Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Lower Naugatuck Valley History Archives, this week we go back to 1934.
The Marx Brothers, considered by critics, scholars and fans to be among the greatest and most influential comedians of the 20th century, signed a new contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in seven games with an 11–0 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Popular songs included “The Good Ship Lollipop” by Shirley Temple and “You’re the Top” by Cole Porter.
Here’s what was happening in our Valley!
Friday, Oct. 5, 1934
High School Grid Contest Tomorrow
ANSONIA – The Ansonia High School football team will play its second game of the season tomorrow afternoon in Litchfield, meeting the Torrington High School eleven in that town. The game is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.
Paugassetts’ Ball Dated December 21
DERBY – The Paugassett Hook and Ladder Company held its October meeting last night in its rooms. Captain Charles Stankye presided and a number of important matters were discussed.
The chief topic of interest was the coming annual ball of the company. It was voted to hold the affair in White Eagle hall, December 21. The committee in charge of arrangements is headed by Captain Stankye and includes all the officers.
First High School Social Function
SEYMOUR – The opening function of the high school social season will be staged in Congregational Hall at 8 o’clock tonight, when the seniors hold their first dance.
Members of the class have worked hard to make this affair a success and anticipate a large patronage of townspeople. Music will be furnished by Cliff Hoyle and his jazz boys.
Shelton Opens Season Today
SHELTON – The Shelton High School football eleven, primed for action after four weeks of training, will swing into action this afternoon with Tom Andrews’ Stratford High in a Housatonic League game at Birdseye Field, Stratford.
Coach Karl Tarbell of the Orange and Black is anxious to have his cohorts annex their first league victory.
Saturday, Oct. 6, 1934
4 Cent National Park Stamp Here
ANSONIA – The first of the four-cent denomination of the National Park series stamps arrived at the post office yesterday. The four-cent stamp is one for which many inquiries have been made by stamp collectors and others, and only a limited supply was received due to the many orders submitted to the post office department in Washington, D.C.
Board May Purchase Buddies’ Field For $10,000
DERBY – The City of Derby may purchase Buddies’ Memorial Field for $10,000 and may have 15 years in which to pay without any interest charges on the unpaid balance, the Board of Aldermen was informed at its meeting last night.
Drivers Bemoan Hazardous Going In Seymour’s South Main Street
SEYMOUR – Seven deaths resulting from accidents on the South Main Street road recently have aroused many to the thought that something should be done to ameliorate conditions in that section.
Many have been heard to condemn South Main Street as “unfit to travel,” “the worst road connecting main trunk lines in the state” and “the most dangerous highway I have ever driven over.” These are only a few of the milder epithets hurled at this section.
South Main Street is Seymour’s one and only state aid road. From the wrath of the voices heard on all sides, it is not one of which it can be proud. It has been maintained that although there were contributory factors in all seven deaths, aside from the narrowness and unevenness of South Main Street, these fatalities would not have occurred if the victims had been on any other road in this part of Connecticut.
Stratford Beats Shelton 18 to 0
SHELTON – A light and inexperienced Shelton High School football eleven was defeated by a veteran Stratford High team yesterday afternoon by a score of 18 to 0 in the opening game of the Housatonic League at Birdseye Field, Stratford. Displaying a fine running attack centered around “Puffy” Pulaski, star halfback, the county aggregation netted two touchdowns in the first quarter and the final encounter in the last few minutes of play.
Sunday, Oct. 7, 1934
The Evening Sentinel didn’t publish on Sundays
Monday, Oct. 8, 1934
Pole Cat Better Than Alarm Clock
ANSONIA – A pole cat which leaped into a garbage pail in the rear of 134 Jackson Street early Sunday morning and found himself imprisoned, aroused the residents of the neighborhood with far greater effectiveness than any alarm clock ever built. Police were notified and unable to cope with the scented cat, called Dog Warden Herbert Potter who approached the pail cautiously and suddenly clamped down the lid, and carried “Mr. Skunk” to a safe place and immersed the pail in a barrel full of water, subduing the pole cat. The odorous atmosphere which resulted from the skunk’s protests aroused the entire neighborhood between 6:30 a.m. and 7 o’clock.
Elks Planning Bowling League
DERBY – The Bowling League of Derby Lodge B.P.O.E. will open Monday night, October 22, at the Elks’ alleys. A number of last year’s bowlers have already signed up for this year again. A very successful season is being looked forward to. The Elks’ club bowling alleys are being renovated and polished. All those planning to join the league are asked to sign up in the clubrooms.
Matthies Drops Out Of Picture, Cornforth Enters
SEYMOUR –Representative B.H. Matthies has withdrawn his name from the race for Republican nomination to succeed himself in the state assembly. He has served the town continuously with vigor and conscientiously since 1925, and states he believes he deserves respite from those duties.
With the elimination of Mr. Matthies from the battle, the name of C.C. Cornforth, trust officer of the Seymour Trust Company, for many years town treasurer and chairman of the Republican Town Committee, has been entered in the lists by his friends, who believe this prominent figure would make an excellent representative.
Counterfeit $5 At Shelton Trust
SHELTON – A counterfeit $5 bill was detected at the Shelton Trust Company this morning and a warning issued to all local merchants to be on the lookout for spurious United States notes, serial number G34, bearing a portrait of Lincoln. Although the bill is an excellent imitation, the shading around the portrait and on the back of the bill are not skillfully executed.
Tuesday, Oct. 9, 1934
Lavender Rides Roughshod Over Torrington High
ANSONIA – Riding roughshod over a green and demoralized Torrington High eleven, Art Stewarts’ Ansonia High School football team scored a 47-0 triumph before a sparse crowd at the Athletic field yesterday afternoon. After a first period of cautious play by both teams, the Lavender machines got going under full steam in the second, marching down the field with a series of devastating line plunges and end runs.
$1,500 Raise In Mayor’s Salary Voted By Aldermen
ANSONIA – The Board of Aldermen last night passed a resolution increasing the salary of the mayor from $1,000 to $1,500 a year. The resolution was passed by a roll call vote of 12 to 2.
Alderman Clancy argued for further consideration of the resolution when it was presented, declaring he was not prepared to vote on the proposition. Mr. Clancy said he desired first to ascertain how taxpayers felt about the matter and argued that the present board would hold another meeting before its term of office expired and the members of the board could ascertain what citizens in general thought of the proposition.
Republicans Open Party Headquarters
DERBY –The Republicans opened their party headquarters this morning in the vacant store next to The Sentinel office on Elizabeth Street.
Rummage Sale
SHELTON – The Shelton Women’s Republican Club will hold a rummage sale Wednesday and Thursday at the Republican headquarters on Bridge Street. The rooms will be open today until 8 o’clock to receive articles.
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 1934
Mayor Hart To Be Renamed Tonight By Republicans
ANSONIA – Mayor Peter Hart is expected to be renominated by acclamation at the Republican city caucus to be held at the Ansonia Opera House this evening at 8 o’clock. Three candidates are in the field for the Republican nominations for the General Assembly. Police Commissioner Carl W. Tallberg is expected to be nominated for town and city clerk.
Stankye Named Town Chairman
DERBY – With a full membership of the Democratic Committee present, consisting of three members from each ward elected in the ward caucuses the previous night, Charles Stankye was last night chosen to succeed Cornelius J. Caldwell as chairman of the town committee by a vote of 5 to 4.
Newly Laid Sidewalk Is Trampled On
SEYMOUR – The final strip of fresh cement walk, completed by town workmen just above the Strand Theater, Main Street, at 7 o’clock last night, was ravaged some time after that hour yesterday. Some boys and young men, from the footprints found in the soft concrete this morning, walked over the freshly laid walk and indicated this was not just a mistake by stirring up the cement in several spots with a stick.
First Selectman Harry F. Mannweiler had the damaged spots repaired by the town workmen early this morning, but it is likely the results of the treacherous acts will be visible as long as the walk lasts.
Tax Collector Sprained Ankle
SHELTON – Tax Collector Richard C. Randall is at work this morning with the help of a crutch, having sustained a sprained ankle yesterday while stepping from the curb near the Shelton Trust Company.