Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Ansonia Historical Commission, this week we take a trip back to 1930, the year construction on the Hoover Dam (originally called Boulder Dam) began, marking a significant infrastructure and engineering project during the Great Depression era.

Herbert Hoover was the 31st President of the United States, but Babe Ruth, the “Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat” made more money than the President, ($80,000 vs $75,000). When asked about that, Ruth responded, “So what, I had a better year than he did.”

Here is what was happening in our Valley!

Monday, July 7, 1930

Auto Hits Boy
ANSONIA – Peter Hudak, of York Street, whose age was said to be 10 years, was struck by an automobile on Wakelee Avenue at 11 o’clock Sunday morning but seemingly escaped with a bruised leg. The operator of the machine, Herbert Berg, of Naugatuck, took the youngster to Griffin Hospital.

According to the report of the accident made to the police by the driver of the car, the youngster ran into the automobile while crossing the road.

Manager Oakley And Wife On Motor Trip
DERBY – Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Oakley of Elizabeth Street left Sunday morning by motor for a trip to Maine, stopping along the way and enjoying a well-earned rest. Mr. Oakley is manager of the Commodore Hull Theater and has worked very hard since coming to Derby. During Mr. Oakley’s absence, the theater will be in charge of Manuel Kugel, who is also a Warner Bros’ theater manager.

Storm Was Severe
SEYMOUR – The electrical storm that visited Seymour last night was considered by many the most severe thus far this summer. The thunder and lighting was accompanied by a heavy fall of rain in some sections of the town, and hail stones as large as peas were in evidence in some places. So far as known, the lighting did not strike locally, although it raised havoc with electric light and telephone wires.

Local Merchant Sails For Italy
SHELTON – Joseph Marino, who conducts the shoe-shining and repair establishment on Howe Avenue will sail tomorrow evening at midnight aboard the S.S. Augustus from New York for Naples, Italy. Mr. Marino will visit his native land after an absence of 20 years. His place of business will be in charge of his son.

Tuesday, July 8, 1930

May Get Scholarship
ANSONIA – Stanley Jarvis, former Ansonia High School and Acorn football star, has not yet decided whether he will enroll this fall at Fordham or at Temple College in Philadelphia. It is said that he has been offered a scholarship at Temple.

Eddie Dwyer A Prospect For Stanford Baseball
ANSONIA – Eddie Dwyer, Ansonia High School graduate who is attending Stanford University in California on the Charles H. Booker scholarship, is expected to be a candidate for the varsity basketball team at Stanford next winter and baseball team next spring. During the past baseball season, he was regular first baseman for the Stanford freshman baseball team and played with the yearling basketeers last winter.

Mayor’s Son Sustained Injury To His Elbow
DERBY – While playing in the yard of his home on Tenth Street yesterday, Joseph, the eight-year-old son of Mayor and Mrs. William J. Riordan, fell and dislocated a bone in his right elbow. He was removed to the Griffin Hospital where the bone was set by Dr. Geroge D. Burns after which the young patient was removed to his home.

Fleet Of 20 Army Trucks Pass Through
DERBY – A fleet of about 20 United States Army trucks passed through Derby in a northerly direction this morning, but as no stop was made it was difficult to ascertain their starting point, destination or purpose of their journey. The trucks bore the legend “U.S. Army, First Division, Ordinance Dept.,” which indicated that they carried a detachment of the regular army.

The Maples Popular Resort On Shelton Side
SHELTON – The warm weather for the past few days has attracted hundreds of bathers to the Shelton banks of Lake Housatonic seeking relief from the hot spell and refreshing themselves in the cool waters of the lake. The Maples, which has become a popular resort for many, has an advantage over other points, due to the bottom being smooth and sandy, affording youngsters an opportunity to wade out without fear of getting into deep waters.

Wednesday, July 9, 1930

McLeese Home on 14 Days’ Leave From the U.S. Navy
ANSONIA – Nelson M. McLeese, U.S.N. of Prospect Street, is home on 14 days’ furlough from the Newport naval training station.

Mr. McLeese enlisted in the U.S. Navy April 22 of this year, upon completing an assignment in the U.S. Army. McLeese was promoted to seaman, 2nd class, after one month’s service in the regular Navy.

McLeese was a cook in the Amry and expects to follow that line when he is assigned to a ship in the fleet.

Four Gypsies Freed On Theft Charge
ANSONIA – Four gypsies of a tribe encamped in Woodbridge, faced Judge Milton C. Isbell in the city court this morning, charged with theft of $700 from Louis Musante of North Prospect Street, and fortune telling. They were given discharge, the court concurring with counsel for the defense that the state had furnished no prima facie evidence of theft or clairvoyance.

Mystery Of The Big Army Trucks Explained
DERBY – The mystery of the 20 regular Amry auto trucks which passed through here yesterday in a northerly direction was explained today by a National Guard officer who said that they contained guns, clothing and other equipment for the C.M.T.C. boys at Camp Devens. There were some 12,000 boys and young men of New England who went into Citizens’ Military Training camps about the first of July, and a good share of them are at Devens. Others are at Fort Adams, near Newport R.I., and the Army trucks seen on the Boston Post Road headed east are believed to have been carrying equipment to the Rhode Island camp.

Midsummer Shoe Sale
SEYMOUR – The midsummer sale of footwear is now on sale at the Hercules shoe store on Main Street, and an advertisement in this issue calls attention to goods and prices that have been heretofore unknown. There is a large stock and because of the slow business that is prevalent generally, this store offers unusual opportunities.

City Dump Fire
SHELTON – Firemen of the Echo Hose company were called out yesterday afternoon to the city dump which has been smoldering since last Friday morning and its outbreak again causing an obnoxious odor kept the firemen busy all day and last evening. Shovels and picks had to be put into service as pouring the water on top of the surface didn’t seem to do any good. It was necessary to dig to the bottom of the refuse, through which the water was forced. Towards evening, the smoke had been greatly eliminated.

Thursday, July 10, 1930

Music Classes With Start Here July 18
ANSONIA – The New Haven Institute of Music will open its summer classes for the pupils of local schools at the Ansonia High School on the morning of Friday, July 18. The classes will be in charge of Fred. J. Hennessey of New Haven. The local Board of Education has given its approval to these classes. Friday there will be registration of pupils who plan to study violin, banjo, cornet, clarinet, drum, bugle and piano.

War Veteran Stunned
ANSONIA – John Heroux of Tremont Street was passing the Tucker home on Beaver Street when a bolt of lighting struck a tree with a deafening clap of thunder. Heroux collapsed, stunned, to the pavement. Doctors were summoned and the man was removed to his home where he regained consciousness two hours later. The physicians found that he had neither been struck by lighting nor hit by the falling tree but had been so shocked by the suddenness of the crash that he was rendered unconscious. Heroux is an ex-serviceman who saw action in France.

Mayor Has Infection
DERBY – Mayor William J. Riordan is confined to his home on Tenth Street with an infected foot.

DeRosa Returns To Ring This Evening
DERBY – Johnny “Red” DeRosa, local fighter, who has been out of the ring for some time, will don the gloves again tonight for a six-round bout with Carmen Knapp, husky New Haven fighter, in one of the preliminary bouts on a card to be staged in the White City stadium, Savin Rock.

DeRosa, a few years ago, gave promise of becoming a clever fighter but an injury and several reverses interfered greatly with the career of the local scrapper. DeRosa will endeavor to make a comeback tonight.

Burglars Enter Bank Street Store
SEYMOUR – Burglars entered the store of the Seymour Electrical Company on Bank Street some time Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, according to a report made to the police. A large quantity of wiring, approximately 200 pounds, was taken, together with a number of tools, all of which were of much value.

Some Boys Behaving Badly
SEYMOUR – Officials of the public playgrounds within the past few days received a number of complaints regarding the conduct of some of the boys who gather at the playgrounds daily, and an investigation has been ordered. This is being made by George R. Owens and if the culprits are caught, they will not only be brought to time, but their offense will mean banishment from the park for the rest of the season.

The youths are reported to have trespassed in the bath houses reserved for the girls, and several reports made the past few days have caused the officials to become busy.

Road On Bridge Being Repaired By Workmen
SHELTON – Repairs to the roadway on the Shelton bridge were started this morning by a gang of workmen of the state highway department. Worn spots in the roadway and between the trolley rails are being gouged out and new material immediately laid.

Friday, July 11, 1930

More Made Happy By Capitol Gifts
ANSONIA – Mrs. Clifford Anderson of Beaver Street was awarded the diamond ring in the weekly distribution of presents at the Capitol Theater last night. All the gifts were secured by the theater management from Ansonia stores and proved most attractive to patrons. There was a good audience and the double feature bill, which opened last night, seemed to please.

New Taft Stamps Are On Sale At Derby Post Office
DERBY – The new series of four cent postage stamps issued by the government in honor of the late former president and chief justice, William H. Taft, were received by the Derby Post Office and placed on sale today. The new stamps are not a special memorial, but part of the regular stamp issue, replacing stamps of the same denomination bearing the portrait of Martha Washington, and will continue in use for an indefinite period. The local post office received 10,000 as its first allotment.

Hotchkiss Ride A Big Success
DERBY – The annual trolley ride to Savin Rock, given by the Hotchkiss Hose company, was held last evening with 101 merrymakers participating in the trip. Leaving Derby at 7:15 p.m. to the farewell sirens of the Storms and the Paugassetts as the trolley passed their hose houses, the Hotchkiss firemen and their friends arrived at the Rock at about 8:30 p.m. The evening was spent enjoying the various amusements at the resort, some taking in a shore dinner and other making the rounds of the various rides offered on the combination ticket that the members of the company sold on the trip down.

At 11:30 p.m., the crowd gathered aboard the open trolley for the homeward journey and cheered their way along the route home.

Tennis Court Finished
SEYMOUR – The work on the new tennis court at the Methodist Church property is now completed and players will be accommodated from today on. A wonderful change has been made at the property and the court promises to be more popular than ever. Members for the playing club are invited and those who desire to learn the game, as well as others can easily join by conferring with Clarence Stuart.

City Playgrounds Attendance Large
SHELTON – The warn weather, which has prevailed for the past few days, has been the reason why Shelton’s youngsters have swarmed to the park playground where the wading pool is located for a cool splash in the refreshing waters. The pool is flushed three times daily and a new supply of water is poured in so that the youth may have fresh water to wade in.