Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Lower Naugatuck Valley History Archives, this week we take a trip back to 1909.
Determined to demonstrate his toughness one more time in his last months in office, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt set off to ride 100 miles on horseback in one day. President Roosevelt set out at 3:40 a.m., riding to Warrenton, Virginia, and returned to the White House, the last 30 miles in a blizzard, at 8:40 p.m. that evening.
The Oval Office was constructed, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed and the newly formed General Motors Corporation (GM) acquired the country’s leading luxury automaker, the Cadillac Automobile Company, for $4.5 million.
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1909
Democratic Aldermen Displeased By Mayor, Wanted Attorney Walter Holden Named For Corporation Counsel
ANSONIA – The action of the Democratic members of the Board of Aldermen in helping to turn down the mayor’s nomination for corporation counsel and members of the Board of Education was the chief topic of conversation among city officials today. Alderman Cook, report has it, was the only one of the minority members of the board to stand by the mayor and dropped in the lonesome ‘yes’ ballot when the names of Attorney A.S. Aaronson came up for confirmation as corporation counsel, and William Reardon and M.G. Martin, as members of the Board of Education.
Derby Saloon Men Were Shocked Sunday
DERBY – The saloon keepers were pretty mad on Monday when they compared notes. Sunday word went around that they had better keep their places closed, else there would be trouble, and it is said that Derby was closed up tighter during the day than it had been in several years. Some of the saloon men did not think that there was anything in the rumors and tried to do business, but their watchers early reported to them that the police were showing a more inquisitive frame of mind than usual and that decks had better be cleared. Several policemen were seen to look in at a number of saloon windows where the curtains were not properly drawn back and this alarming action sent some of the owners of the saloons into a frenzy.
Anniversary Of Big Fire
DERBY – Today is the thirtieth anniversary of the biggest fire that has ever visited Derby, when the greater part of the Main Street block, between Minerva and Elizabth streets, was destroyed. Henry B. Peck had a picture in the window of his drug store showing the ruins left by the fire. The thermometer registered twelve degrees below zero that morning, and the firemen had the greatest fight on record here. Assistance from New Haven had to be called to help put it out.
Fire Escapes Not Yet Completed
SEYMOUR – While the fire escapes have been erected at the Center School, they are not quite ready for use, owing to the fact that the foundations have to be placed in position upon which of the stairways will rest. The escapes, it is thought, will give entire satisfaction when completed and will ensure the protection of pupils in case a fire should break out in the building.
Received Honorable Discharge
SHELTON – John Larkin, son of Nicholas Larkin, of this place, is home from Fort Terry, having received an honorable discharge from the regular army after serving his full term of enlistment. Corporal Larkin not only received an honorable discharge, but also high recommendations from his superior officers. He has not yet decided whether he will re-reenlist, having several months in which to make up his mind.
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1909
Building Burns While All Hunt For Alarm
ANSONIA – A fire in the grocery and meat market of Benjamin Nicolari, located in the Larkin Building, corner of Main and Cheever streets, caused an estimated damage of $2,000 early this morning. The fire started in the store basement and before it was extinguished, the establishment was gutted. The blaze is said to have been caused by an exploding lamp. Nicolari was in the cellar at the time and in trying to extinguish the flames, was painfully burned. The fire made such rapid headway, however, that he was forced to beat a hasty retreat and the Larkin family, who occupy the rear and upper portion of the building, were aroused by Nicolari.
Uninteresting Basketball
ANSONIA – The Naugatuck High School basketball team was no match for the Edgewoods last night. The game was too one-sided to be interesting, and the spectators found the exhibition a rather dull one. The Edgewoods caged the ball at will, the visitors knowing so little about the game, that goal making was an easy matter for the locals. The final score was 59 to 13.
Derby’s Expenditures During Year 1908
DERBY – The summary of expenditures of the city of Derby during the past year has been compiled by City Clerk Donahue. It shows that the amount appropriated to the various departments and to the general purposes of the city was $106,878, and that the amount expended was $102,349, leaving a balance of $4,529. This balance is smaller than that of the previous year by about $800. At the same time, the amount appropriated and the amount expended last year were each about $10,000 less than the corresponding figures of the previous year. In other words, the city was able to get along on about $10,000 less last year than the year before.
New Truck Horses
DERBY – The horse sent to take the ladder truck to the fire last night had apparently heard all the talk about their being too small to pull the load and declined to pull it. Just as the truck was being turned from Fourth Street to Elizabeth Street, the horses refused to go ahead and there the truck stuck. They could not be made to pull either. Today Commission Beach made arrangements with Liveryman J.J. Flynn to send his big pair of horses hereafter in answer to the alarm and it is believed these will be heavy enough to do the work nicely. The captain of the Hooks will issue orders that not more than six men are to ride on the truck when it is going to a fire, and this will make future loads considerably lighter.
Harvey S. Halligan Becomes Postmaster
SEYMOUR – Harvey S. Halligan has received his commission as postmaster of Seymour, signed by the president, and has taken charge there. So far, the clerical force has been maintained there, and Miss Jennie Smith is acting as assistant. The office has been well administered for years, under the administration of the late Capt. W. W. Smith, whose death created the vacancy which Mr. Halligan now fills.
Before leaving the factory of the New Haven Copper Co., where Mr. Halligan was superintendent of the bit works for nineteen years, he was presented with a very handsome mahogany library rocker.
Honor Conferred Upon A Shelton Boy
SHELTON – Announcement has just been made that Henry M. Lathrop, the son of the pastor of the local Congregational Church, has been awarded the highest honor which can be conferred upon by any member of his, the senior class, at Williston seminary, East Hampton, Mass. This award is called the Yale scholarship and has a cash value of $130. It is given to that member of the senior class who has been in attendance for at least a year and a half, and who in the judgement of the faculty combines high scholarship with a worthy interest in the various school activities and who has had “a high and stimulating influence upon the school life.”
Thursday, Jan. 14, 1909
Children Kept Out In Cold
ANSONIA – Complaints are again made that children have to stand in front of the school buildings for half an hour at times before they are admitted. At one of the buildings last Friday, it is said that some of the smaller children suffered so from the cold that they cried and the attention of people who were passing, was attracted. These thought it rather strange to make the little ones suffer and wondered how the janitor could do it.
In rainy weather, it is said, it is just the same, and there being no shelter, the youngsters who are not fortunate to possess umbrellas, get pretty well soaked and sit in their wet clothes until school is dismissed.
Derby Italians Send Fund To Italy
DERBY – The Italians in Derby and Shelton have been especially successful in raising a fund for the relief of the earthquake sufferers in Southern Italy and in Sicily. The Sunday following the earthquake, the Italian Independent Society of Mutual Relief held a meeting, and a committee was appointed to raise funds to be forwarded through the Italian Red Cross Society. The society voted to give $100 and the committee got to work immediately.
Sentiment Badly Wanted
SEYMOUR – The citizens of Seymour have manifested very little public spirit in regard to the observance of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The members of the Upson Post G.A.R. invited the public to be present at a meeting held in Grand Army hall last evening. The attendance was very slim, indeed, and very discouraging. Very few of those who loudly applauded whenever the name of the martyred president is mentioned, were present at the meeting, and if the 100th anniversary is observed, it will be by the faithful few in Upson Post.
Old- Fashioned Barn Dance
SHELTON – Nearly a half hundred of the residents of Woodside and their friends had a merry time last evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Perry, Jr. The large barn and workshop owned by Mr. Perry was turned into a ballroom for the occasion and with its lavish decorations of evergreen and laurel presented a very pretty and inviting appearance. Old-fashioned games were played and dancing was indulged in until a late hour.
Friday, Jan. 15, 1909
Bridge Street Bridge May Not Be Replaced
ANSONIA –It was 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon when the inspection of the Bridge Street bridge was completed by Engineer Chase. The engineer was assisted by Mayor Charters, who guided him over the structure and climbed the dust-covered beams and timbers. Careful measurements were taken by the engineer of the timber work and other data secured.
While the engineer did not express any formal opinion on the bridge, it is said his inspection bears out the city’s contention that the structure can be made safe for travel.
Injured By A Fall
DERBY – Mrs. Alice J. Brownson, of Caroline Street, was painfully injured by a fall on the ice last night. She had just come from the tailoring establishment of L. Berman, which is in the board of trade building, and had stepped from the stone steps to the sidewalk when her feet slipped from under her and she fell, striking the back of her neck on the stone step. A gash about two inches long was cut, which it took six stitches to close. Fortunately, her skull was not fractured, and she is getting along comfortably today.
Storm Delayed Trolleys
DERBY – During the storm yesterday afternoon, the trolley schedule was again “put on the blink” and for several hours, the cars were running irregularly, owing to slippery tracks, and an apparent lack of sufficient power.
Henry Mengedick Injured
SEYMOUR – Henry Mengedick, an employee of the Kerite Cable Co. factory, was injured this morning while at work there. He was struck by a board flying from a buzz saw. The board hit him in the body, at the diaphragm. He was taken to his home on Smith Street and Dr. F. A. Benedict was summoned to give him medical assistance.
Annual Clearing Sale
SHELTON – The annual clearing sale is now going on at J.E. Wrigley’s Dry Goods store, Bridge Street, Shelton. Specials in hosiery, prints, cotton goods, etc. can be had.
Saturday, Jan. 16, 1909
Big Glass Accidentally Broken
ANSONIA – One of the large panes of glass in the north show window of Jordan’s news office was found broken this morning. Nothing was missing either from the window or the store, and it is believed the glass was broken accidentally by a drunk or other weak-kneed individual last night. The broken light, which was valued at $5 or $6, was replaced later in the day by Thomas Clark.
High School Concert
DERBY – A chorus of the Derby High School is preparing to give a concert on Feb. 19, which will be one of the best that has ever been given by the school. “Hero and Leader,” “The Wreck of the Hesperus” and a miscellaneous program are to be sung.
Oldest Veteran In State, Seymour Man
SEYMOUR – Frank Rosenberger, a well-known resident of Hazardville, celebrated his 90th birthday a week ago yesterday. According to the Springfield Republican of last Sunday, he is probably the oldest veteran in Connecticut, if not the United States. Seymour has a veteran of the Civil War older than Mr. Rosenberger, in the person of George W. Homan, who is in his 91st year.
Charged With Evading Fare
SHELTON – Officer E. I. Barnes was called upon to take into custody a man named Anthony Tommasson, Friday night, by the conductor of a Bridgeport-Shelton trolley. The charge was non-payment of fare and seemed to come from some misunderstanding between the conductor and Tommasson. The latter claimed he gave twenty cents to the conductor of a Bridgeport-Shelton trolley, saying he was too sleepy and did not want to be disturbed at every time a fare was due. The conductor said this was not true and that Tommasson refused to pay his fare after the first time.