From the files of The Evening Sentinel, it’s ‘This Week In History!’
Friday, July 29, 1898
A Frequent Complaint
ANSONIA – The muggy weather, which has been so offensive lately, whether it affects the temper or not, is perhaps responsible for the unusual amount of complaints about the unclean condition of Main Street. Much has been done on the other streets, on which all but a small portion of the money appropriated has been spent, and many of the merchants feel that a clean Main Street every day in the year is a thing which ought to be attempted.
Buried With Honors
DERBY – Joseph Clark, of 142 Division St., died at 1:05 o’clock this morning. He will be buried Saturday afternoon with Oddfellows’ honors.
Storage Room For Cables
SEYMOUR – A large addition is to be built to the plant of the Kerite Co., the contract for which has been given to the Berlin Iron Bridge. Co. Thursday, quite a number of their workmen arrived in town. The building is to be of iron, 40 by 30 feet, and will be two stories high. When finished it will be used as a storage room for their finished supplies.
Saturday, July 30, 1898
Only One Passenger
ANSONIA – There was evidently little astir up the Valley today to attract people from out of town. The New London train boasted of only a single passenger when it came in this morning.
Closed Owing To Heat
DERBY – Because of the oppressive heat, the Birmingham Iron Foundry was closed in all departments today. At noon, Street Commissioner Lodge’s men, at work on the streets, were laid off because of the heat.
Preparing Day Street
SEYMOUR – Today, engineers commenced getting the lines and grades for the macadam work on Day Street, and Monday, the work of excavating will commence. The crushed stone is now being spread on Bank Street, the steam roller being at work, and it is intended to have Day Street graded by the time Bank Street is finished.
Sunday, July 31, 1898
No Paper Published
Monday, August 1, 1898
New School Furniture
ANSONIA – The contract for supplying the School Street schoolhouse with 200 new seats, blackboards, teachers’ desks and chairs, and all other furniture has been let to the Howard & Barber Co. of Derby. This contact was taken in competition with some of the largest firms in the country. All the furniture will be entirely new and made especially for this school.
To Return With A Wife
ANSONIA – The employees of the “Sentinel” office were greatly surprised when they learned this morning that William J. Fortin, of the composing room, was a married man. Yet they remembered that a few weeks ago, previous to his going on vacation, which he is now enjoying, he seemed to have on his thinking cap and apparently some change was about to take place. The wedding occurred a short time ago, and even his closest friends were unaware of it.
Noisy Saturday Night
DERBY – Saturday night proved to be of the old time variety, with plenty of whisky, fight and noise. It was a busy time for the officers, who had scarcely quieted things down and got to bed when another fracas would make the night hideous. At about 8 o’clock in the evening, Officer Peter Daley was approached by a Polander who asked him to go the East Side to arrest an Italian, who he said, had drawn a revolver. The Italian was searched for a weapon but none was found on him and he staunchly denied the assault.
Tuesday, August 2, 1898
Jumping On The Trains
ANSONIA – Complaint is made of the number of newsboys who gather about the depot every afternoon and jump on and off the trains, causing much nervousness among the people who have occasion to be in that vicinity. They are young boys, between the ages of 8 and 10 years, and though they have been warned of the danger time and time again, they pay but little attention to the advice. Chief Ellis has been spoken to about the matter, and if the practice is kept up, some of the first ones caught will be placed in the lockup.
Birmingham Hotel Leased
DERBY – Mrs. Joseph Dickgiesser, on Saturday, purchased the furniture and other hotel fixtures in the Birmingham Hotel from the Weibel Brewing Co. She has also taken a five year lease of the property and proposes to conduct for the present as a lodging house only. She took possession of the Birmingham Hotel today and it is to be thoroughly renovated before opening for business.
No News Of Thieves
SEYMOUR – Nothing has yet been learned as to the parties who entered the People’s Drug Store Sunday and robbed the soda fountain till. A similar burglary occurred there about two years ago and there are reasons to believe that the same parties were concerned with both.
Wednesday, August 3, 1898
A Fine Horse
ANSONIA – The Adams Express Co., which some days ago lost a valuable horse, has had it replaced with a fine animal, which arrived by freight Tuesday night. It was sent from the agency in Hartford, where it had been used for a short time. The animal is young and weighs 1,300 pounds.
Man Recovering
SEYMOUR – Frederick D. Hayes, who was rendered unconscious by the lightning last Saturday on the farm of Howard Chatfield, at Skokorat, is doing quite well, being attended by Dr. Benedict. He received a terrible shock and his experience will never be forgotten by him, as he was more frightened than hurt.
