This week we take a look back at 1959, when then 16-year-old Jimi Hendrix played his first gig in the Temple De Hirsch synagogue basement in Seattle. The rock and roll guitar phenom was fired from the unnamed band after the first set due to his “wild” style of playing.
These were the top five songs burning up the music charts this week:
1. “Stagger Lee” – Lloyd Price
2. “16 Candles” – The Crests
3. “Donna” – Ritchie Valens
4. “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” – The Platters
5. “The All American Boy” – Bill Parsons
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Monday, Feb. 16, 1959
Bill To Strip Doyle Of Power
ANSONIA – Aldermen John Giangreco of the Fifth Ward and Rep. Edward Bergin spoke in favor of the bill to strip Mayor Jospeh A. Doyle of all power of direct appointment at a hearing before the Legislative Cities and Boroughs Committee today.
Bergin claimed the bill is “in the best interests of the city.” He said the mayor now has sole say over the appointments of his tax collector, corporation counsel, superintendent of charities, building inspector, sealer of weights and measures and milk inspector. Bergin said the record will show the city has suffered from the mayor’s selections. He did not elaborate that point.
Explorers Have Fun Running City Affairs
DERBY – Explorers of Post 33 had a fun and very interesting day on Saturday conducting the affairs of the city having taken over the administration for the day with the cooperation of Mayor Anthony Dirienzo.
John Koenig was kept busy throughout the morning with duties assigned by Mayor Dirienzo. Joseph DiDonato, fire chief, inspected fire equipment under the supervision of Fire Chief Irving R. Pollard. Anthony Foley took over the duties of Police Chief Frank J. Manion and Louis Pepe processed several tax notices under the direction of Tax Collector James A Carroll. Town Clerk Edward J. Stobierski showed Michael Maximenko the workings of his office and the many old documents in the vault. Thomas Salvatore worked under the director of City Clerk Francis J. O’Connell. Andrew Brancucio checked roads and equipment of the Public Works Department with Public Works Commissioner John Benanto.
Rotary Speaker
SEYMOUR – Dr. William H. Hissey, local optometrist, will address the Seymour Rotary Club Tuesday evening in the Garden Gate. His talk will be entitled “Contact Lenses: Their History, Development and Modern Application in Sight Preservation.”
Fire Guts Apartment Building Sunday In 5-Family Perry Avenue Building
SHELTON – Fire ravaged the five-room apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Beaudry of Perry Avenue Sunday morning shortly after 10 o’clock and destroyed all their furnishings and personal belongings. Smoke and water also did extensive damage to an unoccupied five-bedroom apartment located above the Beaudry quarters and only quick work by firemen of the Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Company prevented further to the five-apartment frame building. The Beaudry family were not home when the fire broke out.
Fire Chief William Purcell said a preliminary investigation shows that the fire appears to have started from faulty electrical wiring.
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 1959
Seated As NAACP Branch President
ANSONIA – Rev. Julian A. Taylor, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, was installed as president of the Ansonia Chapter, NAACP, last night at Clinton, AME Zion Church. Rev. Alexander Johnson was installing officer.
Other officers who were installed are: Miss Frances E. Sipes, vice president; Mrs. Marie M. Howard, secretary; Mrs. Mathilda Brown, assistant secretary and William Cooper, treasurer.
Elks Planning For Italian Night Feb. 26
DERBY – Derby Lodge of Elks, at a meeting tonight in lodge quarters, presided over by Exalted Ruler Anthony Dirienzo, will hear a report by the committee in charge of the annual Italian Night to take place Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Co-chairmen for the affair are Louis F. Pepe and Angelo Dirienzo.
The committee said reservations for the affair will close Sunday. Toastmaster for the event will be Corporation Counsel Andrew J. Sabetta, while the principal speaker will be Mayor Samuel Tedesco of Bridgeport. A full course Italian dinner will be served. Movies of the Derby-Shelton football game will be shown. Fabio Lucarelli will entertain with his accordion.
$7,500,000 Suit Hearing Delayed Until April 1
SEYMOUR – Proceedings in the $7,500,000 civil suit brought by a stockholder of the Seymour Manufacturing Co. against eight defendants were postponed yesterday until April 1 by U.S. District Court Judge J. Joseph Smith. The postponement was requested because the Appeals Court has agreed to review Judge Smith’s decision of Dec. 1 in which it was ruled the case might be heard in Federal Court.
Evaluation Started Today
SHELTON – Representatives of the State Department of Education, college professors, high school principals and teachers from other high schools in the state arrived around 8:30 o’clock this morning to conduct an evaluation of Shelton High School. The evaluation of the school, program of studies, teachers’ work, school philosophy and objectives will take two days.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1959
Rosary Society Plans Projects To Buy Curtain
ANSONIA – Plans for the new project of the society were formulated at the monthly meeting of the Rotary Society of the Church of the Assumption last night in the Assumption School hall, following Lenten devotions.
Rev. John T. Hynes, pastor, who opened the meeting with the recitation of the rosary, explained in detail the proposed project of installing a new backdrop and draw curtain on the stage in the school hall.
Bank Donates $100 To Storm Ambulance Fund
DERBY – Thomas J. Manning, president of the Birmingham National Bank, yesterday presented a check of $100 to the Storm Engine Company Ambulance fund drive to Edward J. Cotter, Jr. Mr. Manning said that the bank was “most happy to contribute to a service that means so much to the community.”
As of Tuesday, 411 individual contributions had been received. The ambulance corps has set a goal of $7,500 to match a donation made by the New Haven Foundation. The corps has ordered a new ambulance and plans to continue the service for at least another five years before appealing to the general public again. It has been the policy in the past 10 years to appeal to the public every five years.
Selectmen’s Budget Of $393,182 Will Be Sought By Finance Board
SEYMOUR – The Board of Finance met last night and went over the selectmen’s budget in preparation for Thursday’s public hearing n the budget of the selectmen, Board of Education and town treasurer for the fiscal year commencing April 1, 1959.
The finance board is expected to present a selectmen’s budget totaling $393,182.06, a decrease of $25,267.30 from the 1958-1959 appropriation.
Polio Vaccine Clinic Here For Whole Area
SHELTON – The second session for administration of polio vaccines will be held Saturday at 1:30 o’clock at the Community Center.
Thursday, Feb. 19, 1959
Warden Potter Warns Against Roaming Dogs
ANSONIA – Dog Warden Herbert Potter issued a warning to all dog owners who allow their dogs to roam at large and fail to keep them under their control.
He has received numerous complaints regarding such dogs and finds it necessary to take drastic measures to correct this practice. Dogs have been allowed to follow children to school and have also been reported to have been roaming in many sections of the city.
Any person found in violation shall be liable to a fine not more than $25.
Troop 3, Post 33 Parents’ Night, Court Of Honor
DERBY – The Everett Huggins Memorial Award will be presented for the first time to outstanding patrols of Boy Scout Troop 3 at the monthly court of honor and parents’ night of the troop and Explorer Post 33 tonight at 7 o’clock in the parlors of the Second Congregational Church.
Seymour PTA Sponsor Kiddie Movie Saturday
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Parent-Teacher Association will sponsor a Walt Disney color movie “Dumbo,” plus three cartoons, at Bungay School Auditorium Saturday with two performances scheduled.
Slight Fire In Cotter Home
SHELTON –The Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Company responded to an emergency alarm yesterday afternoon at 1:40 o’clock at the home of Mrs. Charles Cotter, Birchbank Road. Fire Chief William Purcell reported that the house was full of smoke but that there was no sign of a fire.
Friday, Feb. 20. 1959
Names Lester Hale Deputy Director Of Civil Defense
ANSONIA – Lester Hale, former captain of the Charters Hose Company, has been appointed deputy director of the Ansonia Civil Defense, Director Robert Cahill announced today.
Half Acre Burned On Water Company Land
DERBY – A half-acre of grass was burned in a fire on Birmingham Water Company land in the rear of King’s Court yesterday afternoon. Fire companies responded to an alarm from Box 533 at 4:28 p.m. and extinguished the blaze. Brooms and a booster line from the Hotchkiss Hose Company were used to quell the fire. Fire Chief Irving R. Pollard was in charge.
$50,000 Cut In School Requests Aired At Finance Board Hearing; School Costs Up $102,235.20
SEYMOUR – A proposed cut of $50,000 in the Board of Education’s estimated expenses for 1959-60 consumed most of the discussion period at the annual public hearing by the Board of Finance on the three tentative municipal budgets last night in the Assembly Hall.
The recommended budget of the school board amounts to $746,694.00, compared to $644,358.80 in the 1958-59 period.
Great Hill Hose Fetes Past Officers
SEYMOUR – Past officers of the Great Hill Hose Company were feted at a dinner last night in the hose house. Captain Al Pitt served as toastmaster and a highlight of the affair was the presentation of the past captain’s badge to James Anderson. Guests included the fire chiefs, Fire Marshal Peter Wols, Assistant Fire Marshal Herbert Marsden and others.
Out Of Control Car Climbs Wall
SHELTON – Mrs. Alyce Taylor of Long Hill Avenue and her three children escaped injury yesterday when their car went out of control on Rocky Rest Road and climbed a low stone wall. The 1957 Dodge sedan was damaged and had to be towed away.
Mrs. Taylor was traveling north on Rocky Rest Road when one of the children, climbing from the front to the back seat, accidentally kicked her in the shoulder. Police said Mrs. Taylor looked back and lost control. The car traveled across the road and climbed a low stone wall.