This week, we take a look back at 1957, the year Elvis had us “All Shook Up” and the Tuskegee Boycott – a significant civil rights protest in Alabama aimed at challenging racial segregation and discrimination – began. Pat Boone’s “Love Letters in the Sand” topped the music charts.
U.S. President Harry S. Truman visited Disneyland in 1957 and refused to come aboard the popular Dumbo attraction. Truman, a Democrat, didn’t want to be seen riding in the symbol of the Republican.
Here’s what was happening in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.
Monday, June 17, 1957
8 p.m. Deadline At Colony Pond
ANSONIA – Abraham Stone, secretary of the Recreation Commission, announces that swimming is prohibited after 8 p.m. at Colony Pond. Persons found swimming after that hour will be denied use of the pond.
Seymour Grange’s Bread Baking Contest
SEYMOUR – A white yeast bread baking contest will be conducted by Seymour Grange Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Grange Hall. The loaves should be baked in a loaf tin approximately 9x4x4 inches. Breads made from mixes are not eligible. Breads should be left in the tin.
Reunion Enjoyed By Class Of 1937
SEYMOUR – Sixty-five members and guests of the Class of 1937, Seymour High School, enjoyed a 20th anniversary dinner at Rapp’s Paradise Inn Saturday evening.
Dr. Harry Cicia, president; Alex Mazur, vice president and Joseph DeMarco, secretary-treasurer, welcomed the guests. A social was held before the dinner. During a business meeting, a memorial service was held for the six deceased class members. Members came from California, Michigan, New York and the surrounding communities. Dancing was also enjoyed.
Two Arrested After Howe Avenue Fight
SHELTON – Two men were arrested about 1:30 a.m. Sunday following an altercation in front of the Stonewall Restaurant, 605 Howe Ave. Arrested on breach of peace charges by police officers John Mills and Herman Pastore were Roy Stevens of Mount Carmel and Alex Lamchak of Ansonia. Both men are free in $15 bonds each for court on June 22.
Tuesday, June 18, 1957
Board To Probe Injury To Pine High Freshman During Ejection By Teacher
ANSONIA – Charles Kross, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Kross, a Pine School freshman, had 14 stitches taken in the left hand and left forearm at Griffin Hospital emergency room shortly after 10 a.m. today.
The boy was cut by glass from a door in the woodworking department. The injury is said to have occurred while the elementary woodworking instructor, Hilton Mears, was ejecting the youth from the shop room at Pine.
Recreation Camp To Open Friday For 41st Year
DERBY – The Recreation Camp will open its 41st season Friday at 1:30 p.m. and the season will extend to Labor Day.
George W. Anger, director, announced John Ryan will be in charge of the swimming instruction and Mrs. Louise Anderson will conduct the senior and junior life-saving classes each evening at 6 o’clock.
For the past week, a crew has been assembling the large raft and erecting piers on each end of the beach. All will be in readiness for the opening Friday.
Richard Cronin Gets Air Force Promotion
SEYMOUR – Richard J. Cronin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Cronin of Pearl Street, has been promoted to airman, first class. Airman Cronin is stationed with the U.S. Air Force in Germany.
Graduation Tonight At Oxford School
OXFORD – Graduation exercises will be held at the Oxford School auditorium tonight at 8 o’clock. Fifty-four students will receive diplomas.
Wednesday, June 19, 1957
Spitz Dog Victim Of Extreme Heat
ANSONIA – A buff colored, furry, part or all Spitz dog, was found exhausted under a bush on Wakelee Avenue yesterday but not in time to save the canine. The police department was notified. Police, when they reached the scene, found that the dog had expired, probably due to the heat. The dog was removed for burial.
Given Polio Shots At High School
DERBY – Polio vaccine inoculations were given at Derby High School yesterday to 261 students, including the first, second and third shots. Dr. Joseph S. Stygar, health director, was in charge. The total inoculations given in the public and parochial schools this year is 1,284.
Constables Free Waterbury Man Trapped In His Demolished Car
OXFORD –John Kilmowicz, 24, of Waterbury, is in fair condition at the Griffin Hospital where he was admitted at 12:30 a.m. this morning after being extricated from his almost completely demolished car on Chestnut Tree Hill Road by constables John Prokop and Eugene DuPaul.
At the hospital this morning Kilmowicz was reported to be suffering from a questionable cerebral concussion, laceration of the scalp and laceration of the left side of his chest.
Police told The Sentinel this morning that Klimowicz’s car was almost completely demolished as it went off the left side of the road, struck a stone wall and crashed into two trees.
Mrs. Violet Brennan Hired As An Elementary Teacher
SEYMOUR – The Board of Education last night hired a new elementary school teacher and awarded a contract for the painting of three schools.
On the recommendation of Supt. Herman F. Urban, the board engaged Mrs. Violet L.Brennan of Teaneck, NJ as an elementary teacher. Mrs. Brennan is a native of Seymour.
The board awarded the school painting contract to Paul Quoka for $5,435. His was $33 lower than that submitted by Edward Zukowski of Ansonia. Schools to be painted are Maple Street, Center and Annex.
Thursday, June 20, 1957
Joseph P. Flynn On Honor Roll
ANSONIA – Joseph P. Flynn, son of Charles H. Flynn of Howard Avenue, received honors for the final marking period at Notre Dame High School, West Haven, where he has completed his junior year.
Boat To Catch Four Juveniles
DERBY – “By land, by air or by sea,” the Derby Police Department always get their man and yesterday afternoon Policeman Boleslaw Tracz used the latter means of transportation to apprehend four boys who had taken a rowboat belonging to Mrs. Lyndon Mayers that was docked in back of the Little Red Shoe Store on Roosevelt Drive.
Officer Tracz, assigned to investigate, learned that a group of boys were seen taking the boat and were somewhere on the river. He notified the Storm Engine Company and Lt. George O’Donnell went to the river with the company’s rescue boat. Officers Tracz and O’Donnell made a quick search and found the boat in the vicinity of the Recreation Camp.
Signs Baseball Contract
SEYMOUR – Jack Sledjeski, Seymour High School baseball brilliant, signed to a contract by the Chicago Cubs following his class graduation last week, has been assigned to the Paris, Ill. Team, Cub affiliate in the Midwest League, the Chicago office of the National League announced today.
Go Easy On Use Of Water
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Water Company today appealed to residents of the community to avoid excessive use of water during the drought.
William Ablondi, superintendent of the Water Company, said more than 17,000,000 gallons of water were used during the past week, an increase of 7,000,000 gallons over normal consumption.
Although there is no immediate concern, the possibility exists of a serious shortage of water later in the summer should drought continue, Mr. Ablondi said.
Friday, June 21, 1957
Doyle Gets Permission To Move Fire Hooter From City Hall To Wire Mill
ANSONIA – Frank Bennett, engineer for the American Brass Company, advised Mayor Joseph A. Doyle by letter today that the company has agreed to permit the city to move the air whistle from City Hall to the Wire Mill, provided the city assumes the full liability for removal, installation and maintenance.
The company has not yet completed its examination of engineering facts involved in the transfer of the hooter from the Fountain Hose House to the brass mill.
Mayor Doyle has asked permission to locate both hooters on the company’s mills because the purpose in installing them was not to provide more whistles but to have adequate audible fire warning when the company has shut down its steam whistles.
Schools Dismissed For Summer Recess
ANSONIA – The cry today was “no more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ discouraging looks” as all public and parochial schools were dismissed for the summer recess.
John T. Kelleher Promoted
SEYMOUR –John T. Kelleher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Denis Kelleher of West Street, has been promoted to airman second class in the U.S. Air Force. He is stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio with the 801st Installations Squadron of the Strategic Air Command.
Airman Kelleher enlisted in the Air Force last July 9 and received basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Subsequently, he attended technical school at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and in December, after spending 20 days’ leave here, was assigned to his present duty.
To Empty Canal For Inspection Work
SHELTON – The Shelton Canal will be shut down for the yearly inspection next week. The Shelton Canal Company will start draining Friday, June 28, at 11 p.m. and the canal will be dry at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 29. Refilling of the canal will be started Sunday, July 7 at 2 p.m. and should be completely filled, ready for operation, at 7 p.m.
