This week, we take a trip back in time to 1965!
The #1 song in the U.S. this week was “My Girl” by The Temptations.
The Soviet Union conducted a nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Eastern Kazakhstan, continuing its nuclear weapons development program during the Cold War.
On March 8, 1965, 3,500 United States Marines arrived in South Vietnam, marking the first deployment of American combat troops during the Vietnam War. These Marines landed at Da Nang to defend the U.S. air base, signaling a significant escalation of U.S. military involvement in the conflict.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday – On March 7, 1965, state and local police used billy clubs, whips and tear gas to violently attack hundreds of civil rights activists who were beginning a march from Selma, Alabama to the state capitol in Montgomery. The activists were protesting the systemic denial of voting rights to African Americans and demanding justice for the murder of 26-year-old activist Jimmie Lee Jackson, who had been fatally shot in the stomach by police during a peaceful protest just days earlier.
Americans were glued to their console TVs watching their favorite shows – “Hogan’s Heroes,” “I Dream of Jeannie” and “Bonanza.”
Here’s a look at what things cost in 1965:
$21,500 – average cost of a new home
$2,650 – price for a new car (a VW Bug was just $1,595)
$0.53 – cost of a dozen eggs
$0.31 – cost of a gallon of regular gas
$0.05 – cost of a first-class stamp
“The Sound of Music,” starring Julie Andrews as Maria, the singing governess who takes a job caring for the Von Trapp children while she ponders whether to become a nun, won the Academy Award for best movie of the year.
Here is what was happening in our Valley, as stolen from the microfilm edition of The Evening Sentinel!
Wednesday, March 3, 1965
Diamond Ring, Wedding Band Taken In Break
ANSONIA – A diamond ring and wedding band valued at $300 and $18 in cash were taken from a home on 6 Franklin Street, last night.
Police said the rings and money were taken from a jewelry box atop a bureau in a bedroom.
Police said the burglars entered the home through a hatch-way cellar door, climbed a flight of stairs to a door which led into the kitchen, and forced the lock on the door.
The couple, who had gone out for the evening, discovered the robbery upon their return at 10:30
Webelos Den Plans Knot-Tying Clinic
ANSONIA – Cubs of the Webelos Den Pack 19, sponsored by the Church of the Assumption, should take rope to Friday’s meeting. A knot-tying clinic will be held at 7 p.m.
Nurses Planning For Anniversary
DERBY – The 50th anniversary reunion will be planned by the Griffin Hospital Alumnae Association Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria.
The festivity will be held May 15, beginning with a tea in the hospital followed by dinner at Rapp’s Paradise Inn, Ansonia. The association has invited Miss Helen Nivison, R.N., who was superintendent at the hospital for many years.
Taxpayers’ Association To Watch Revaluation And Hunt For Waste In Spending
SEYMOUR – The first open meeting of the Seymour Taxpayers Association was held last night in the Assembly Hall. Armand Passerine was elected chairman and presided at the meeting.
The association was formed to discuss any problems resulting from the statutory revaluation of property now underway and to examine the causes of the tax increase. They expect to check the budget in detail to discover possible areas of needless spending.
Thursday, March 4, 1965
Merchants Approve Snow Removal Work
ANSONIA – The Retail Merchants’ Branch of the Ansonia Chamber of Commerce at a meeting voted to thank the Public Works Department “for the very efficient manner that snow was cleared from the downtown area during our winter snowstorms. Many times an efficient service such as this seems to go unheralded and one wonders whether such service is appreciated by the public.”
Cotter Renamed Storm CD Head
DERBY – Captain William F. Cotter was re-elected to another one-year term as leader of the Storm Engine Co. CD unit last night.
Other officers are: Donald Margiano, first lieutenant; George Rutkutkis, second lieutenant; Raymond Nappi, secretary; Anthony Pompi, treasurer and the Rev. Thomas Berberich, chaplain.
Fire Damages Empty House At Cemetery
DERBY – The unoccupied caretaker’s home in Mt. St. Peter’s Cemetery was damaged by fire last night at 11:30.
Policeman Robert Molloy, checking the area from his police car, noticed the blaze and radioed Lt. Edwards Slezak at police headquarters, who sounded the alarm.
Firemen quickly controlled a blaze that had started in a stairwell leading from the cellar to the first floor of the empty house. Firemen crawled through heavy smoke to reach the fire and stop it before it could spread to the rest of the house.
Lions Raise Scholarship
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Lions’ Club last night increased its yearly scholarship to a senior at Seymour High School from $100 to $150.
The scholarship committee includes Frank Mairano, Postmaster Stanley L. Zaprzalka and Willard Starbard. Application forms may be obtained at the senior high school office.
Friday, March 5, 1965
Equipment Taken From Parked Cars
ANSONIA – Fred Bennard, sales manager of Weisz Pontiac Sales, reported to Ansonia police yesterday afternoon that two locked cars parked in the garage yard were broken into.
Stolen were a tachometer, two shift lever knobs and gear control assembly and custom gauge. A clutch pedal bracket and arm were also bent and a vent window broken in each of the vehicles.
Damage and repair costs are estimated at $200. Det. Stephen Hodio investigated.
Troop 3 Scouts Held ‘Fun Night’
DERBY – Boy Scouts of Troop 3 had a “fun night” in the parlors of Second Congregational Church. Hawk Patrol, under the direction of Fred Rak, was in charge of the opening ceremony and was the service patrol.
Chin-ups were done under the direction of Scoutmaster Geoge Tierney. The winners were Carl Blumenthal and David Martin,
The basketball players were commended for their successful season, being unbeaten in 41 games.
Edmund D. Strang announced a trip to Quonset Point Naval Base, R.I. March 27 and 28.
Culverwell Defends Storm Clearance Pay
SEYMOUR – First Selectman Ernest H. Culverwell today defended members of the town street department against criticism about overtime pay.
Culverwell said the cost of operation of the department this winter was affected by the storms which occurred on weekends. He said many of the employees worked over 40 hours.
“They had no alternative but to plow the roads when storms came.” Seymour, he said, has an excellent street department and “I’m certainly going to back them up.”
Saturday, March 6, 1965
Elks Dance To Honor St. Patrick March 20
DERBY – Tickets are available for the St. Patrick dance of Derby Lodge of Elks slated March 20 in the hall.
James D. McEvoy, William Cole and James J. McEvoy are chairman. Bill Dargon’s orchestra will play for dancing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Plane Crash Kills Seymour Native
SEYMOUR – A 47-year-old native of Seymour, a pilot for 29 years, was killed yesterday when his plane, a twin-engine executive craft, faltered on takeoff from Miami International Airport and crashed into a graveyard of obsolete and abandoned aircraft.
Norman A. Grele of Pontiac, Mich., formerly of Seymour, and co-pilot, Leslie Hunter, also of Pontiac, were killed instantly.
The plane burst into flames on impact, spewing flaming fuel over the ground. It was enroute from Miami to Pontiac.
Grele was born Feb. 20, 1918 in Seymour, son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Grele of 80 Meadow St. he graduated from Seymour High School, class of 1936, and left Seymour shortly after graduation.
Head Daughters Of Colonial Wars
SEYMOUR – Miss Katharine Matthies was elected president of the Connecticut Daughters of Colonial Wars at yesterday’s meeting at the Hitching Post, Newtown.
Mrs. Harold Manweiler was elected recording secretary and Mrs. Bennet B. Upson was elected a member.
Sunday, March 7
No paper published!
Monday, March 8, 1965
New Building Planned For Water Street
ANSONIA – The Valley Electric Company has filed an application with the Ansonia Redevelopment Agency for 10,000 square feet of land on Water Street and West Main Street on which to construct a building for the electrical supply business.
The Redevelopment Agency said today it expects the land will become available to Valley Electric within three months after the necessary administrative matters have been approved by the New York Regional Office.
Sydney E. Byrnes Named News Editor
ANSONIA – Sydney E. Byrnes of Windsor, former general manager of radio station WADS here, has been appointed news editor for two nightly news broadcasts for ABC-TV.
Tuesday 192nd Anniversary Of Hull Birth
DERBY – Tuesday will be the 192nd anniversary of the birth of Commodore Isaac Hull, Derby native and one of the foremost American Naval heroes.
Born in 1773, Hull spent 45 years in active service in the United States Navy and his most spectacular feat was the complete destruction of the British frigate, Guerriere, while captain of the U.S. Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” August 19, 1812.
A month before, he had saved the Constitution from destruction by a British squadron in the Atlantic, in an incident that showed his great courage and seamanship. He became a commodore in 1824 when placed in charge of the U.S. fleet in the Pacific and closed his long and notable career with four years as commandant of the U.S. fleet in the Mediterranean. He died in Philadelphia, where he is buried, on Feb. 13,1843.
Town Meeting On Police Bill
SEYMOUR – A special town meeting will be held Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Junior High School auditorium.
The single item on the agenda is consideration of amendment to the Special Acts concerning the size of the police department. The amendment, if passed, by the State Legislature, would allow one chief, one lieutenant and as many sergeants as the Board of Police Commissioners decides are necessary, provided funds are available.
The Special Acts now provide that the force should consist of one chief, one lieutenant, three sergeants and ten regulars.