Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Ansonia Historical Commission, this week we go way back to 1919. Woodrow Wilson was the President. U.S. life expectancy for men was 53.5 years and 56 years for women. The top 10 baby names were: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth, John, William, James, Robert and Charles.
The Black Sox Scandal gave baseball a black eye, when eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from gangsters. The scandal led to the appointment of the first Commissioner of Baseball.
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Monday, August 4, 1919
Who Lost A Hen?
ANSONIA – Who has lost a hen? Someone apparently has, for one of good size and in good condition made her appearance from some unknown quarter in a certain spacious door yard on Mott Street early yesterday morning.
The theory has been advanced that “Biddy” may have been frightened away from home by dogs, but of course, this is only a theory.
Boys, Take Warning
ANSONIA – Extensive damage was done in the west side community gardens, near Westfield Avenue, yesterday by a gang of malicious boys and a watch has been set for them, with a trip to the police station and punishment in store if it happens again.
The work of the young Sunday marauders yesterday was one of a most wanton nature. Tomato and bean plants were torn down and trampled in the dirt. The garden owners, who have worked hard to raise a few eatables, are thoroughly aroused and as some of the boys are known, they will doubtless get their just desserts if they carry their meanness any further.
Hartley And Moran
DERBY – Pete Hartley, Derby’s durable Dane, will tackle Pat Moran, southern lightweight champion, in a 20-round bout this evening in New Orleans. The battle is expected to prove an excellent one and many wagers have been made on the outcome. Hartley has fought some of the best men in the ring in his career and in Moran he meets a fighter who has also mixed it up with the best of them.
Walks 50 Miles And Wins Wager
SEYMOUR – Max Hirsch of French Street walked 50 miles on a wager that he could make the distance between sunrise and sunset and won out with margin of nearly two hours to spare. The initial wager was for $50, but this amount was increased and it is said that Hirsch was in over $100 when he finished a winner.
Crowds watched the walk. Some had it that the 50 miles would have to be covered in 14 hours, which is 17 minutes less than the sunlight period yesterday. Hirsch did the half century in 12 hours and 37 minutes.
Gallo Refuses To Increase His Prices
SHELTON – Salvatore Gallo, who conducts the Shelton city barber shop on Bridge Street, stuck to his original intention today, and despite the threats of Journeymen Barbers International Union of America, was charging 5 cents for a haircut, 15 cents for a shave at the prices which prevailed among most of the other shops until today, when in accordance with a vote of the journeymen barbers, the prices went up 40 cents for a haircut and 20 cents for a shave.
Any master barber not complying with the law will be fined $25. In spite of this, Gallo is doing business at the old prices and declares that he intends to keep doing it.
Tuesday, August 5, 1919
Another Record Crowd
ANSONIA – The Webster Hose carnival drew a crowd last night that completely packed the grounds. The carnival is proving a big success, and the attractions are becoming more popular each night. The crowds stay until Calvert gives his exhibition, which is the big feature of the carnival. The hot dogs and roast corn were gone before 10 o’clock, but the carnival committee is making sure that a big supply will be on hand tonight so that no one will go hungry.
Employees Get Raises
DERBY – Some of the employees of the street department began work yesterday morning on increased salaries which had been voted on by the Board of Aldermen. The board voted a maximum of $3.50 a day and a minimum of $3 a day. The mayor vetoed the section allowing for the minimum and the aldermen failed by a vote of 1 to 4 to override his veto in the meting of the board Friday evening.
Famous Horse Dead
DERBY – There have been plenty of racehorses owned in Derby which have gained something of a reputation, but no horse has been better known in this city than the animal which was once owned by Dr. Charles Pinney and afterwards by Dr. Royal W. Pinney, and which died a few days ago. The animal was 40 years old and for many years he was a familiar sight in this locality. In his youth and middle age, he was a handsome black but as the advancing years began to leave their mark, he turned gray.
Billy Ulrich Back
SEYMOUR – William Ulrich, U.S.A., who was wounded at Chateau Thierry, spent the weekend with his aunt, Mrs. George Teveliet at South Main Street. The Seymour boys welcomed Billy back with joy, all being happy to see him again. He has been in different hospitals during the past 14 months and has lately been transferred to General Hospital at Fox Hills, Staten Island.
Billy has been a patient sufferer during the many months since he was so badly wounded, having been in the worse shape than any other Seymour boy. His months at the hospitals have not yet ended, but in due time, Seymour hopes to welcome Billy, another of her brave heroes, home to stay.
Held Annual Dog Roast
SHELTON – The annual dog roast and outing of the Shelton Council, Fraternal Benefit League, was held Saturday afternoon and evening at the home of S.V. Catlin on the river road. One hundred members and friends of the council were present. Games were played during the afternoon. At 7 o’clock, “dogs” were served over the campfire. The spacious lawn was decorated with Japanese lanterns.
Wednesday, August 6, 1919
Warns Against Imposter
ANSONIA – The Sentinel is asked by the office of the collector of Internal Revenue at Hartford to warn merchants and others in Ansonia and vicinity against one Earl Smith, alias, R.C. Hughes, who has been posing as a deputy collector in the Tennessee district and fraudulently collecting special taxes on jewelry, soda and other taxes that might be due by merchants operating a general country store.
Smith, alias Hughes, has probably at some time been in the revenue service or else in close touch with revenue officers judging from the success of his game. He is a man of 5 feet 10 inches in height, rather slenderly build and between the ages of 25 and 30 years. His hair is sandy or brown and his teeth, irregular in length, are irregularly set in his mouth.
It is quite possible this man may work his way into this district and for this reason Collector Walsh warns all merchants to be on the lookout for him.
Suit Is Entered
DERBY – Because he claims the horse he bought did not come up to the requirements expected of it, Harold Stone, of Orange, has sued Walter Archer, of this city, for $225. The suit has been entered in the docket of the New Haven County court at New Haven.
Hartley Knocked Out Moran In The 18th
DERBY – Pete Hartley, Derby’s durable Dane, and champion lightweight of Connecticut, added another victory to his credit on Monday night in New Orleans when he sent Pat Moran, champion lightweight of the south, to sleep in the 18th round of a scheduled 20-round bout.
The fight was one of the fastest ever seen in the Crescent City and in the early rounds the New Orleans boy had all the best of the local boy, but as is customary with Hartley, he became stronger as the fight progressed, and his right jab continually bothered his opponent. Hartley dropped his opponent in the 18th round with a terrific blow to the jaw.
Several Chimney Fires
SEYMOUR – During the past few months, the firemen have been called out a number of times to small chimney fires, the causes of which has been discovered upon investigation to be due to soot collected in the chimneys as a result of wood fires.
Now that coal is becoming scarce and since prices have rapidly advanced, there is every promise of a great amount of wood being used during this year. It has been advised by various citizens that those burning wood should have their chimneys thoroughly examined, and also cleaned out at regular intervals.
Thursday, August 7, 1919
Liquor Inventory Now Called For
ANSONIA – It may be a false alarm, but there is a rumor around town that the prohibition law now in force may prove worse than the Spanish Inquisition and that everybody in Ansonia may have to reveal to the prying minions of Uncle Sam the awful secret of how much “stuff” they have on hand for personal consumption. At least those holding a druggists’ license will have to do so.
No Tax On School Football
ANSONIA – Ansonia High School football fans will feel one less touch of the high cost of sports because of a ruling of the Treasury department. This is that where money from a football game or other form of collegiate sport is used exclusively in educational work, the 10 percent tax is exempted.
Something New
DERBY – Something new in movies was shown at the Sterling Theater yesterday afternoon and evening. They were films taken by the Prizma process, which is a system of color photography. The owners of this process claim that the natural color of whatever is photographed is caught on the plate and thence thrown on the screen. The films yesterday were of scenes of China, and they were in many colors.
Kid Went Wild
DERBY – There was a youngster in the gallery at the Sterling Theater yesterday afternoon who went wild during part of the afternoon’s programs. It is no uncommon occurrence to have boys appear to have gone crazy when Charlie Chaplin or William S. Hart or any of the stock favorites pull off a particularly pleasing stunt, but the kind yesterday nearly lifted the roof off the theater when films were shown of De Valera, president of the Irish republic. When the Irishman’s picture was thrown on the screen, there was a general clapping of hands in the audience, but when a close-up of the president of the republic was shown, the youngster yelled like a Comanche Indian and with his yelling, threw the other kids in the balcony into a frenzy of noise.
Not Dry For Some
SEYMOUR – Seymour is pronounced a dry town, but men are seen about the streets as drunk as they ever were, and at times, more so. Several of the saloons are open for the sale of soft drinks, but it is said that whiskey and beer may still be had by those who know the ropes.
Clothing Wanted
SHELTON – The Shelton Welfare Association finds that it can use to very good advantage clothing for boys and girls under 13 years of age. People in this city who have boys’ or girls’ wear that they would like to donate to the welfare association are urged to do so as the clothing is needed by the children.
Friday, August 8, 1919
After Tax Delinquents
ANSONIA – Preparations are being made for rounding up the personal tax delinquents next week, and the city sheriffs, as well as some of the supernumerary policemen will be engaged in the work. It is expected that the city court will be busy during the next 10 days or so, as there are nearly 1,000 names on the book that are yet to be accounted for.
Management Cuts Railroad Trains
DERBY – The management of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad announced late last night that beginning today, the service would be curtailed to the extent of removing 102 passenger trains. The cut affects the service through this city to the extent of taking out 11 trains running to and from Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury, Winsted, Hartford and Boston. It is the biggest cut in service that has ever been felt in this locality and came as a surprise to the patrons of the road.
Pastor Gets Cakes
SEYMOUR – A birthday surprise had been arranged for Rev. E. Foster Piper, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, immediately following the mid-week prayer service last evening. A large number were present and before the people at the regular service had departed, a large birthday cake with lighted candles was brought in.
Spectacular Stunt
SEYMOUR – Lieut. Ralph A. Miller, who is with the Royal Exposition shows now exhibiting in Seymour, will give a spectacular and thrilling exhibition in front of the Humphrey building at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Lieut. Miller will escape from a strait jacket while suspended head downward in mid-air. The exhibition is one which attracted attention wherever performed and a big crowd will likely be on hand tomorrow afternoon.
Mail Was Late
SHELTON – Owing to the labor trouble in the railroads, the mail was received late at the Shelton Post Office this morning. The first-class mail, which comes in first and is usually delivered on the first trip of the mail carriers, failed to arrive until 8 o’clock and had to be delivered on the second trip while the parcel post and second-class mail failed to arrive until 9 o’clock.