Straight from the archives of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Lower Naugatuck Valley History Archives, this week we go back to 1976 – America’s bicentennial birthday. The Valley towns held family picnics, fireworks and other festive activities to mark America’s 200th birthday.
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Tuesday, June 29, 1976
Bell Ringing To Mark Ansonia Observance
ANSONIA – Bells will be rung as a reminder of the nation’s 200th birthday anniversary, the Ansonia Bicentennial Commission has announced.
The commission has sent letters to city churches and firehouses asking that bells be rung at 2 p.m. The bell ringing will last about two minutes.
Patrolman Treated After Crash
DERBY – A Derby patrol car was involved in a two-car accident in the northbound lane of Route 8 this morning, police said.
Patrolman William Ausonio was driving the police car at 6:45 a.m. today, entering Route 8 on the Main Street entrance ramp, near the Farrel Co. when a car driven by Edward Oviatt of Shelton struck it, the police report said.
Ausonio was taken to Griffin Hospital, treated and released.
No arrests were made.
Babe Ruth Title On Line Tonight
SEYMOUR – Seymour and Orange will clash at 5 p.m. today at French Memorial Field for the District 3 Babe Ruth 14-15 All Star Tournament title and a berth in the State Babe Ruth Tournament.
The Seymour All-Stars advanced to the tourney finals by defeating West Haven 9-4 in a semi-final round game on Sunday at French Memorial Field.
Tom Heffernan pitched the distance for Seymour limited West Haven to three hits. He surrendered only one run the final four innings.
Shelton Fireworks To Mark Bicentennial
SHELTON – The city will celebrate the nation’s Bicentennial Saturday night with one of the largest fireworks displays in many years. The display at Lafayette Field will be preceded by a parade and a music program.
Wednesday, June 30, 1976
Peck Students Present Play
ANSONIA – The fourth grade reading class at Peck School, under the direction of Mrs. Alice O’Doy, teacher, recently presented a play, “A Star for Old Glory,” at the school as part of Heritage Week.
Betsy Ross, the lead role, was played by Jennifer Lane. Other cast members were Janet Burkowsky, Debbie Piccolo, Beth Vincelette, Sherry Richards, Suellen Brown and Charlotte Delavaille.
Theft Reported At Camp
DERBY – Vandalism at the Recreation Camp has prompted the camp to reaffirm its hours and announced that anyone caught on the premises after hours will be subject to arrest for trespassing.
The problem is from persons who come in after hours where there is no lifeguard on duty and no supervision available.
A recent burglary and theft of the camp’s outboard boat motor has hindered the boating program.
Derby Agency To Discuss Sterling Plan
DERBY – Thayer Baldwin, attorney for the Sterling Opera House Foundation, will speak to the Derby Redevelopment Agency at 7:30 p.m. today at the agency office.
Baldwin is to tell the agency about the foundation’s plans for the Sterling Theater on Elizabeth Street, which is in a renewal area. The Foundation has agreed to pay $30,000 for the building after the state signs a lease to rent it for a court.
Seymour Continues Free Parking
SEYMOUR – The Board of Selectmen voted last night to continue suspension of metered parking in the business district for another month.
The selectmen stopped the use of parking meters in June after a group of downtown business and professional people complained that meters were “counterproductive to a healthy business climate.”
They asked that the use of meters to control on-street parking be discontinued.
Seymour Plans July 4 Picnic
SEYMOUR – The Fourth of July will be observed with an old-fashioned Family Picnic in the Park, sponsored by the Bicentennial Commission, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at French Memorial Park.
Mrs. Francis Conroy, general chairman, said that all Seymour families as well as guests who may be visiting for the holiday were invited to gather at French Park for the festivities and join in celebrating the nation’s 200th birthday.
Votemobile To Visit In Shelton
SHELTON – The League of Women Voters’ Votemobile will be in Shelton July 15, 16 and 17.
The van, which is open free to the public, has pamphlets on voting, a video cassette and a glass-backed voting machine.
Persons will also be able to register to vote on the van.
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Gas Station Robbed In Ansonia
ANSONIA – Dube’s Arco Station on Maple Street was robbed at about 8:30 p.m. yesterday.
An attendant at the station told police two men had forced him to the floor and tied his hands. The two took $400 from a cash register and $80 from him, he said.
The attendant said the two men approached him while he was outside the station and asked for change for cigarettes. The two then followed him into the station and held what felt like a gun or knuckle against his neck and forced him to the floor.
Sterling Unit To Get Money
DERBY – The Sterling Opera House Foundation will buy the Sterling Theater next month.
Thayer Baldwin, the foundation’s lawyer, said last night that the foundation would obtain the $30,000 it needs to buy the building.
Baldwin said the foundation had reached an agreement with trustees of the late Mrs. Vivien Kellems’ estate to get the money.
Mrs. Kellems’, interested in the arts, had left a $250,000 fund for the foundation to use as security to borrow money for work at Sterling. The foundation plans to obtain a mortgage to get money for renovations of Sterling.
Young Parader
SEYMOUR – Melissa Cretella, two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Cretella of Seymour was the youngest participant in Seymour’s Bicentennial parade Sunday. She accompanied her grandparents, Commander Ben Cretella of Emil-Senger Post, American Legion, and Mrs. Cretella, past president of the Emil-Senger Ladies Auxiliary.
Geoghans Mark 55th Anniversary
SHELTON –Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Geoghan of Shelton recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.
They were married June 29, 1921 in St. Joseph’s Church in a ceremony performed by the late Rev. John Dillon.
Friday, July 2, 1976
Parades, Fireworks Planned
VALLEY – Bells will ring, bands will march and fireworks will light the skies as the Valley celebrates the 200th birthday of the nation this weekend.
The Bicentennial will be celebrated with parades, fireworks displays and community picnics beginning tomorrow and continuing through Sunday.
The Valley celebrations will be part of observances in all 50 states. Hundreds of ships and boats, including many historic tall ships are marking their way along the Connecticut shore, as part of Operation Sail, the converging of watercraft of all kinds in New York City on Independence Day.
Miss Cieplak Is Salutatorian
ANSONIA – Miss Maureen Cieplak, a recent graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden, and salutatorian of her class, will major in biology at Harvard Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Mass., on a scholarship.
Miss Cieplak is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cieplak of Ansonia.
This summer, she will work as a scientific assistant specializing in mammalogy on a conservation project under Dr. James D. Lazell, chief biologist of the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Derby Scouts To Entertain British Youth
DERBY – Nigal Bowden of London will be the guest of Boy Scout Troop 3 and Explore Post 33 this summer.
Bowden, a junior leader of Hackney Scout Troop 10, will arrive July 10 in Derby and will spend two weeks camping with Troop 3 at the Housatonic Scout Reservation, Goshen.
He will be joined by Canadian scouts, who will also be guests of Troop 3.
Visiting Priest
SEYMOUR –For the seventh consecutive summer, the Rev. Francois Rouquet is assisting at St. Augustine’s Church. Father Rouquet is teacher of English and Spanish at the College Le Grand Lebrun in Bordeaux, France. It has been his custom to spend his summer in Seymour, where he takes part in the work of the parish. He plans to be at St. Augustine’s until the end of September.
Shelton To Erect Liberty Pole
SHELTON – A liberty pole will be erected at 2 p.m. tomorrow on the grounds at Lafayette School as part of the Bicentennial Celebration.
The pole will have three red, white and blue streamers flying from the top and a banner of blue with the words “Liberty Pole” hanging underneath.
Joseph Fernandes, chairman of the pageant sponsored by the Shelton Bicentennial Commission, said the purpose of the liberty pole was to let people know that liberty stands for all free people without fear.
Fernandes said the red streamers symbolize the blood shed by the patriots and soldiers who died fighting for freedom; the white streamers symbolize bandages used to cover the wounds suffered by soldiers in battle and the blue steamers symbolize the unity of the colonies as a nation.
Saturday, July 3, 1976
Ansonia Store Building Larger Quarters
ANSONIA – General Muffler and Automotive Supply Co., 669 Main St, is constructing a building twice the size of the old one, William L. Nicoletti, vice president, said today.
The new building will be 15,000 square feet. It will be completed by September, according to Nicoletti. It will stand at 670 Main St.
Carnival, Fireworks In Derby
DERBY – The Storm Engine Company carnival will open at 6 p.m. Sunday at the softball field at Leo F. Ryan Field.
Captain Robert McGann has requested members to report to the field at 5:45 p.m. to help at ticket and refreshment booths.
The company will have a refreshment booth open during the public display of fireworks scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. as part of the city’s Bicentennial celebration.
Bicentennial Mass At Church
SEYMOUR – The Rev. Martin T. Keane, pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd, said a special liturgy would be used at Masses at the church this weekend in honor of the nation’s Bicentennial.
Students in grade one though eight have been asked to wear bicentennial costumes to the Masses.
Club Closed In Shelton
SHELTON – Pinecrest Country Club has been closed by the Valley Health Département for alleged polluted water.
More than 300 cases of poisoning have been blamed on the water system at the country club located on Route 110, according to VHD officials.
The club will not be allowed to reopen until all pipes are cleaned, water in the pool replaced and pollution in five wells corrected, the VHD said.
The 300 cases of poisoning were all reported in the southern part of the state. The persons alleged they had attended affairs at Pinecrest.