Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Ansonia Historical Commission, this week we take a look back at 1913.
The most popular baby names were John, William and James for boys and Mary, Helen and Dorothy for girls.
The top 10 things invented in 1913 were the bra, the parachute, the mind-altering drug, Ecstasy, the crossword puzzle, windscreen wipers, modern X‑Ray tube, geological time scale, Brillo pads, mass production and stainless steel.
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Monday, June 30, 1913
Oil For Highways Arrived
ANSONIA – The oil for the streets has arrived and the work of oiling will be started tomorrow. There was a possibility that some of the work might be done today. Wakelee Avenue will be oiled first as it has been in readiness for some time. A gang of men under Thomas Houlihan, deputy state highway inspector, will be working to put the road in shape.
Old Vets Off For Gettysburg
ANSONIA – Half a dozen local veterans of the Civil War left Ansonia this morning for the reunion of the blue and gray on the historic fields of Gettysburg. The six men served in the Michigan regiment and participated in the Battle of Gettysburg. The tickets furnished by the government provided for departure today on the 8:22 southbound train.
Good Day On The Lake
DERBY – Lake Housatonic proved the center of attraction for local people and visitors who wanted to avoid the blistering rays of Old Sol yesterday. Canoes were prominent from early in the morning until late in the evening and the canoers reported an ideal day for such craft. All along the banks in shady spots, parties of young and old could be found enjoying a refreshing breeze which came floating from the waters.
Petty Burglaries
DERBY – On Friday and Saturday nights, burglars, supposed to be boys, entered the store in the Olderman building at the corner of Olivia and Third streets, which has been rented by A.H. Yudkin for the sale of fireworks, and stole about fifteen dollars worth of fireworks. On Friday night they had a key and unlocked the back door and took what they wanted without the least trouble. On Saturday night, the door being fastened so that it could not be opened, they ripped off part of the woodwork that held the sash of the window in place and crawled in again and helped themselves.
Fined $3
SEYMOUR – Yesterday Adam Berwind was brought before Justice Conine and charged with having used abusive language. He was fined $3, which he paid.
Pleased The Children
SHELTON – A number of fire balloons were sent up by the Cianci Bros. from their place on Howe Avenue Sunday evening, greatly to the pleasure of a crowd of youngsters. The balloons traveled northwest for a long distance and then striking another slant of air, traveled almost directly south until they disappeared from sight.
Tuesday, July 1, 1913
Close Up Your Homes
ANSONIA – The Fourth of July is usually an excellent day for burglars and thieves, though Ansonia has been more fortunate in this respect than some of the larger cities where the police have been kept busy for days following the holiday.
It is suggested that all precautions be taken to prevent activity by those who like to make easy money. People are advised to lock up their homes if they’re leaving for the holiday. Locked doors and closed windows will not only make it more difficult for a person to get entrance but also keep out fire.
Got Near A Buck
DERBY – While Walter Waltermeyer and his hired man were working in the fields of his farm on Derby hill yesterday afternoon, a full antler buck was seen grazing a short distance away. The hired man lay prone on his stomach in the tall grass nearby while Mr. Waltermeyer made a detour and gradually caused the buck to move towards the man in the grass. When the buck was several feet away from the man in the grass, Mr. Waltermeyer gave a whoop at which the hired man jumped to a standing position. At the same moment, the buck raised on its hind legs, stuck out with its front feet and then turned about, and in a moment disappeared. The buck was about the prettiest specimen of this species seen in this locality.
Chased Goats
DERBY – The slumbers of a number of people living in the neighborhood of the Derby High School building were disturbed last night by dogs chasing goats through that section. Both dogs and goats came from Water Street, and between the barking of the dogs and the bleating of the goats, there was a great time. While the chasing was going on, the dogs digressed from the sport that they had in mind to kill a cat.
Fourth Of July Baseball
SEYMOUR – On the Fourth, the baseball attraction at Park Field diamond will be Seymour’s annual game with the famous Woodbury team, which will come here with “Our Bill” Holmes to do the pitching, as in the days when the rivalry between the two teams began to wax keen. It is expected that every baseball fan in Seymour who is in town over the Fourth will attend the game, while Woodbury will send its usual delegation by trolley and auto.
Wednesday, July 2, 1913
Looking For Vegetable Man
ANSONIA – The police are looking for a supposed vegetable peddler who entered the home of Andrea Musante on High Street shortly before 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon and walked off with a gold watch and between $4 and $5 in cash. The man carried a couple of potatoes in his hand and when met by neighbors of the Musante household asked them if they wanted to buy. The disappearance of the watch and the money was noted soon after the vegetable vendor had left the house and the police, being informed of the affair, an investigation was made.
Heat Caused Lay Off
DERBY – Employees of the B.I.F. threw the shovel in the air, as it is said, this morning, owing to the intense heat. The men, finding the day was to be warmer than yesterday, requested that they be released from their duties for the day, as yesterday proved a trying one for them. Although the mercury jumped about at a high mark, not a man left his work in the B.I.F. yesterday. Employees of other concerns did not go to work today on account of the heat.
To Guard Against Fires
SEYMOUR – Five constables and four special officers will constitute the police patrol on the night before the Fourth.
One of the orders, upon which great stress will be put, will be for the immediate arrest of anyone caught in the act of making bonfires. Because of the dry weather, a fire is especially dangerous and extra precautions should be taken by everyone.
Injured AT Work
SHELTON – Jack Sammon, the crack pitcher of the Shelton baseball team, cut a portion of the top of his thumb while at work in the R.N. Bassett Co.’s works this morning. Besides being a painful injury for Mr. Sammon, it will be a bad blow for the Shelton team, as it will deprive the team of Mr. Sammon’s valuable services for a time.
Thursday, July 3, 1913
Quiet Fourth Promised
ANSONIA – The Fourth in Ansonia promises to be even more quiet than in former years. No public celebrations have been planned and there is not even a band concert for the stay-at-homes.
Missed Last Car, Had To Walk
ANSONIA – One of the local trolley men who spent last night in New Haven, missed the last car and had to walk to Derby. He was pretty well tired out when he reached the car barns, but he arrived in time to take out his car this morning.
Mayor Sullivan Better
DERBY – Mayor George P. Sullivan, who has been confined to his home on Hawthorne Avenue for several days with an attack of malaria, was able to be out this morning.
Buys Property
SEYMOUR – Mrs. Jane Candee has purchased from F.A. Norton his property on French Street. Mr. Norton will move to Brooklyn, NY, his former home.
Installed New Engine
SHELTON – The Shelton Wet Wash Laundry Co. has just installed a new engine in its plant having purchased one manufactured by the U.S.R.F.G. & P. Co. of Derby.
Friday, July 4, 1913
Fourth of July Holiday — no paper published.
Saturday, July 5, 1913
Independence Day Quietly Celebrated
ANSONIA – The Fourth in Ansonia proved even more quiet than expected. There was less than usual. Three arrests were made by the police for celebrating ahead of time and this had a most wholesome effect. There were no bonfires and little ringing of bells the night before was hardly noticeable.
Federal Expresses Pass Through Here
ANSONIA – The Federal Expresses both north and southbound went through Ansonia this morning because of a wreck on the Berkshire division, Thursday. These expresses run between Boston and Washington and generally go through Shelton and Poughkeepsie.
Couldn’t Make The Hill
DERBY – A driver of an auto roadster amused residents in the vicinity of Cottage and Elizabeth streets on Thursday evening when he endeavored to send his machine up the steep incline on Cottage Street. After making a dozen attempts, all failures, the driver gave up and drove away. He could send his machine three-fourths of the way up the hill, but at that point the engine stopped. The man was of a determined nature, but each attempt failed, much to the amusement of the spectators, but to the disgust of the driver.
In Hard Luck
DERBY – Louis Yudkin, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Yudkin of Caroline Street, is swimming in hard luck. Yesterday afternoon, a firecracker exploded near him, bruising his right leg below the knee and this morning he cut his right hand with a rusty nail. The firecracker was thrown towards young Yudkin by a companion who did not realize the serious results that might occur.
Safe And Safer 4th Is Celebrated Here
SEYMOUR – The celebration of the ever glorious Fourth in Seymour was attended with the usual amount of noise but was unmarked by any unusual happenings.
Seymour’s streets were patrolled by nine officers, including the regular constables and several specials.
Two Slight Blazes
SHELTON – There were two calls for the local fire department because of the Fourth, one a still alarm on Thursday afternoon, and the other an alarm sent in from Box 12 because of a blaze on the roof of a house on Brook Street Friday afternoon.
