Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, it’s ‘This Week In History!’
Saturday, July 8, 1899
Arrest Follows Fight
ANSONIA – There was a fight of some sort in the quarry near North State Street this morning and as a result, one of the principals, a stranger, was arrested just before noon by Patrolman Jarvis and locked up. His case was to come up this afternoon at 3 o’clock in the city court.
Iron Shutters For Protection
ANSONIA – The Ansonia Electrical Co. is having iron shutters put on all the windows on the south side of its building for a protection against fire.
The Sterling’s New Scenery
DERBY – The preparation for the new scenery for the Sterling Opera House is being rushed and some handsome settings will be found at the playhouse this fall. Paint frames bridges and everything necessary for painting scenery have been built on the stage of Hoyt’s Theater, South Norwalk, and ever since the close of the theatrical season, Artist Greenus and assistant from Brooklyn have been painting for the Sterling. Manager Hoyt says the house will have a complete set of modern scenery.
Monday, July 10, 1899
Lightning Prostrates Horse
ANSONIA – A horse belonging to C. W. Fogarty, the High Street grocer, was struck by lightning Saturday afternoon. Patrick Shay, who is in the employ of Fogarty, was in a house on Prospect Street delivering goods when a heavy flash of lightning came, knocking the horse down and striking a nearby building. When Shay returned to his wagon, he found the horse lying in the gutter and somewhat stunned, but otherwise uninjured. It was sometime before the animal was able to stand upon its feet and resume its work.
Washouts Delay Trains
DERBY – The New London train was twenty minutes late Saturday afternoon in reaching Derby, caused by a washout at Seymour on the Naugatuck road. The 6:54 down the Naugatuck was one hour late for the same reason, and the 7:08 down the Berkshire division was held at Derby Junction to receive passengers for New Haven from up the Valley.
Face Burned By Plumber’s Lamp
DERBY – George Sullivan, of Anson Street, a plumber in the employ of D.H. Kelly, was painfully burned about the face by the sudden and unexpected flaring up of a plumber’s alcohol lamp on Saturday. The burns will lay him up for a few days at least.
Tuesday, July 11, 1899
Websters Elect Officers
ANSONIA – The regular monthly meeting of the Webster Hose Co. was held Monday night in its quarters on Platt Street, and it was well attended. The annual election of officers resulted as follows: Foreman Jeremiah Kingston, first assistant, William Gaffney; second assistant, Michael McCarthy; secretary, William Condon; treasurer, Edward J. Kennedy.
Factories Start Up
SHELTON – The local factory of the International Silver Co. resumed work on Monday after a week’s vacation. The Huntington Piano Factory also started up again on Monday, after a week spent in taking inventory.
Large Fish Caught
SHELTON – A thirteen-pound carp was caught in Lake Housatonic on Monday by William Carney and attracted much attention as it was exhibited in the Apothacaries’ Hall.
Wednesday, July 12, 1899
Outing Of Foundrymen
ANSONIA – The fourth annual excursion and outing of the employees of the Farrel Foundry & Machine Co., accompanied by their friends, will be held on Saturday, August 6. They will go to Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport, and a good time is guaranteed for all who attend. The committee in charge has made arrangements for a special train for transportation, going and returning, and special arrangements for a boat to take them from Bridgeport to the beach.
Repairing Upper Bank Street
SEYMOUR – The employees of the street department are repairing the damage done to upper Bank Street, between Broadway and Beecher streets by the storm Saturday afternoon. The long strip torn up on the north side of the street is being filled in by crushed stone brought from Holbrook’s quarry in Ansonia.
Thursday, July 13, 1899
Dog Cart Broke Down
ANSONIA – A wheel of a dog cart belonging to Charles Childs collapsed on the railroad track on Bridge Street Wednesday, and the occupants were spilled out, but fortunately no serious damage was done to them. The horse was stopped before it had a chance to run.
Grand Sight At Woodmont
DERBY – The storm that just touched Derby last evening gave the people along the shore a fine display of some particularly brilliant lightning. At Woodmont, but little rain fell, but the heavens were black for an hour or more and the lighting was particularly vivid against it. A strange sunset was seen, for the thunder clouds were lighted up by the sun that broke through beneath them.
Woman Making Disturbance
SEYMOUR – A drunken woman was making a disturbance Wednesday night and was taken by Officer McNerney to the court room to sleep off the intoxication. When the officer called there this morning, she had gotten out the window and disappeared. She was seen about town this morning.
Friday, July 14, 1899
Catch Basin Caught Cat
DERBY – The men who are cleaning the catch basins about the city had a surprise in store for them when they removed the cover from the one at Housatonic Avenue and Olivia Street this morning, for the first thing the saw was a live cat in the basin. The animal was perched on a little island of muck that protruded above the water in the basin, and had hardly room to keep itself from drowning. The men succeeded in getting the feline on a shovel, and in that way extracting it from a horrible death by drowning.
Patterson-Hayes Wedding
SEYMOUR – Miss Laura Louisa Haynes, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Hayes, of Seymour, on Tuesday, July 11, in Monroe to Charles Edward Patterson by the Rev. Mr. Goldsborough of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
