This week in history!
From the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Ansonia Historical Commission.
Note: the summaries are paraphrased from the original Sentinel articles if parts of the original were unreadable.
Friday, Feb. 25, 1898
To Make Plum Pudding
ANSONIA — Mrs. William P. DeBank of Jackson Street has at last yield to the request of her friends and will engage in the manufacture of English plum puddings, for the making of which she has such a reputation. The puddings are to be placed on sale at the grocery store of W. H. Bronson.
Attends Dog Show
DERBY — City Engineer George A. Johnson was among the attendees at the dog show in Madison Square Garden yesterday. He is the owner of a puppy of one of the prize beagle hounds.
Mr. Forcier To Leave
SEYMOUR — Robert Forcier, who for the past year has been engaged as organist and chorister at Trinity Church, has tendered his resignation to accept a more lucrative position in the same capacity in Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Forcier will sever his connection with Trinity Church this week, and early next week, will start for his new home.
Saturday, Feb. 26, 1898
Mr. Farrel Not Here
ANSONIA — The report that Mr. Franklin Farrel is in Ansonia is not true, as he is still in the south. The story has been circulated very freely the past few days that he was here. One person said he came out from New Haven on the same train as him, but he was mistaken.
Burned By Molten Metal
ANSONIA — Robert Trevathan, a brass molder at the A.C.& B. Co. was badly burned this morning. He was in the pit in casting room when there was an overflow of the hot liquid metal which struck him on the face, neck, forearms and hands, burning a large surface. Dr. Conklin dressed his injuries, which will keep him confined to the house for some time.
To Open March 10
DERBY — F.C. Sherwood, of Danbury, who has leased the store recently vacated by Frank Riegel on Elizabeth Street, will open for business on March 10. He will move his family to Derby. He will deal in tobacco, etc.
Given A Piano
SEYMOUR — Miss Eva Sponheimer, the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Sponheimer of Bank Street, was made happy today after receiving a handsome new piano, a gift from her parents.
Monday, Feb. 28, 1898
Talk Of A Company Here
ANSONIA — There is considerable talk on the street today about enlisting a company of Ansonians to do duty in case there should be a war with Spain. There are many who are willing to take up arms, and the movement is started, there will be no lack of followers.
Simply A Bonfire
DERBY — A report was sent down from the reservoirs of the Birmingham Water Co. Saturday that somebody was burning the fences. George Scranton sought Chief Nolan and together they drove out to the reservoirs, but found it was a false alarm. Some young men were fishing, which was not opposed. The fisherman had built a bonfire of brush, but had obtained permission from the landowners to do so.
Boards To Play Whist
DERBY — The Derby and Shelton and Ansonia boards of trade will play a challenging game of whist in the Ansonia Association’s rooms next Monday night. A return game will be played in Derby the following Monday.
Leased His Farm
SEYMOUR — Stephen Russell, of Oxford, has leased his farm to a man named Bassett for one year and Bassett will take possession soon. Russell, however, will continue to reside at the old homestead.
Tuesday, March 1, 1898
Child Was Fast Asleep
ANSONIA — A family named O’Brien, residing on Bridge Street, were greatly alarmed Friday by the absence of one of the children, a boy of four years of age, who in some manner got away from home, it was thought, and lost. The little lad was missed about 5 o’clock in the afternoon and though a thorough search was made about the yard where he was last seen at play, it was fruitless.
The matter was referred to Chief Ellis, who believed the boy was not far from the house and told them so, but the worst was feared and the parents were driven to distraction. Their sadness was however turned to joy by later seeing the lad asleep in the kitchen behind a small line on which were hung clothes. The boy, during the the mother’s busy moments, had crept behind the clothes at once fallen asleep.
Shelton’s Horse Ran
DERBY — As George Shelton, the milkman, was on his way home Monday morning, he made a stop at the Derby Junction, where he left his horse, unhitched, in the street. While he was in a house, the horse took fright at a passing train and started around the around the corner and down New Haven Avenue. Blankets and an empty milk can were thrown out before the animal came to a standstill of its own accord, but no damage was done.
Ladies To Sew
SEYMOUR — The ladies of the Methodist Church are requested to meet tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock at the church parlors to assist in the sewing of the lecture room carpet.
Wednesday, March 2, 1898
Maple Street Wall Finished
ANSONIA — C. B. Wooster has completed the building of the retaining wall on Maple Street hill and the walk was filled with gravel Tuesday afternoon.
Trains Were In Danger
DERBY — There has been danger of a collapse of the wall that retains the bank on which the trains run in front of the East Derby station. For a distance of a hundred of more feet the wall has been gradually bulging toward the river until at the present time, it is a foot of eighteen inches out of line. Nearly all this week a track walker has been kept on watch to report any caving in of the wall, and Thursday, repairs were made by throwing in a trainload of large stones and forming a rip rap at the bottom.
The track runs about five feet from the edge of the wall and had the latter caved while a train was passing there, might have been a disaster.
Renovating Hotel
SEYMOUR — The Hotel Brunswick is undergoing a thorough renovation in the way of new paint and paper.
Wheels Out In Force
SEYMOUR — The fine weather of Tuesday and today has stirred up the bicycle fever and on Tuesday afternoon, quite a number of wheelmen were out. The number cannot be compared, however, with that seen today and all are happy that roads are in such good condition this time of the year.
