Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Lower Naugatuck Valley History Archives, this week we go back to 1917.
Mata Hari, a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan, was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I. She was executed by firing squad in France.
The Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor basketball shoe was invented.
The top 10 baby names of 1917 were: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth, John, William, James, Robert an, Joseph.
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Friday, Feb. 9, 1917
AHS Team All Done
ANSONIA – Badly beaten and crippled by Old Man Deficiency, it is a question whether the Ansonia High School basketball team will be seen any more this season. Four regulars are ineligible and it will be a month before they can even attempt to pass off these conditions. If they negotiate the hurdle successfully, then the team may turn in a few games later in the season. Otherwise, the basketball season has already ended.
Naturally the boys are decrying the new eligibility code which is responsible for reducing the team to one man. Those who have taken the count from Old Man Deficiency are below in only one subject, but under the new code, is sufficient to bar them.
Turners’ Masquerade
DERBY – The Derby Turner Society will hold its annual masquerade ball this evening in Gould Armory. Many of the members and their friends intend to go, as these yearly events of the society furnish considerable merriment. All who attend are requested to appear en masque.
Dog Quarantine
SEYMOUR – The 30-day quarantine on all dogs in Seymour, according to the official notice received a week ago by Health Officer F. G. Bassett from Jeffrey O. Phelps, Jr., of Hartford, commissioner of domestic animals, will go into effect tomorrow morning at 7 o’clock. From then on, for a period of 30 days, all dogs permitted to run loosely about the streets must wear muzzles. The restriction also applies to dogs led about by a leash. Any violation of this quarantine will be interfered with by the warden who will place all dogs running about the streets without wearing muzzles in a place of confinement, with the power to kill them, should they show signs of rabies.
Birthday Party
SHELTON – Miss Ruth Shorrock, the eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shorrock of Bridge Street, celebrated her birthday yesterday afternoon at her home with the aid of about 16 of her young friends. The children enjoyed games and refreshments during the afternoon, and Miss Ruth was presented with many gifts by her friends.
Saturday, Feb. 10, 1917
Mrs. Farrel Entertains
ANSONIA – Mrs. Alton Farrel very delightfully entertained at tea yesterday afternoon at her new and attractive home on State Street. The event was given as an opportunity for a large number of Mrs. Farrel’s friends in these contiguous communities to meet her mother, Mrs. Jameson Larimore, of Larimore, North Dakota. The large reception room where Mrs. Farrel and Mrs. Larimore received was made even more attractive by a profuse display of American beauty roses. Cut flowers were used in profusion throughout the house and a stringed orchestra furnished music throughout the reception.
Hotchkiss Hose Veterans
DERBY – The members of the Hotchkiss Hose Veteran association are going to New Haven this evening to hold their annual banquet. They are always sure of a good time at the Oneco where they have held a number of their annual gatherings. All members are requested to take the car leaving Derby, corner of Main and Elizabeth streets, at 6:35 o’clock.
Observed 83rd Birthday
SEYMOUR – Mrs. Millie Saville of West Street enjoyed the 83rd anniversary of her natal day yesterday when several of her friends and neighbors called on her during the day. She was the recipient of many postcards and other tokens of remembrance. The day proved a happy occasion and in departing, her friends wished that she might spend many more such days with them. Mrs. Saville enjoys exceptional health for a woman of her years.
Hotel Business Sold
SHELTON – The hotel and saloon business in what is known as the Howe Avenue Hotel on Howe Avenue has been sold by Frank Barney to William Reich and Sam Workin of Ansonia. The saloon business is conducted on the first floor, while the 14 rooms on the two upper stories are used as a hotel. The sale was made through the agency of R. J. Byrne.
Sunday, Feb. 11, 1917
The Evening Sentinel didn’t publish on Sundays
Monday, Feb. 12, 1917
First Basketball Game
DERBY – The first basketball game of the Derby High School league was played on Saturday afternoon in Community Hall when the Derby seniors defeated the Shelton seniors 22 to 9. The game was well played considering that it was the first game of either team this year.
Town In Total Darkness
SEYMOUR – When the inhabitants of the town awoke this morning, they found the place in total darkness, the electric company being completely turned off. Those who were obliged to go to work at an early hour, and who are in the habit of turning on their electric lights in a hurry, were quite disappointed when they discovered that there was no current. Most people have one or two oil lamps in a convenient place, in cases of this kind. Those who failed to provide themselves in this manner had to do some hustling of a nature that they failed to count on. The cause of all this inconvenience was a breakdown in the plant of the United Electric Light and Water Company in Waterbury.
Lincoln’s Day
SHELTON – The observance of Lincoln’s Day was general in Shelton today. Flags were flying from the city hall, the post office building and numerous private dwellings while the city clerk’s and tax collector’s offices were closed in respect to the memory of the martyred president. The schools, for the first time in a number of years, were in session during the entire day, the board of education having decided to include the day so as to help make up for the time lost to the schools during the infantile paralysis epidemic last fall.
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1917
Aldermen Say Yes And No To Raises
ANSONIA – The proposed increases in salaries of the judge of the city court and prosecuting attorney were disapproved by the board aldermen last night by a vote of eight to six. The proposition to place the clerk of the court on a salary basis was also voted down. The rest of the proposed amendments to the city charter were approved, the sections providing for the appointment of a sanitary inspector at a salary of $800 a year, and a pension for the chief of police, being carried unanimously. The amendments agreed upon raise the salary of the mayor from $500 to $1,000, that of the corporation counsel is increased from $750 to $1,000 and city treasurer is raised from $200 to $300.
Elected Treasurer Of Derby Savings Bank
DERBY – At a meeting of the directors of the Derby Savings Bank this morning, Henry S. Birdseye was elected treasurer to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, Thomas S. Birdseye. He had been the assistant treasurer for a number of years.
Mr. Birdseye has been connected with the bank for 31 years, entering it when he was a young man and assuming the duties of teller. He was made assistant treasurer about a dozen years ago.
Thirty-Nine Fires
SEYMOUR – Saturday was the anniversary of the fire which destroyed the Tingue Opera House and partially destroyed the Windsor Hotel. Within that year, Seymour has had 39 fires, some of which were quite serious. All but one or two can be accounted for. In most cases it was possible for the fire chief, F. E. Chamberlain, to locate the cause of many fires in Seymour during the past year. A great many fires are the result of spontaneous combustion.
Clerk’s Office Now Being Occupied
SHELTON – With the exception of the installation of the new lighting fixtures which have not yet arrived, the new offices of the city officials are practically ready for use. City Clerk Edwards expected to use his new office for the first time today although yesterday he shifted his materials from the old borough office to his new quarters. The mayor’s office is practically finished, and little remains to be done to the council chamber before the entire alterations planned by the city committee will have been completed and everything in shape for occupancy.
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1917
Furniture Store Gutted By Fire
ANSONIA – Fire, which is said to have started in an adjoining cellar, caused damages estimated at $6,000 or $7,000 in the furniture store of Simon Spector, in the Cohen block at 417 Main St, last evening. The store, which contained a stock valued at $10,000, was pretty well gutted, the furniture which escaped the fire being soaked with water. Four lines of hose were used by the firemen in subduing the blaze, which was contained to the cellar of the building and the Spector store. Adjoining stores and tenants on the upper floors of the block, a four-story structure, were affected by smoke, which swept through the building in such volume as to drive the occupants to the street.
Cold Snap Over
ANSONIA – A rise of 20 degrees in temperature early this morning brought joy to householders who have been shoveling high priced coal into hungry furnaces the past few days. It also gave the opportunity to thaw out frozen water pipes which are plentiful enough to keep plumbers busy for days to come. The mercury this morning showed 24 above the zero mark and indications were that the temperature would reach the ice melting point before the day was over.
Big Elks Meeting
DERBY – The meeting of Derby Lodge, B.P.O.E., which was held last night, was a very interesting one and was the most largely attended one that has been held in years. It was the last regular session in the old quarters, which have been occupied for many years, and there were about 200 members in attendance. A class of 20 candidates was initiated by Exalted Ruler Elmer Sniffen and staff. During the meeting, there was a rousing vote of thanks to Mr. Sniffen, the other officers and the various committees, for their efforts on behalf of the new home which will be occupied next week.
New Coins
SEYMOUR – A number of the new fifty cent pieces and quarters have made their appearance in Seymour. Those who have been fortunate enough to come into possession of either one, or both, feel reluctant about letting them go out their hands. They are very attractive and of neat design, being entirely different from the old style.
Church Painting
SHELTON – The interior of the Baptist Church is being repainted and because of this work, it has been decided to omit the regular weekly prayer meeting of the church on Thursday evening. The teachers’ meeting which was to have been held on Thursday evening in the church after the prayer meeting will instead be held in the parsonage at 8 o’clock.