This week in history!
From the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Ansonia Historical Commission.
Note: the summaries are paraphrased from the original Sentinel articles if parts of the original were unreadable.
Jan. 30, 1899
Another New Industry
ANSONIA — The city is to have a new industry, with full operation in a few weeks. Dana Bartholomow and W.H. Plumb have organized a new company and will engage in the manufacture of brass and other novelties.
Webster Preparing For Ball
ANSONIA — The committee of the Webster Hose company, which is making the arrangements for the annual concert and ball, held a meeting Saturday evening and the reports of the various sub-committees were heard, showing that almost every detail for the event had been attended to. From the large sale of tickets there is every reason to believe that the affair will be the largest the Websters have ever held so the committee is making efforts to accommodate the large crowd.
Sent To Reform School
ANSONIA — Willie Andrews, one of the most incorrigible boys in he confines of the city, was taken to Judge Munger’s office by Chief Ellis at the insistence of his brother-in-law John B. Davidson. The boy only last summer was given a beating in Judge Munger’s office and at that time it was pure good luck that saved him from being sent to the reform school in Meriden. For months previous to that time he had caused his relatives all the annoyance a boy twice his age could possibly do.
Heard Explosion Here
SEYMOUR — Sunday morning at about 10:15 o’clock the residents of this town were very much startled b a deep, dull rapport, followed by the trembling of the houses on their foundations. The report was from the Stratford explosion.
Jan. 31, 1899
Phyllis And The Captain
SHELTON — Captain Wakelee had a most exasperating experience on Sunday evening, and one he will take care does not occur again, in the same manner at least. He drove his fast stepping mare Phyllis to the home of his father in Stratford and when, on arriving there, he found that he had forgotten to put a hitch-line in the wagon. After spending some time with his father in the yard he heard a noise in the yard and, hurrying out, was just in time to see Phyllis walking out the gate, having rubbed off a bridle and heading for home.
Ice Will Be Cleared Of Snow
DERBY — The snow which fell this morning will not seriously interfere with the skating on Lake Housatonic. Arrangements have been made to sweep a large space as soon as the snow stops falling.
Robbed His Benefactors
DERBY — On Sunday evening a family of foreignors residing in the Ailing block on the First Street side befriended a fellow countryman, whom chance brought to their door. The stranger was fairly well dressed, had a grip which contained clothing, including a chef’s outfit, and said he was an expert cook. The family took the stranger in, gave him a good supper and a bed, and, next morning, he left them, as they supposed, to go to his new job. About 10:30 o’clock, $10.50 in money and a silver watch were found to be missing and immediately a search was instituted for the stranger.
On The Fly
DERBY — The Derby Cycle Co.‘s store is being repainted and renovated.
Feb. 1, 1899
The Y.M.C.A. Building
ANSONIA — The erection of the Y.M.C.A. building may begin this season. It is now quite possible that the present year will witness the start of work of the Y.M.C.A. building for Ansonia. The cost is to range between $25,000 and $35,000.
Nolan & Sullivan To Reopen
ANSONIA — Nolan & Sullivan, the milliners whose store was badly damaged by fire some weeks ago, will probably reopen during the present week. All traces of fire have disappeared. Some of the goods in the store were injured but very little, and these will be disposed of at a small percentage of the original cost. Watch the “Sentinel” for their advertisement.
Towns Around Us
OXFORD — Wales Chatfield finished filling his ice house from the grist mill pond on Saturday last.
Corset Factory May Be Added To Derby
DERBY — A meeting of the committee that has been appointed by the board of trade to advance the effort begun by A.J. Haire to bring a corset factory to Derby or Shelton was held Wednesday. In the meanwhile Mr. Haire had been to New York and he came back very hopeful from the encouragement he received in the metropolis.
Feb. 2, 1899
King Opens Cigar Store
DERBY — Simon King opened his cigar and pool room in the Ailing building on the north side of Main Street today. Mr. King has had the place finely fitted up, putting in a pool table and a large stock of tobaccos and cigars.
Suppers Were In Demand
ANSONIA — The turkey supper served in the parish house of Christ church Wednesday evening was largely attended and at 6 o’clock the tables were filled and others were waiting for an opportunity to get their suppers.
The Furniture Co.‘s Change
ANSONIA — The Ansonia Furniture & Carpet Company has ceased to exist. It has been succeeded by the Ansonia Furniture company, and the president authorized to make application to the legislature for the necessary name change as an incorporated concern.
Slow Times In Court
ANSONIA — From the small number of cases that have been before the city court during the month of January it would seem that the people of the city were getting extraordinarily good.
Feb. 3, 1899
Stricken In His Chair
ANSONIA — John M. Redshaw died suddenly this morning having just returned from a walk to the post office. He was resting when he sank back and expired. He was 79 years old, and came to America from England in 1842. Upon arriving in America he worked for the late D.W. Plumb. He and his wife, Sarah, had five children. The family home for years was at 36 North Main Street.
Father Caused His Arrest
ANSONIA — There was but one case in the city court this morning, it being that of Louis Studley, who was arrested Thursday night by Patrolman Totten for drunkeness. He was arrested upon complaint by his father, Enoch F. Studley. He was fined $1 plus court costs, amounting to $11.80. The prisoner was making efforts during the day to get the necessary amount so that he would not have to go to the New Haven jail.
Makes It Easy For Poachers
SEYMOUR — One of the reasons why fish poachers are safe on Moose hill reservoir is because of the wording of the law concerning the subject which makes it impossible for the game warden to arrest anyone for the offense unless he catches then in the act of drawing fish from the water. The law is to come up soon in the legislature for revision.
Library Statistics
SEYMOUR — The report of the public library for the month of January shows that the number of books loaned was 528. The number of new names received was 9, and the number of new books received, 56.
