‘This Week In History’ goes back to the last days of 1899 in the lower Naugatuck Valley.
Saturday, Dec. 30, 1899
Down To Zero During Night
ANSONIA – At Vance’s drug store, this morning, the self-registering thermometer, which is accurate, showed that at some time during last night the mercury had dropped to zero, while this morning, it was three degrees above. The thermometer hangs on the rear of the store, which is one of the coldest places in the city.
Six Inches Ice On Some Ponds
ANSONIA – Good skating is now to be found on nearly all the ponds in the city. The formation of ice has been very rapid, the result being that it is of unusual strength and toughness. On some small ponds the ice is at least six inches thick.
Cold Work For City Men
DERBY – Street Commissioner McManus says that the coldest spot in this vicinity Friday was up the Housatonic where the city workmen are engaged in rebuilding the fence along the river. The wind had a full sweep down the stream and as the men had to work most of the morning in the shade they came near freezing.
Crowds On Beecher Pond
SEYMOUR – All the stores selling skates have their goods out and handy, for this is just the time to reap a harvest in the trade. Beecher Pond is still the mecca for the sport. Friday night, it had reached a thickness of four inches and is increasing rapidly. Great crowds are on the ice day and night, while many others gather on the banks to watch the sport.
Sunday, Dec. 31, 1899
No paper published.
Monday, Jan. 1, 1900
Good Time In Opera House
ANSONIA – The sociable held at the Opera House Saturday evening, under the auspices of the Crystal Social Club, was one of the most enjoyable held in the city this season. The attendance was large, the music of the orchestra of six pieces, under the arrangement of Henry Jordan, was unusually good, while the order maintained was one of the best. It was an informal affair, there being no grand march, but all present had a very enjoyable time.
Gun Shop Closed A Week
DERBY – The Driggs-Seabury Gun & Ammunition company will give its employees a weeks’ vacation this week, while it is taking inventory.
Where To Spend The Evening
DERBY – Strangers in Derby will have plenty of places to find amusement this evening. The YMCA has made preparations for a reception, which began this afternoon, and will continue into the evening. Dinner will be served from 5:30 until 8 o’clock.
The M.F. Church will keep open house from 5 o’clock until 9:30, during which time refreshments will be served by the King’s Daughters and musical and literary program rendered.
There are books and periodicals in the reading rooms at both places. The invitation is extended to everyone and particularly to strangers and those who are alone in the city.
Noisy Welcome To 1900
SEYMOUR – J.D. Fletcher, clerk for the E. C. Sharpe Lumber Co., whose home was formerly in New York City, introduced in Seymour a metropolitan method of initiating the New Year Sunday night. He boards with Mrs. H. R. Atwater, of Culver Street, and it was that neighborhood that he carried on his celebration.
One hundred firecrackers of the five-inch size were set off. There was one for each year in the century and they made a whole lot of noise. The first went off just at the hour of midnight.
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 1900
Derby Daily Doings
DERBY – The sewer contractor has still about 200 feet of rock to cut through on Hawkins Street. The cold weather does not affect this work, and he will continue at it until it is completed.
*The iron railing on Caroline Street hill, which has been in bad shape for some time, has been repaired. New posts and new railings have been added so that people can use them to climb the hill.
*Four evening services of prayer, praise and consecration will be commenced tonight at 7:30 at the Methodist Church lecture room, Elizabeth Street entrance. The subject this evening will be “Using the Searchlight.”
Horses Ran To Warm Up
SEYMOUR – The cold weather makes horses that are usually quiet, very frisky, and is not safe to leave them unhitched, for they are liable to start away. A pair of truck horses belonging to J. G. Curtiss started from the barn Monday afternoon, ran down around the freight depot, then across the railroad tracks, up Bank Street and turned up Main Street at a rattling pace.
A young man sprang out onto the street, caught the flying lines and brought the horses to a stop. The team was uninjured and escaped collision with anything. The horses did not seem frightened in the least, but apparently ran to get warm.
Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1900
Boy Thieves Bold Indeed
ANSONIA – One of the boldest pieces of thieving ever witnessed in this city was done just before noon Thursday from the yards of the Ansonia Electrical Co. on Main Street.
From one of the offices on the opposite side of the of Main Street, two boys some 8 or 10 years of age, were seen to enter the yard, proceed to the shop where there were a lot of spools on which wire had been and tear from them strips of copper.
The boys procured two large rolls of it, apparently as much as five pounds being in each roll. The office was telephoned to and one of the employees went out, caught the boys and took the copper away from them. The boys were allowed to run away.
Soon the boys appeared again and seen from the office whence they were first seen. It was apparent that they intended to secure the copper if possible. They succeeded in doing so, rushing quickly into the yard, placing the copper, which had been left outside, into a bag and basket, and before word could reach the office of the company, the boys ran full speed over the Maple Street bridge.
Sick Horses Cause Of Excitement
ANSONIA – One of the horses of Welcome Wheeler, of Shelton, was taken ill on Maple Street at the entrance of Blake’s livery stable Tuesday afternoon about 5 o’clock, falling to the ground. It was attached to a load of wood. After some trouble it was unhitched, assisted to its feet and taken into the stable., where it was found to be suffering from a sudden attack of colic.
There was considerable excitement on the street for ten minutes, for no one seemed to know what to do. Some said one thing and some said another thing until it looked as though they would come to blows over it instead of taking care of the animal.
Thursday, Jan. 4, 1900
Foreclosed On Seymour Property
ANSONIA – The Charles H. Kempf property in Garden City, Seymour, has been purchased by the Ansonia Lumber Co. The new owners took possession yesterday.
Merry Night For Storms
DERBY – Storm Engine company celebrated its forty-ninth anniversary in its comfortable quarters on Elizabeth Street Wednesday night, and it was a jolly affair. The regular meeting was called to order at 8 o’clock sharp and the majority of the members were in attendance. They transacted considerable business, as well as elected officers. All of the old ones were re-elected with the exception of the steward.
While the meeting was going on in the parlor, the committee and caterer Harry U. Lockwood were preparing a fine spread downstairs.
Skaters Clear The Ice
SEYMOUR – The recent snow baffled the skaters but a short time, as they turned out in force and cleared Beecher’s Pond in short order. The light snow was swept up in heaps, around which the skaters have restored good skating
