The fate of the Cass Gilbert fountain at the corner of West Lane and Main Street was thrown into doubt when engineers from the state highway department indicated the intersection might be hazardous, the March 11, 1965, Press reported.
The highway department made no official pronouncement, but the Ridgefield Parks Department said that if the state decided the fountain must be removed it would object. The Parks Department said the fountain should stay and suggested that a rotary be built to protect it. First Selectman Leo F. Carroll said that at one time the only things that ran into the fountain were foxes and reindeer, but lately motorists, usually with something in their bloodstreams, had battered the monument. Mr. Carroll said he was searching around for additional land — with the idea of moving either the road or the fountain. He said that if the state decided the fountain had to be removed, there was little use in objecting. Some people proposed that the town buy the vacant lot across from the Congregational Church and make a small park with the fountain in the middle. To the rest of Connecticut it seemed that Ridgefield was in a fight with the state highway department over the fate of the fountain. The Hartford Courant ran an editorial and cartoon commenting on the situation. Entitled “Up Ridgefield!” the editorial described Ridgefield as engaged in a battle with “the bureaucratic monster” while other towns sat idly by. The cartoon depicted a monster (gobbling trees) hovering over the figure of a man holding a stick labeled “Ridgefield.”
In an effort to save money and exclude those property owners who were against inclusion, the Historic District Committee reduced the number of its proposed districts from three to one. Both north Main Street and the Peter Parley Schoolhouse sections were eliminated from the historic district plan. Before the townspeople could vote on whether to preserve south Main Street, they had to vote on whether to approve $1,200 in additional funds for the committee so that it could prepare a final map of the historic zone boundaries as required by law. Mrs. Robert Wohlforth, chairman of the committee, said the schoolhouse section was eliminated because the town already owned the land and there was no fear that the character of the setting would change. The north Main Street section was eliminated because more than 50% of the property owners there objected to inclusion and the law required that 75% of each area must approve it.
The Caudatowa Garden Club voted to maintain the greenhouse in Ballard Park as a cooperative effort with the Ridgefield Garden Club and the Horticultural Society. The two garden clubs hoped that eventually heat would be provide to the greenhouse so it could be maintained during the winter.
Only nine of the original 33 members who joined the Last Man’s Club in 1938 attended their annual dinner at Girolmetti’s Restaurant at Ridge Bowl. Eight other members were out of town and unable to attend. The club members, veterans of World War I, agreed in the 1930s to dine together once a year as long as any member survived. Place settings at the table for departed members were at the table and their plates and sterling cups were inverted. Those attending the dinner were Harry E. Hull, Roy Blake, John C. Kelly, Gustave Rux, Paminando Costanzi, Henry Palau, Julius Tulipani, Edward Unwin, and Curtis Leighton. Members who had died were Ernest Brunetti, George N. Bloomer, Joseph Mazza, William Johnson, Sereno T. Jacob, Robert R. Keeler, Rudolph Marconi, Robert E. Richardson, and Fred Minnerly.
Toni Principi, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Evelino Principi of New Street, modeled in the fashion show presented by the Danbury School of Nursing. Miss Principi, a freshman in the nursing school, studied at Danbury State College (now Western Connecticut State University).
A capacity crowd saw the Ridgefield Townies go down to an 80-68 defeat at the talented hands of the Harlem Magicians in the Teen Canteen benefit game at the Ridgefield High School gymnasium on East Ridge. Among those playing for the Townies were RHS coach Harry Hyra, New York Giants halfback Dick James, Gene Lavatori, Don Ligos, Julius Santini, and William Warner.
The Ridgefield High School varsity turned back a third-quarter drive to defeat the RHS faculty, 68-60, in the annual RTA scholarship fund game at the high school gym. It was the fourth faculty-student game and the varsity remained undefeated. Among the teachers playing were Art McCormack, Bob Melillo, Frank Giordano, Harry Hyra, the varsity basketball coach, Ed Higgins, Paul Fako, Bob Tulipani, coach Jim Soper, Jack Killoy, teacher and coach, Rick Medve, and Mike Crowley. High scorers for the varsity were Neal Turner, Chipper Bliss, Brad Mortensen, and Rick Miller.
Property transfers 50 years ago included the sale of six acres and buildings at Perry Lane and Boulder Hill Road belonging to Robert and Liane Purchase to Dr. Richard and Lucy Scala.
Among the properties you could purchase for between $44,500 and $45,500 in March 1965 were five-bedroom homes in Twixt Hills.
A daughter, their ninth child and seventh girl, was born to Dr. and Mrs. James Sheehan of Main Street. She was named Constance.
The Ridgefield Playhouse on Prospect Street featured Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.