100 Years Ago January 1920
In and About The Haddams
Selected from the pages of The Middletown Press and lightly annotated by Sally Haase
Middletown, Jan. 1, 1920: [Note: In December 1919, the Berkley Divinity School , a seminary of the Episcopal Church in Middletown and now located at Yale, invited a speaker who stirred up the community by extolling the virtues of the Bolshevik and socialist ideology.] The laymen of the Episcopal church are seriously concerned over the charges recently made calling the Berkeley Divinity School a “hot bed of socialism.” A layman’s letter demands that the position of the Episcopal church be made clear. [It reads in part,] “…everybody knows that the Roman Catholic church stands firmly against all socialistic doctrine and that she will fight it whenever she finds it. I think I have a right to know, where the Episcopal church stands on this question of socialism. Does the Episcopal church, as a policy, approve of socialism being preached directly or indirectly from its pulpits by its clergy or …in schools over which it has jurisdiction?”
Middletown, Jan. 2, 1920: Autoists must get new markers as the 1919 Connecticut automobile licenses expired on Wednesday night midnight. There were today a large number of machines parked along Main street, there owners being in violation of the law.
Higganum, Jan. 2, 1920: Arthur Brooks has received a consignment of coal as many who have been out of coal are rejoicing at the glad news.
Mr. Mance, reader of meters for the Electric Light Co., was in town yesterday, collecting.
East Haddam, Jan. 2, 1920: The banquet served the [local veteran] boys at the Riverside Inn was a great a success with compliments for the fine repast. After the social hour they were conveyed to Moodus, where in Continental hall they danced the old year out.
The Fish Net & Twine Co. observed the holidays yesterday, but owing to rush orders the machines were kept running.
The coal yards of W.C. Reynolds were the scenes of much activity this week, when 519 gross tons of coal were removed from a barge and deposited in his sheds.
Middletown, Jan. 5, 1920: F.L. Caulkins has had several opportunities to sell out his business for financial gain. Instead, he has always felt that his carpet and furniture business, established in 1891, belonged to those employees who had stood by him in his past success. Now Mr. Caulkins is giving them the going business and only retains an advisory office.
Haddam, Jan. 7, 1920: The annual meeting of the Philathea Society [a women’s international organization for Bible study] was held last evening at the home of Miss Lucy Hazen with Miss Mary Palms and Miss Lucy Dickinson entertaining. The officers chosen for 1920 are Pres. Miss Carrie Shailer, vice-president Mrs. A.M. Clarke, and sec. Miss Phila M. Parmelee.
Middletown, Jan. 9, 1920: The Middlesex County Farm Bureau voted to ask the Common Council to make milk inspections… and to publish the names of milk dealers selling clean milk after each inspection. [This was after several illnesses were traced to contaminated milk.] Chairman Sen. E.W. Hazen of Haddam, entertained the question of employing a woman for this work [inspection] inasmuch as women have proved very satisfactory elsewhere, according to reports.
The bureau directors also considered the desirability of a location in Middletown for a slaughterhouse. They believe it would not be advisable to have a slaughterhouse situated too close to the city as it grows, since it will become less desirable to have cattle passing through streets to such a slaughterhouse.
East Haddam, Jan. 9, 1920: Mrs. V.L. Daniels and Mrs. M.L. Berkowitz left Wednesday to attend the Automobile show in New York city .
The Elmar Garter Co. is doing a good business. Many of the townspeople are taking home work. The only drawback is the firm being unable to procure stock fast enough.
We hear the cry each week that the following one will find much sugar obtainable, but to date we have been unable to procure but a little of the brown [sugar], and thankful for that.
Boston, Jan. 10, 1920: Babe Ruth, real home run king and the greatest batsman of his time, has been sold to the Yankees for a reported price of $125,000. He signed at his own terms for three years with Boston at $10,000 a year. In an attempt to break his contract he then said he would not play this year unless he received $20,000. The Boston management decided to get rid of him…as he disturbed the harmony of the team. Great player that he is, he was so intensely tied up to the dollar side of the game that the sporting feeling was lost.
East Haddam, Jan. 12 & 16, 1920: Lloyd Arnold secured a fine string of perch and pickerel on the Salmon river. Several parties from different cities were here fishing through the ice on Sunday.
The young people are enjoying skating on the river which is very good since the last rain.
The people who have bought the Herchfield place are to engage extensively in poultry and have secured the service of an expert to conduct the plant.
Haddam, Jan. 21, 1920: Thermometers registered from 12 to 20 below zero yesterday morning, according to the reports from various places about town. Mrs. Myron Skinner reported 18 below zero at her home in Higganum.
Haddam Neck, Jan. 23, 1920: The Jolly Juniors met at the school house and elected the following officers: president, Margaret Nielson: vice-president, Ella Gillette; secretary-treasurer Chauncey Brooks. They voted with funds on hand to purchase an organ for the school and a number of books for the church library.
East Haddam, Jan. 23, 1920: The Toy Aeroplane Co. of New York have reconsidered their decision and will again visit town with a view to locating here. Every encouragement should be offered the firm.
The sliding was never better than at present and the young people are enjoying it to a finish. The big double ripper (two sleds fastened together with a board) is in great demand. Rather dangerous passing the curve leading to the bridge approach, but thus far no accidents have happened to mar the sport.
Hartford, Jan. 24, 1920: The Daughters of the American Revolution at the state library held a conference on “Americanization.” They resolved: …” that we denounce , as enemies of our country, the “parlor” socialist, communists and bolshevist, whether American or foreign, who spreads these disloyal, destructive and sedition doctrines and that we protest against the leniency which too often allows this gross abuse of freedom of speech to flourish without constraint.”
Middletown, Jan. 28, 1920: The outbreak of the Spanish “Flu” brought forcibly before the public the manner in which the Volstead bill has tied up physicians and druggists with the result that even when prescribed by a reputable physician it is hard to obtain alcoholic liquors for medical purposes. The rulings so tie up a druggist that few care to handle liquor in any form even though they sense the need of “Flu” victims having them as a stimulant. [Note: The 18th Amendment (Prohibition) became effective January 17, 1920. The Volstead bill provided for the enforcement of the amendment. Initially, non-intoxicating cider and fruit juices (not more than .05% alcohol) were allowed to be made and consumed at home.]
100 years ago, much has changed and, then again, nothing has changed.
