By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
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 1928, the year sliced bread was invented. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, which were initially called “penny cups” since they cost just one cent each, hit the market when Harry Burnett Reese started selling them, Chef Boyardee was founded by restaurant owner Hector Boiardi and U.S.life expectancy for men was 55.6 years and 58.3 years for women.
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Thursday, Jan. 19, 1928
Home Distiller Fined And Jailed
ANSONIA – Leonard Gutusky of Fifth Street in whose home the police found a still and a couple of gallons of hootch yesterday, was fined $100 and given 30 days in jail. Gutusky declared he was not in the best of health and made the stuff for his own use. The man does not look any too healthy, but it did not appear to the court that he had to have so much liquor to keep well.
New Haven Avenue Presents Problems
DERBY – Some attention will eventually have to be given to improve conditions along Derby and New Haven avenues where there is much auto traffic and little protection for pedestrians. It is difficult to imagine a remedy for the condition that comes about through the alighting of passengers of trolley cars along both thoroughfares. Derby Avenue is the worse of the two, although there are several very dangerous spots along New Haven Avenue that create a real problem in this respect.
New Shoe Store Opens Saturday
DERBY – The Newark Shoe Store, one of a chain of 400 extending throughout all parts of the country, will be formally opened Saturday morning in the new Mott building on Elizabeth Street. The new store is the first to be opened in the new building, the other store being made ready for the occupancy of the J.C. Penney company.
Night Marauders Steal $1,200 Worth Of Shoes
SEYMOUR – The second sensational store break and robbery of the week occurred in the lower Main Street section early this morning. John Sarafin, proprietor of the National Shoe Company, at 23 Main St., was the victim to the amount of 192 pairs of men’s high-grade shoes, representing a cost to him of $1,200. A resident living in the same block with the store said that she saw the robbers at work at 2 30 o’clock, but they made a quick getaway in a large car. To add insult to injury, a huge pile of empty shoe boxes were left in front of the store in the gutter.
Children Should Be Vaccinated
SHELTON – Dr. Randall, city health officer, is anxious to have people take their children to the various physicians and have them vaccinated. He urges them not to wait for an outbreak of the disease when there will be a great rush to take advantage of the precaution. There are a large number of children who have never been vaccinated and if this is taken care of now, it will be done quickly and orderly.
Friday, Jan. 20, 1928
Slight Chimney Blaze
ANSONIA – The Eagles and Websters were called out about 6 o’clock last night by an alarm from box 29 to a chimney fire in a house at the north end of Woodbridge Street. The blaze was an insignificant one, the firemen not being obliged even to use chemicals. They received a good soaking however, for it was raining at the time.
Complain Of Sign
DERBY – Complaints were many to the police today relative to a large sign on Elizabeth Street in front of the new Mott building. Not only were the police besieged with the complaints, but there were many of them made to Building Inspector V.E. Kinne. The sign is said to be only temporarily arranged, but due to the fact that it extends from the building for a distance entirely across the width of the sidewalk and to the curb line, the complaints are many.
To Open Restaurant
DERBY – Harry Ogle is preparing to open a restaurant and lunch room in the store next to Stapleton’s newsstand on Elizabeth Street. Painters are working on the interior and the furnishings are being installed.
Athletic Hop
SEYMOUR – It is expected that a large gathering of the younger element will assemble in Odd Fellows’ Hall tonight for the dance to be conducted by the Seymour High School Athletic Association. Ernest Culverwell’s Arcadians will furnish the music, ensuring the dancers of the latest in song hits.
Saturday, Jan. 21, 1928
70 School Children Are Vaccinated By Goldstein
ANSONIA – Dr. Goldstein, the city health officer and school physician, vaccinated 70 school children at the city hall yesterday afternoon. The children assembled after 3 o’clock and Dr. Goldstein and the school nurse were kept busy for nearly two hours. The vaccination clinic is the first held this year and in view of the prevalence of smallpox in a number of towns in the state, the clinics will be continued until all of the school children who have not been vaccinated in recent years are given attention.
Held Food Sale
DERBY – Members of St. Mary’s Church conducted a food sale today. The affair opened today at 10 o’clock in the store of Mrs. Ethel J. McCarthy on Elizabeth Street and was to continue until 6 o’clock. The sale was very liberally patronized during the opening hours.
Pocketbook Stolen
SEYMOUR – Constable Jacob Grele to whom his brother-in-law turned over a brown pocketbook found by him on Spruce Street yesterday morning, is convinced that it was the one snatched from Mrs. Anthony Talleport of Shelton Avenue.
Sunday, Jan. 22, 1928
The Evening Sentinel Didn’t Publish On Sundays
Monday, Jan. 23, 1928
To Become Nurse
ANSONIA – Miss Agnes Sweeney of Rutland Street will enter St. Raphael’s Training School for Nurses in New Haven Feb. 1.
Officials Have Busy Days Ahead
DERBY – The present week will mark the busiest one of the year for the city officials, there being no less than three board meetings to be held. The final preparation of the year’s budget is the real cause of the week of activity among the officials. The special meeting of the aldermen is to be held tomorrow night, the board of education to meet Thursday night, while on Friday night, the board apportionment and taxation will assemble.
Cadillac Abandoned
SEYMOUR – Assistant Prosecutor Geroge R. Owens reported this morning that the Cadillac car stolen from New Haven the day Sarafin’s Shoe Store was looted of 192 pairs of high-grade shoes last week and which was believed to have been utilized by the burglars in this break, had been found abandoned in the Elm City Saturday, but there were no shoes in the car. This Cadillac belonged to a New Haven clergyman’s wife. A robe and a pair of gloves left in the car by the owner were missing when the car was found.
January Clearance Sale
SEYMOUR – A sales event out of the ordinary is that which will be offered by Isaacson’s starting tomorrow morning, to be known as the January clearance sale. Many specials will be awaiting bargain seekers, and are opportunities not often tendered by the buying public. Isaacson’s sales are always worthwhile, and this seems to be an especially attractive one because of the real merit of the merchandise which is of the highest grade and is being sold at prices so reduced that no housewife can well afford to ignore them.
Quietly Married
SHELTON – Miss Lillian Viola Vollenweider of West Haven and James L. Gover of Shelton were quietly married Saturday afternoon at the Baptist Church by Rev. Prindle, pastor.
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 1928
Death Comes To Patrick Condon
ANSONIA – Patrick Condon, one of Ansonia’s oldest and best-known residents, died at his home on Elm Street early this morning. Mr. Condon, who had reached the ripe old age of 84 years, was active until about a week ago, when he was seized with a shock. He never fully rallied, the end coming at 3 o’clock this morning.
Mr. Condon, who was the father of Officer Thomas Condon of the police force, and William J. Condon, janitor of the city hall, spent 58 years of his life in Ansonia. He came here when Ansonia was a part of the town of Derby and entered into the employ of Wallace & Sons.
Veterans Enjoyed Moving Pictures
DERBY – The members of John H. Collins Post of the American Legion, as well as members of the Disabled Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Spanish-American War veterans, were entertained last night at the Veterans Memorial home when five reels of motion pictures were shown.
Mid-Year Exams
SEYMOUR – Worries for Seymour High School pupils started today with the opening of mid-year examinations occupying their attention.
Women Complain Of Annoying Man
SHELTON – Numerous complaints have been heard in the past several weeks of a man who through his actions and familiarities has been annoying women in the neighborhood of Division and Prospect avenues and a portion of Hill Street. The man, who is described as medium built and about 30 years of age, lurks in the dark portions of the streets, and then follows girls who pass by for a block or two. He has made no definite advances, other than to sometimes speak in a gruff and affected voice, evidently trying to scare them. It is not reported that he has ever attempted to touch the women or harm them in any way. The police patrol in this section has been doubled in an effort to bring this particular annoyance to a stop.