Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Ansonia Historical Commission, we take you back 100 years this week to 1925.
This was the year Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. launched its first “Goodyear Blimp,” beginning one of the most well-known advertising and public relations campaigns in history. Charlie Chaplin was the most famous person in America and U.S. life expectancy was 57.6 years for men and 60.6 years for women. Calvin Coolidge was sworn in for a full term as President of the United States. It was the first inauguration to be broadcast on radio.
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Tuesday, June 9, 1925
Old Glory To Be Honored By Elks
ANSONIA – The annual flag day service of the Ansonia Lodge of Elks will be held Sunday evening at 8 o’clock in the Elks’ club on Main Street at which time the members of the organization will pay their yearly tribute as a whole to “Old Glory.” The service, which is one of the most important events of the lodge, will be open to the public and a number of speakers will be heard.
Class Night
DERBY – The Derby High School graduating class will begin its commencement week tomorrow night by opening the event with class night in the high school. Only members of the class and the faculty are invited to attend the ceremonies, which will consist of class history, prophecy and other features.
William C. Griffith Arrested In Cleveland
DERBY – Acting Chief of Police Anthony Urbano received a telegram this morning from the Cleveland police authorities that William C. Griffith, a local man, is being held for the local police on charges of non-support of his wife and three children. Griffith is well-known in this city and was formerly a representative of the Metropolitan Life Insurance company.
Ice Cream Kept Cold Without Ice
SEYMOUR – Edward F. Foley had installed this morning a Nizer ice cream cabinet which has a capacity of 40 gallons, which is kept uniformly cold automatically by electricity without the use of salt or ice. It is the only one of its kind between New Haven and Waterbury. When the ice cream begins to get soft, the electric motor starts automatically, so the patrons of the Corner Drug store are assured of ice cream exactly right all the time.
Wednesday, June 10, 1925
Complaint Of Noise
ANSONIA – Residents of Wakelee Avenue are complaining of two loose manhole covers located on the highway which make a continual disturbance during the night as autos pass over them and prevent people from getting their nightly rest. Those who complain say that the clanking sounds from the loose covers besides being disturbing are also becoming tedious and it’s about time something was done about the matter.
Turner Company Has Anniversary
ANSONIA – The 23rd anniversary sale of the A. C. Turner clothing store on Main Street will start tomorrow morning and the entire stock of merchandise has had its prices cut to such an extent that bargain seekers are almost certain to believe that everything in the store is to be given away. Since 1902 when it first organized the A.C. Turner store has looked forward to the annual anniversary sale as the means of giving the public the most for its money in high grade goods and service.
Auto Party Hurls Bottle At Tree
DERBY – About 9 o’clock last night many residents on Hawkins Street were aroused by a crash of broken glass and investigated. As some of the residents left their verandas, they noticed a machine drive along the road between East Ninth and Eighth Streets and one of the occupants of the car hurled a bottle against a tree, making a second crash of the evening. They were unable to see the plate number of the machine as the driver of the car had extinguished his lights making it impossible to identify the markers.
Big Addition
SEYMOUR – Seymour is throbbing with building pulsations and one of the most important is the addition to the Tingue Manufacturing company’s plant. This was started June 1, and its completion is anticipated by August 1. The work is being done by employees of the Tingue company and rapid progress in the early stages of development is noted. The addition to take care of increased activities at this plant will be 120 feet long and 40 feet wide and will be made of brick.
Bird Houses Being Shown At Library
SHELTON— The bird house building contest, which has been recently conducted by Housatonic Council Boy Scouts, yielded much in original and interesting construction of bird houses. So much good material was submitted in the 50 bird houses shown that the judges spent much time in trying to decide the winners. The committee was so very much pleased with the efforts of the Boy Scouts that a special arrangement has been made with the Plumb Memorial Library to display the houses built.
Thursday, June 11, 1925
Oiling Streets
ANSONIA – The oiling of the streets which has been in progress several days, was suspended today to permit the distribution of sand. Sand is being spread on the roads as soon as the oil is applied and as it takes time to distribute the sand, the oiling was suspended today to enable more sand to be placed on the streets where oil is to be applied. The oiling was started in the third ward, which has been completed. The second ward will be given attention next after the east side is looked after, the west side streets will be taken care of.
48 Seniors To Graduate Tonight
DERBY – Class night was fittingly observed last night in the Derby High School when 49 members of the graduating class were present with members of the faculty and enjoyed a night of merriment and fun, one that will be long remembered by the class of 1925. Class wills, prophecy, history and other features made the evening one that appealed to the members and favors were presented to each member of the class.
Tonight, the class will receive its diplomas for its faithful and satisfactory work for the past four years in Derby High School. It will be the last class to graduate from the Sterling Opera House, as the new high school with its auditorium will be completed so that commencement exercises can be held next year.
Fellowship Hot Dog Roast
SEYMOUR – The Young People’s Fellowship of Trinity Church will hold a hot dog roast Friday evening. All who are going to attend will meet at the parish house at 5:45 o’clock. All members are requested to come as there will be a good time for all.
Class of ’25 Receives Diplomas Before Gathering Of Over 500
SHELTON – The graduation exercises of Shelton High School Class of 1925 were held last night in the high school auditorium, where every seat was filled by the families and friends of the graduates. Led by Lyman Wood of the Class of 1925, the graduates marched from the back of the hall to the stage, the boys in their dark suits and the girls in their white gowns making a very pretty appearance. The program opened with the singing of “Sheik of the Desert Am I,” led by Professor R. T. Dayley, supervisor of music.
Friday, June 12, 1925
Threw Cat Into Swimming Pool
ANSONIA – The kids in the lower end of the city, both large and small, are stirred up over the finding of a cat in the Factory Street swimming pool this morning. The cat was placed in a bag and thrown over the swimming pool fence into the tank.
The pool happened to be empty or nearly so and the cat is still alive. When employees of the public works department went to the pool this morning to finish the job of pulling out a tree stump in the enclosure, a lot of children interested in the procedure gathered. The youngsters discovered the bag and visions of possible mystery rose in their minds. When the bag began to move, the excitement increased, and a call was sent to the police.
Building Outlook For Derby Good
DERBY –The outlook for good business in the building trades in Derby is brightening and is expected that a number of new buildings will be erected this summer as well as many alterations to old structures made.
The mason work on the new twelve-family brick apartment house being erected on Hawkins Street has been started and the building will be rushed to completion.
Work has started on the erection of a new brick garage and salesroom for John G. Frier’s on Clifton Avenue. The sidewalks are already up.
Joseph Pursella is contemplating building a garage at 13 New Haven Avenue. Mr. Pursella is the Ford agent.
First Workout
SEYMOUR – A squad of about 16 firemen reported for the initial practice session of Citizen’s Engine company and took its first step of preparation for the big game with Milford a week from Sunday. Harry Foster was elected manager of the team and Clarence Hummel, captain. It was a good workout, and a game is to be arranged with the Odd Fellows’ nine as a good workout for both aggregations.
Plans Being Formed
SHELTON – Final plans are being formed for the excavating of the ground at Shelton Park where the wading pool for the children, which the Kiwanis Club of the city is raising funds to build, will be placed. William S. Healey, chairman of the Kiwanis committee on public affairs, is hard at work getting together such material as is necessary to start work.
Saturday, June 13, 1925
To Continue School Exhibition
ANSONIA – The school exhibition at the Pine Trade School building be continued Monday and Tuesday. Some 900 people have viewed the exhibit thus far and scores of visitors having asked that the exhibit be continued so that friends could be given an opportunity to view it.
The exhibition is really a remarkable one and gives an idea of what the children are learning in the schools outside of the three R’s. The sewing exhibit is an especially pleasing one and dresses made by small girls showing splendid handiwork.
Savin Rock Roseland
ANSONIA – The Keystone dance band of Ansonia will be the featured attraction at Roseland ballroom at Savin Rock tonight when they compete in a battle of music against Harris Peerless band of New York. These two organizations will furnish some really hot music and the biggest crowd that ever graced Savin Rock’s ballroom will welcome the boys from Ansonia.
Brief City Items
DERBY – A new veranda has been built on the apartment at the corner of Main and Minerva street. Derby Radio company has a new awning, which has received more than a few favorable comments. A number of young people who attended the Derby and Shelton high school receptions last night journeyed to Seven Gables after the dance and enjoyed a party returning to this city at an early hour.
Lutheran Time Tonight
SEYMOUR –The Ladies Aid Society of the German Lutheran Church will hold a strawberry festival and entertainment in the church basement this evening. Among the many features will be selections by Stillman Philbrick’s Mandolin and Banjo orchestras.
New Hall Will Open At Holmes’ Inn Tonight
SHELTON – The large dance hall at Holmes’ Inn on the Bridgeport Road that has been watched with much anticipation by many of the Shelton dance lovers as it has been under construction will be opened this evening and special arrangements have been made to assure all that attend have a good time.
