is run by a bi-partisan Board of Managers, consisting of three Republicans and three Democrats elected for six-year terms in accordance with an Act of the Connecticut State Legislature on February 24, 1931. The Manager of Edmond Town Hall has served in that capacity ever since the building was opened.
Along with looking after the many details of maintaining the building, he has charge of managing the Motion Picture Theatre. A favorite among area movie-goers for its excellent choice of pictures and comfortable seats, Edmond Town Hall Theatre has recently been provided with a modernized ventilating system, new carpeting, a new wide screen and frame, and ana- morphic lenses enabling the showing of either conventional movies or cinema- scope productions.
Besides the Theatre, the facilities of Edmond Town Hall include the Alexandria Room, a large meeting room on the top floor with its own kitchen and stage; smaller meeting rooms; the gymnasium, scene of a great variety of activities in the course of a year; the Post Office; bowling alleys; Town Court; and offices for the First Selectman, Judge of Probate, Town Clerk, Tax Assessors, Tax Collector and Visiting Nurse Association.
We are prone to take for granted our beautiful Town Hall and to accept the unique facilities which it provides, without questioning the cost of main- taining such a building, let alone building it. Actually, Edmond Town Hall, its maintenance and addition have cost Newtown nothing. The building was planned by the late Mary Elizabeth Hawley whose birthday is celebrated on August 22nd and the late Arthur Treat Nettleton, Miss Hawley's financial advisor. The construction was financed by a gift of $750,000 from Miss
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X
Herman &
The Edmond Town Hall
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Hawley who also set up a Trust Fund of $250,000 for the maintenance of the building. In 1950 an addition was made on the South side of the building at a cost of $50,000 entirely paid for by the income from the endowment and the operation of the motion picture theatre.
Edmond Town Hall is named for Miss Hawley's maternal great-grand- father, Judge William Edmond, a native of Waterbury. Born in 1755, Judge Edmond fought in the Revolutionary War action at Ridgefield following Tryon's raid on Danbury. He came to Newtown to practice law in 1782, was a member of Congress from 1791 to 1801 and was a Judge of the Superior Court until his death in 1819.
THE BOROUGH OF NEWTOWN
The Borough of Newtown was incorporated in May 1824 by act of the General Assembly meeting in New Haven and held its first meeting the follow- ing month.
The exact boundary lines of the borough as revised and enlarged by the legislature in 1907 may be found in the borough records in the office of the borough clerk. They remain the same today. Using the map of Newtown published by the League of Women Voters of Newtown in 1952 these bound- aries may be roughly described as follows: starting at the intersection of Route 25 (So. Main St.) and Borough Lane, proceed along Borough Lane to the New York, New Haven, and Hartford railroad tracks, then northwesterly along the railroad tracks to Hall Lane, westerly along Hall Lane across Currituck Rd., then westerly along the Old Road to Rt. 6 across Rt. 6, then along the east side of Taunton Pond, then southeasterly across Route 202 (Sugar St.), around the Newtown Cemetery and back to Rt. 25 at Borough Lane.
The borough of Newtown as of June Ist. 1955 covers 1252.32 acres which includes 332 residences and 24 commercial properties. The net valuation of these properties is $3,453,870. These figures show 120 more residences than in 1945 and an increase of $2,161,540 in net assessed valuation. This increase in assessed valuation is partially due to the revaluation of all properties in the town of Newtown in 1949 and to the recent construction of such large buildings as the Wheeler Shopping Center, the Cianci Building, and the Tele. phone Company Building as well as several new home developments.
Residents of the borough pay a borough tax of slightly over one mill on a budget of around $7000 for the year 1954. In return the borough supplies fire hydrants and street lighting as well as a tree planting and tree spraying program along borough roads. The Newtown Water Co., privately owned, supplies water to most residents of the borough.
Borough officials are nominated at a caucus held annually in April. All legal voters of the borough are eligible to participate in this caucus in which
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only one slate of officers is presented on a non-partisan basis. Their names appear on the voting machines on borough election day under the label of the Citizens Party. Other nominees may appear on the voting machines by petition according to procedure established by the election laws of the state.
An annual meeting of the legal voters of the borough is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May at which time electors choose from their number by plurality of ballots the following:
A Warden for a one year term;
2 Burgesses for a 4 year term;
A Clerk for a one year term;
A Treasurer for a one year term;
2 Fire Inspectors for a one year term;
A Tax Collector for a one year term;
A Pound Keeper for a one year term;
2 Assessors for a one year term ;
2 Members of the Board of Relief for a one year term;
A Registrar of Voters for a one year term;
A member of the Zoning Commission for a 5 year term;
A member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for a 5 year term.
In addition to the above, the wardens and burgesses appoint a Tree Warden to serve for one year to develop a plan of tree protection and planting on borough highways.
The Zoning Commission appoints for a one year term a Building In- spector who possesses such powers and performs such duties and services as they may direct. It is his duty to issue building permits for new building or alterations the cost of which is estimated to be $100 or more and, when work is completed under such permits, to issue certificates of occupancy after he ascertains that zoning regulations have been complied with. He is also required to act upon any written complaints brought to the Board of Zoning Com- missioners about alleged violations of the zoning regulations.
"All electors of this state qualified to vote in the town of Newtown, and residing within said territorial limits shall be freemen of said borough, and every elector of this state who shall hereafter have continuously resided within the limits of the borough for the period of six months shall be a freeman of said borough and entitled to vote at all meetings of said borough and eligible to office therein." (From the Charter of the Borough of Newtown as Amended and Revised in 1931).
The above document plus amendments to the Zoning Ordinances and Regulations describe in detail the duties of all borough officials and the run- ning of borough government. The powers and duties conferred by the charter are too numerous to include here; therefore, it is suggested that for further details the reader refer to the charter itself which is on record with the bor- ough clerk.
The Borough of Newtown is the only part of the town of Newtown which is protected by zoning regulations and ordinances established in 1931. The
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present zoning commission is in the process of revising the existing regula- tions to meet current day problems, and to provide a specific basis for zoning decisions. They hope to have these regulations in effect in the fall of 1955.
A perusal of borough records produces many interesting facts, some of which may be worth recording here.
On May 1, 1883 a committee recommended and it was so passed that the sum of $600 be appropriated to provide the borough with its first Hook and Ladder truck, the price to be $525 F.O.B. by steamer to Bridgeport; $15 for freight to Newtown; $60 for a shelter for the truck.
In 1884 compensation for the assessors was $5 each; $2.50 for each member of the Board of Relief and $15 for the Tax Collector.
In 1907 the Borough contracted with the Newtown Water Co. to provide fire hydrants at $30 each per year.
The Borough negotiated with the Lighting Company for the first street lights, 32 in all, in 1915.
The Citizens Ticket, so-called for the first time, was elected in 1919, and the first borough caucus was held in April 1923.
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STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT
All units of government in this State are chartered by the Connecticut General Assembly.
The government for our Town was formulated at the time of its incorp- oration October 1711.
Newtown covers an area of 60.38 sq. miles or 38,644 acres. It contains according to the 1950 official census 7,448 people. The next National census will be taken in 1960 and it is reliably estimated that by that time the figure will increase at least one and a half times!
No matter how big we grow we still will be a Town because in Connecti- cut every village, borough or city is located within the confines of a town. Where towns are not too large for all the voters to gather under one roof, the Town Meeting is still the legislative body of the town. This is a form of pure democracy which has come down to us from Colonial times and exists only in New England.
TOWN MEETING
Any citizen 21 years of age or older who owns real estate valued on the latest grand list at $1,000 or more, or personal estate valued on the grand list at $500 or more, may vote.
The Town Meeting has a wide variety of powers. Every election is con- sidered part of a Town Meeting. Besides the annual election of town officials the important matters dealt with are the making of appropriations; the levy of taxes; the authorization of borrowing; the determination of the manner of using town aid funds for highways and the building and repair of school buildings; enactment of by-laws and ordinances and other questions at issue.
The Selectmen may call special Town Meetings whenever they think it is necessary. They must call a special Town Meeting within 10 days after re- ceiving an application requesting one signed by at least 21 voters.
A warning for each Town Meeting signed by at least 2 of the Selectmen, specifying the object for which it is to be held, must be publicized and the Meeting may act only on those matters.
ELECTION SYSTEM
The political address of each citizen in our town is:
Town Newtown
County Fairfield
State Senatorial District
25th
U. S. Congressional District 4th Who may Vote.
Only residents who have registered with town officials may vote. Once registered, a citizen is on the voting list as long as he remains a resident of Newtown.
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Who may register to Vote.
Sessions for "making voters" are held at the Edmond Town Hall by the Selectmen and Town Clerk as advertised. Since these dates are not permanent, they are published each year in 'The Newtown Bee' and in a 'Voter's Guide' issued annually by the League of Women Voters of Newtown and distributed widely. The Town Clerk will also inform you of these dates upon request.
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