THE VALLEY — This week we take a trip back to 1967, when heavyweight boxing champ Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army, citing religious and moral objections to the Vietnam War; President Lyndon B. Johnson was Time Magazine’s Man of the Year and Aretha Franklin wanted some R.E.S.P.E.C.T.!
Here’s a few other fun facts about this time in history:
Gas cost $0.33 per gallon.
South African doctor Christiaan Barnard performed the first heart transplant.
People were tuned into The Andy Griffith Show on their TVs and popular movies “The Graduate,” “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Cool Hand Luke” dominated the box office.
Here is what was happening in our Valley, as found in the microfilm editions of The Evening Sentinel at the Seymour library!
Friday, April 21, 1967
Motor Vehicle Office Possible In Ansonia
ANSONIA – Ansonia may get a branch office of the Motor Vehicle Department and Mayor Joseph A. Doyle confirmed today the city’s promise to make space available for such a facility.
Rep. Carl R. Ajello (D‑Ansonia) said today:
“The outlook for passage of the Ansonia bill is good, or as good as can be expected at this point.”
Ajello is the sponsor of the bill to establish a motor vehicle department branch office in Ansonia, which was given a hearing yesterday before the Transportation Committee of the legislature.
False Alarm At Griffin Hospital
DERBY – A mercury switch on the remote station of the fire alarm system was tripped at Griffin Hospital yesterday sounding Box 9.
Derby and Shelton companies responded. The alarm did not sound in Ansonia, whose companies were advised not to respond.
Fire officials said the alarm was tripped in Derby by excessive vibration.
To Pay Respects
SEYMOUR – The Great Hill Hose Company will meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the fire house to pay respects to the late Clifford Snell, stepfather to Norris J. Childs, a member.
To Fill Vacancy
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Board of Finance will meet at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the town clerk’s office to select a successor to Charles Moore, a former board member and now Seymour town treasurer.
Saturday, April 22, 1967
Ball Shatters Costly Window
ANSONIA – A stained glass window, valued at $800 to $1,000, on the south side of the Christ Episcopal Church, Ansonia, was smashed yesterday by a baseball.
The Rev. G. Ross Morrell, rector, who found the ball below the ruined window, told The Sentinel this morning that ball games are forbidden on church grounds.
The baseball bore the initials J.G., and it is in the hands of Ansonia police, who are investigating.
Marshal Set For Parade
ANSONIA – Platoon Sgt. Richard J. Billings of Cottage Ave., Ansonia, has been named parade marshal for the Woodbridge Avenue Athletic Club’s neighborhood parade and memorial services to take place May 14, Mother’s Day in Ansonia.
Sgt. Billings, who has served two years with the Army, is serving his 10th year in the National Guard, Company C.
Board Accepts Hospital’s Offer To Get Smoke-Metering Device
DERBY – The Derby Board of Aldermen last night in City Hall voted to accept an offer by Griffin Hospital to install instruments to measure the smoke from the boiler plant smokestack.
The hospital will assume the cost of the installation, expected to be between $1,000 and $2,000.
Anthony J. DeLuca, hospital administrator, said the hospital was not to blame for air pollution in Derby.
“The hospital stack is emitting very little smoke,” he said. “Our boilers are functioning efficiently.”
Seymour Girl Given College Chorus Post
SEYMOUR – Miss Kathleen Ann Prendergast of Seymour, a junior at Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, has been elected vice president of the college chorus. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Prendergast of Bungay Road, Seymour.
Monday, April 24, 1967
Rotarians To Learn Of Dog Training
ANSONIA – Stuart Sliney, professional dog handler, will give a demonstration at the weekly luncheon meeting of the Ansonia Rotary Club Wednesday noon at Rapp’s Paradise Inn.
Dr. Edward C. Gardella is program chairman. Myron E. Yudkin will preside.
Dumping Of Trash At Park Denied
DERBY – Public Works Commissioner Pasquale Maturo today denied that city trucks were dumping trash at Coon Hollow Park near Nutmeg Avenue.
Residents of the area had complained to The Sentinel that city trucks were seen dumping in the area.
When questioned by a Sentinel reporter, the commissioner said, “My trucks have not been dumping in the area. Contractors are working on the new high school, and it might have been one of them.”
Car Rolls Over On Route 8
SEYMOUR – Richard Lord, 23, of Chamberlain Road, Seymour, was treated at Griffin Hospital last night, after his car rolled over on Route 8, north of Seymour.
He was admitted to the hospital but later left against the advice of attendants. State police from Bethany Barracks are still investigating.
Tuesday, April 25, 1967
Firemen Plan Drill With Foam
ANSONIA – Members of the Ansonia Fire Dept. will conduct a training session Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Valley Fire Chiefs Training Center, O’Sullivan’s Island, Derby.
Firemen, directed by Fire Chief Robert Cahill and Assistant Chiefs Fred Tanner, Thomas Davidson and Norman Smith, will demonstrate and drill with 3 percent foam and Jet‑X high expansion foam.
New Captain Of Cheerleaders
ANSONIA – Suellen Dinsmore, a junior at Ansonia High School, has been elected captain of the cheerleaders.
Pond Stocked With Fish
DERBY – Pickett’s Pond has been stocked with fish.
Derby Rep. Henry A. Lionetti told The Sentinel that on April 14 the pond was restocked with 2,500 yellow perch, 100 large mouth bass, 100 black carppie and 100 bullheads.
The pond was restocked in preparation for the children’s fishing rodeo in June.
30-Year Employee Honored By CL&P
DERBY –Anthony M. Urbano of Park Avenue, Derby, has completed 30 years with the Connecticut Light and Power Company,
In honor of his years with CL&P, he was given a jeweled service pin by Randall P. Saxton, manager and gas superintendent of the Ansonia area.
Urbano, a native of Derby and a graduate of Derby High School, joined CL&P as a gate operator at the Shelton Canal in 1937. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 – 46. He returned to work as a gate operator and became a utility man at the canal in 1960.
Car Hits Fence
SEYMOUR – In another accident yesterday, a car operated by Randall Miles, 17, of Walnut Street, Seymour, struck a fence after swerving from a dog. The car was heavily damaged. Miles escaped injury.
Miles told police he was traveling south on Cedar Street when a dog darted out in front of his vehicle. His car skidded on the slippery pavement and hit the fence.
Wednesday, April 26, 1967
Serving In Vietnam
ANSONIA – Army PFC John P. Chrzanowski Jr. of Ansonia is on duty in Vietnam. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Chrzanowski Sr. of Murray Street, Ansonia.
Inducted into the Army Oct. 11, 1966, Chrzanowski received training at Ft. Jackson, S. C. and the U.S. Army Ordinance Center, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD.
Leo Duclos Elected VFW Head
ANSONIA – Leo Duclos is the new commander of Comcowich-Carver Post, VFW.
He was elected last night and succeeds Edward Condon.
Othe officers are: Steven Fainer, senior vice commander; Norman Fink Sr., junior vice commander; Walter White, chaplain; David Dinsmore, quartermaster; Thomas Walsh, judge advocate; Dr. Peter McGivney, surgeon; Joseph Burns, Gordon Childs and William Sullivan, trustees.
Fire Destroys Farm Shed
DERBY – Fred Hine of Derby Turnpike, Orange, reported to Derby police yesterday that a small shed on his farm was destroyed by a fire.
The shed contained a quantity of lumber.
Although most of the Hine farm is located in Orange, the shed was on property within the city limits of Derby.
Patrolman Albert Moran, who made the investigation, said in his report that a group of boys were seen playing near the shed before it was destroyed.
Landfill Dump In Seymour Urged By Health Director
SEYMOUR – Seymour should begin a sanitary landfill operation at its town dump immediately, its health director said last night.
Dr. Joseph Chobian said at a meeting of the Board of Finance that the disposal of refuse was Seymour’s most serious problem in environmental sanitation.
He said operations at the town dump were unsanitary and should be converted to a proper sanitary landfill, with no open burning.
He said air pollution could be reduced greatly because open burning should not be permitted at the dump on the Haddad property on Silvermine Road.
