Join Jean Falbo-Sosnovich as she takes you back to the Valley in 1963!
Monday, Nov. 11, 1963
Charters Honor Mr. Fitzgerald, 50-Year Member
ANSONIA – The days when volunteers hauled their pumper by hand to fires were recalled Saturday night when the Charters Hose Company feted David Fitzgerald of 135 Clifton Ave, a 50-year member of the unit at its annual old timers’ night at the company headquarters.
First Lt. Bert DeForest recalled that when Mr. Fitzgerald became a fireman in 1917, the company was quartered at Grove and Murray streets, moved to the McGrath Building and motorized its own apparatus a year later, and in 1924 moved to its present site.
Among the old timers honoring Mr. Fitzgerald, a former alderman and fire commissioner, was Fred Walsh, who recalled that the company was formed in 1909 as the Fourth Ward Association, later the Fourth Ward Fire Club, and met in a saloon. A year later, he said, the company was officially created “and moved into Malumphy’s barn, which in those days was supposed to be quite the fire house.”
Lincoln School Seventh Graders Studying Poetry
DERBY –Seventh graders at the Lincoln School are now studying poetry in an attempt to develop a better understanding and appreciation of this art form. To date, the pupils have read some satirical poetry by Ogden Nash as well as several epic poems and some more modern poetry by such authors as William Carlos Williams and C.C. Cummings.
Town Counsel Wants Opinions Held In Secrecy
SEYMOUR –The Planning and Zoning Commission advised newspaper reporters that Town Counsel Fred Ehrsam has advised that legal opinions rendered by him to the board are not public information but confidential on the basis of counsel-client relationship. News media contend that once a legal opinion is read to a town board, it becomes part of the record available to the inspection of any citizen under the state right-to-know law.
Veterans’ Day Tribute Damp
SEYMOUR –Veterans’ organizations joined in services for the ward dead the Veterans’ Day observance this morning at French Memorial Park, despite the inclement weather.
Church bells, town sirens and industrial whistles were sounded at 11 o’clock to denote the hour in which the Armistice was sounded following World War I.
Emil Senger Post, American Legion, will hold a turkey dinner for members this evening at 7:30 o’clock at the post rooms.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1963
Car Leaving Curb, Postal Truck Collide
ANSONIA – No one was injured in a postal truck-automobile collision Monday afternoon on North State Street. Police said a car operated by George Parmelee, 53, of 22 Woodbridge Ave., was pulling away from the curb in front of Pietrosante’s Market on North State Street in a northerly direction when it was struck in the rear by a postal truck driven by Charles Bartolotta, 37, of 48 Root Ave, also moving in the same direction. The automobile was slightly damaged. Officer Edward Turgeon investigated.
Ground Broken For New Building
DERBY – The Minotti Construction Company of Stratford started work yesterday n the new municipal building at the intersection of Fifth and Olivia streets. The company started excavating for the footings for the building that will contain a city hall, police station and Veterans’ Memorial that will include a swimming pool, gymnasium, and games and meeting rooms.
Kerite Sprinkler Sets Off Alarm
SEYMOUR – The Citizen Engine Company responded to an alarm from Box 41 this morning at 4:21 o’clock when the sprinkler system went off accidentally at the Kerite Company boiler room. The American District Telegraph Office, New Haven, notified local police who sounded the alarm
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 1963
Police Checked 149 Complaints
ANSONIA – Police investigated 149 general complaints, 32 automobile accidents and responded to 43 ambulance calls during October, according to the monthly report of Police Chief William O’Brien.
The report: arrests, 38; fire alarms, 17; doors and windows found open, 45; street lights reported out, 43; assistance to other departments, 10; stolen cars, 1, recovered cars, 1; thefts reported, 2, breaking and entering, 2; persons picked up for other departments, 2.
Home Entered, Coins Stolen
DERBY – Joseph Gesek of 199 Caroline St. reported to police early last night that someone had entered his home and stolen $12 in nickels and a number of pennies. Policeman Theodore Martone was assigned to investigate.
Hootenanny At FOE Friday
DERBY – A Hootenanny will be held at Derby Aerie, FOE, Friday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Music will be furnished by Walter Michaels, the one-man band. Refreshments will be available. No admission will be charged.
Great Hill Hose Ball Saturday
SEYMOUR – Plans were completed last night by the Great Hill Hose House for its seventh annual ball Saturday night at the Warsaw Park, Ansonia.
Reservations have closed. Dancing will be from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. to the music of Tommy Glass and his orchestra. The grand march at 11 p.m. will be led Captain and Mrs. Robert Snell. Joseph Stankye of Derby will be prompter. Refreshments will be available.
Thursday, Nov. 14, 1963
Firemen Collect $1,274 In Drive
ANSONIA – A total of $1,274.33 was collected by firemen from Ansonia’s five volunteer companies in the annual Muscular Dystrophy Drive conducted the past two nights. Firemen from the various companies toured the five wards in the city and stopped at homes of residents to accept donations.
The breakdown of funds collected is as follows:
Hilltop Hose Company, $362; Eagle Hose Company, $340; Fountain Hose Company, $220.38; Charters Hose Company, $196 and Webster Hose Company, $155.95
Hill Residents Want Signal
DERBY – Residents of the Sentinel Hill, Academy Hill, Hill Street and Ridge Road will present a petition to the Board of Aldermen tonight requesting it to investigate the possibility of installing some type of traffic control signal at the intersection of Academy Hill, Sentinel Hill and High Street. Two serious accidents have occurred at the intersection in the past several months.
Think 7 Year Olds Set Garage Ablaze
DERBY –Fire Chief Richard T. Kieley said today that Policeman Leo Herbette had turned up information that has implicated several youngsters in a fire on Oct. 22 that destroyed a garage and car on Bank Street. The investigation is continuing. The boys are reported between 6 and 7 years old.
Bids Received For Dump Truck
SEYMOUR – The Board of Selectmen voted last night to reserve decision on awarding the contract for supplying the town with a new dump truck. The five bids received and opened at the session were from Connecticut White Truck Corp., West Haven and Faifield, $10, 195; Mack, West Haven, $9,900; Ross and Company, New Haven, $8,500; Reo Sales and Service, West Haven, $8.071.50; Hurlburt and Preston, Ansonia, $9,250 and Hine Brothers, Southbury, $8,490.
First Selectman Ernest H. Culverwell said the board will give further study to all five proposals before announcing its decision.
Friday, Nov. 15, 1963
Aldermen Must Approve Plans Before Mall Can Be Built
ANSONIA – The Board of Aldermen must approve any plans for the development of land in the downtown project, including a shopping mall.
Daniel Donchian, executive director of the Redevelopment Agency, explained the plans for a mall would first have to be approved by the agency, then by the Board of Aldermen, and finally by the federal government, which has allocated $4,314,000 for the downtown project.
Mr. Donchian stated the agency is reviewing suggested revisions to the downtown plan, including boundary changes, and is hopeful that the work will be completed within 30 days.
He said there are no changes for the different uses of the land, including a commercial area from Bridge Street south to either Central or Cheever streets.
New Aerial Truck Urged
DERBY – Fire Chief Richard T. Kieley in his monthly report to the Board of Aldermen said that the city should take steps to replace the 65-foot aerial truck of The Paugassett Hook and Ladder Company. The chief said the apparatus is fast approaching the age where it should be replaced as soon as possible. The chief also reported 50 fires last month, with the majority of them being grass fires.
Roller Skating Tonight at DHS
DERBY – The weekly roller skating program, sponsored by the Recreation Committee, is scheduled for grade school age children tonight from 6 to 8 o’clock in the Derby High School gymnasium, and for high school age youths and for adults from 8 to 10 o’clock.
Committee To Weigh Teacher Salaries
SEYMOUR – The liaison committee of the Board of Education will meet with the personnel policy committee of the Seymour Education Association Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Seymour Senior High School. Negotiations for 1964-65 will be continued.
7th Annual Ball Of Great Hill Hose Saturday
SEYMOUR –A capacity audience is anticipated at the Great Hill Hose Company seventh annual concert and ball Saturday at the Warsaw Park Ballroom, Ansonia. Tommy Glass will provide music and dancing from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The committee in charge of include Steve Chucta, chairman; Raymond Maile, co-chairman; Robert Snell, Franklyn Tyler and Walter Behuniak.