This week we take a look back at 1947. Crooner Bing Crosby dominated the music charts with “White Christmas.”
The Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire” starring Jessica Tandy and rising star Marlon Brando premiered on Broadway.
The Howdy Doody Show made its debut on NBC, and was the first television show targeted toward children, running until 1960.
Fun fact: Howdy Doody had 50 freckles, one for every state in the United States.
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Monday, Dec. 1, 1947
Car Knocked Down Two Parking Meters And Struck Auto
ANSONIA – An automobile operated by Timothy E. Donovan, of Seymour, early yesterday morning, failed to make the turn from Main Street onto Maple Street, went out of control, knocked down two parking meters and then struck a parked car on the westerly side of Main Street near the Farrel-Birmingham company plant. The parked car is owned by Martin Takach, of Derby. The front end of the Takach car was considerably damaged. Donavan escaped injury. The mishap was investigated by Police Officers Vincent Riordan and Salvatore Testa.
Ice Not Safe In Colony, Webb Parks
ANSONIA – William Harasyko, chairman of the recreation commission, today issued a warning urging all children and young people to refrain from using the ice on the Colony Street and Webb Park ponds for skating or games. The ice is still not deemed safe, and the recreation chairman asked the cooperation of parents in keeping the children from using the ice until it has been pronounced as safe by a responsible authority.
Numbers of children were at both parks Sunday trying out the frozen surface, Mr. Harasyko stated, apparently unaware of the dangerous condition of the ice.
Christmas Lights On Today At 5:30 P.M.
DERBY – The Christmas decorations of strings of laurel, with centers of wreaths and stars, will be lighted for the first time today. The lights will be switched on at 5:30 o’clock and off at 10 o’clock.
The multi-colored bulbs will shed their variegated light from now through December 26. Main and Elizabeth streets, and Olivia Street, from the bridge to Main Street, are bedecked in Christmas array.
Clark Building Restored After Fire Of June 8
SHELTON – Workmen at the former Clark building on Howe Avenue, now owned by Henry Benowitz, of Derby, are applying the final touches to the building, the interior of which has been completely rebuilt since the fire last June 8.
The top story of the former four-story brick structure has been taken off and a new roof built, making it into a three-story commercial building.
Mr. Benowitz said Sutter-Terlizzi Post, American Legion, will make its new home in the hall of the top story.
On the first, or sidewalk, floor, a new, super A & P Market will be housed, taking up the entire first floor for its store and the basement of the building for storage.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1947
Merchants Set Night Hours For Christmas Trade
ANSONIA – A schedule of store hours for the Christmas shopping season was adopted at a supper meeting of the Retail Merchants’ branch of the Ansonia Chamber of Commerce held last night.
Herman Bronfin presided at the gathering which was attended by 25 members. Stores will remain open on Friday and Saturday evenings, December 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20. Retail stores will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve.
Mayor Urges Safe Driving
ANSONIA – Mayor Thomas J. Nelligan today called upon the people of Ansonia to cooperate with the national safety council and 130 other national organizations to make this year’s Christmas holiday accident-free.
“Christmas is the time for happiness, and we must make sure that sadness and grief will not mar our celebration,” Nelligan said. “It is each person’s job to make certain that his holiday season and that of his family is a happy, joyous one, and a safe one.”
Collins Post To Observe Neighbor’s Day
DERBY – Members of the John H. Collins Post, American Legion, are asked to participate in “good neighbor day” on Sunday, Dec. 7, by attending the annual memorial service to be held by the Derby Lodge of Elks on Sunday night in the lodge rooms on Elizabeth Street.
Those attending are requested to appear in uniform.
To Give Streets Festive Aspect For Christmas
SEYMOUR – Preliminary work has been started on the Christmas lighting and decoration of the business section of this town by Peluso and Sons, of Norwalk, which did the job so effectively last year, Harold P. Wakeley, chairman of the lighting committee, stated this morning.
Plans call for a total of 19 arches to be erected on Main, Bank and Broad streets, and strings of lights from lamp post to lamp post on both sides of the Bank Street bridge.
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1947
Civic Association To Form Informal Fire Company
ANSONIA – The East Side Hilltop Civic Association voted to form a volunteer informal fire company for the district it covers at last night’s meeting in the city hall. The action was recommended by James W. Morgan, Jr., chairman of the association’s police and fire committee, who said that such volunteer aid would be helpful until the regular firefighters could arrive at the scene of a fire. He called a meeting of those interested in such a group to take place Thursday at 8 p.m. in the city hall.
Remove Tower From the Storm Engine House
DERBY – Workmen of the Kelly Construction Company of Ansonia this morning started the job of removing the unused signal tower which rises above the roof of the Storm Engine Company,
The Board of Alderman, at a recent meeting, instructed Fire Commissioner William H. Deegan to have the tower removed. Until the opening of the new fire alarm headquarters on Cottage Street, a few years ago, the tower housed the fire whistle.
Annual Ball Of Citizens Friday Night
SEYMOUR – A large crowd is expected to attend the 59th annual reception and ball of Citizens Engine Company No. 2, which will be held in Clark Memorial auditorium Friday evening. Final arrangements for the affair are nearing completion and from all indications, a gala evening is in store for all.
Angie Marasco and his orchestra will furnish music for dancing from 9 to 1 a.m. A concert of selected music will be presented from 8 to 9 o’clock as the couples gather. The feature of the evening will be the grand march to be directed by H. E. Chamberlin.
Shelton High Players Get Another Gift
SHELTON – As a compliment for the showing of fine sportsmanship, the Hollywood Florists of this city will award a free corsage to every Shelton High School football player who participated in the annual Thanksgiving Day game against Derby.
These corsages, Joseph DeLaurentis of the local floral shop says, will prove very appropriate for mother or girlfriend for the junior prom or any other social event for which the team members may want them.
Thursday, Dec. 4, 1947
North Prospect Street Residents Seek Road Widening
ANSONIA – Property owners from North Prospect Street in attendance at the monthly meeting of the Board of Public Works last night sought to have the Beaver Street road project deferred and asked instead that preference be given to the widening and reconstruction of North Prospect Street from Woodbridge Avenue to the Seymour town line.
North Prospect Street residents were informed that the city had already committed state aid funds for the Beaver Street project, which has been estimated to cost about $23,000. This project is expected to be started next year.
Troop Name Is Pride Of Scouts In Budapest
DERBY – Scoutmaster Edmund D. Strang of this city, while in the armed forces, was instrumental in forming a Boy Scout troop in Hungary, which bears the name George Washington troop. A letter from the secretary of the troop tells of the pride which the troop takes in bearing the name of a great American leader.
Police Release Report Of Work During November
SEYMOUR – The report of the activities of the Seymour Police Department during the month of November was released this morning by Chief of Police Harry F. Mannweiler. The report shows that a total of 36 general complaints were investigated, while 11 auto accidents were looked into. Twelve arrests were made by the police last month.
Plays Santa 29th Year
SHELTON – Street Commissioner Frank G. Perri will play Santa Claus for the 29th consecutive year. The popular street commissioner will fill the role at the K. of. C. Christmas party for children to be held soon at St. Joseph’s School hall, and for the annual party for the children at Pine Rock Park.
Commissioner Perri said he began playing Santa in 1918, when he was a patient in a hospital after being injured while employed on the railroad. Hurt in a 75-foot fall through a railroad trestle, Perri spent nine months in the hospital and just before his discharge during the Christmas season, he played Santa Claus to the patients at the hospital.
Friday, Dec. 5, 1947
C.Y.O. Distributes First Newspaper
ANSONIA – The American Catholic Youth Organization is distributing the first issue of its newspaper, the C.Y.O. Tattle-Tale, to members. Lorraine Alu and Bernadine Groth are co-editors of the paper. Anne Barret is editor of the literary staff.
John P. Millea Named Captain Of Storm Engine Co.
DERBY – John P. Millea was named captain of the Storm Engine Company, succeeding Carleton L. Brett, Jr., at the regular monthly meeting of the company held last night in headquarters on Elizabeth Street. Other officers elected included Earl E. Skelding, first lieutenant; Edward J. Loftus, second lieutenant; James A. Carroll, treasurer; John J. Fogarty, Sr., steward and Rev. John H. Quinn, chaplain.
Ask Public To Join In Carol Sing
DERBY – Many years ago a group of organizations in the city sponsored a Christmas carol sing on the green on Christmas Eve. After several years, the event was dropped. An attempt to revive the custom is now being made under the sponsorship of the John H. Collins Post, American Legion, which urges the cooperation of all civic and fraternal organizations, churches and residents in the city.
Plans have been formulated by the post for a carol sing on the green Christmas Even at 8 o’clock. The sing fest cannot be a success, Commander Laurence S. Skelding stated this morning, unless the project meets with enthusiasm by residents and organizations.
Sheehy Heads Realtors’ Board
SHELTON – Sen. William E. Sheehy, Jr., of Shelton, has been elected president for the year 1948 of the Valley Real Estate board. Other officers of the board include Mrs. Viola Madorno, of Oxford, vice president; Vincent J. Nolan, of Derby, secretary and Murray Crossman, of this city, director, for the term of three years.