100 Years Ago May 1919
In and About The Haddams
Selected from the pages of The Evening Press and lightly annotated by Sally Haase
Hartford, May 1, 1919: A bill granting women the right to vote in presidential elections was killed in the Senate by a vote of 19 to 17. The house passed in concurrence the amended bill providing for a committee to eliminate the waste from polluted streams. The house then took up the bill providing for the 50-hour work week for minors and women in mercantile establishments; but by a vote of 117 to 51 the house rejected the bill, thus disagreeing with the senate.
Haddam, May 1, 1919: Horace S. Williams recently sailed for Haiti and San Domingo where he will inspect for mineral deposits on the island while others will investigate timber resources.
Higganum, May 1, 1919: Surveyors were staking out the state road yesterday that is to be started next week on the road leading to Killingworth.
Higganum, May 2, 1919: Archie Cook, who has been in the service across and who was wounded, has returned home to see his sister Miss Eva Cook.
Carl Johnson caught 25 shad, Wednesday night, quite a good catch on the first night of fishing.
Middletown, May 2, 1919: Last night’s minstrel show, “The Black and White Revue,” given by the Middletown High school Girls’ Patriotic League, proved to be a an exceptional success. The event was given for the benefit of the Polish Orphans’ Relief fund. The young women presented a program including the following musical numbers: Beautiful Ohio, Niger Sunday school, I’m Always Chasing Rainbows and Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.
Higganum, May 5, 1919: The number of measles cases which has been about town has subsided.
A new store is to be opened in this place under the management of Walter Kingsland. He is to have a bakery, meats and other lines of goods.
Haddam Neck, May 6, 1919: On Tuesday, Captain G.T. Sandin, Carl Sandin, Gunnar Bloomquist, and Otto Nielson were honorably discharged from the service. All spent Sunday at their homes.
Haddam, May 6, 1919: Friends welcomed Frank S. Kelsey home when he arrived in town Friday. He has been in service overseas, gassed twice and severely wounded with a bursting bomb. Kelsey speaks in high praise of the care he received when wounded and of the way Uncle Sam treated his soldiers.
East Haddam, May 6, 1919: On Wednesday, the war exhibition train will stop at the East Haddam and Moodus stations to allow the citizens to view the relics taken from the enemy by our boys “over there.” As the train approaches the station, aerial salute bombs will be discharged. Lt. George Comer and Freddie Wolf, both fresh from duty, will be the local speakers. The schools and factories will close down during the time the train will be here and the bridge will collect no tolls.
Chicago, May 7, 1919: George Godard 55, who says he is an American citizen, is at the Bridewell hospital with bullets from a sailor’s gun as a result of his refusal to stand up when a “Jackie band” played the Star Spangled Banner during a Victory celebration.
Haddam, May 8, 1919: Chauncey Dickinson and G.A. Dickinson were in Hartford yesterday to attend the one hundredth anniversary of the first meeting of the general assembly.
Next Sunday the one hundredth anniversary of the Haddam Sunday school will be celebrated. In February 1819 a meeting was called at the home of Gen. John Brainerd to consider the framing of a Bible Society. It was first known as the Yong Men’s Bible Society of Haddam. Now known as Haddam Bible Society, they meet each year on the first Sunday in January.
Shailerville, May 8, 1919: Harvey Pierce has purchased the old building known as “Ventres store” and is tearing it down. We shall miss the old landmark as it has stood there about eighty years.
East Haddam, May 10, 1919: Frank Ventres, employed at the bank, is the latest victim of the measles.
The river is unusually filled with snags and hangs this season as well as torn nets and frequent hangs which are the fortunes of local fishermen.
Higganum, May 14, 1919: The first dirt was moved yesterday on the new state road, which is being built by Arrigoni Bros., on the Killingworth turnpike.
East Haddam, May 15, 1919: Alsia Cone, of Tylerville, is repairing the nets of the fishermen on this side of the river.
Raymond Ventres, who recently receive his discharge, has returned home.
Shailerville, May 15, 1919: Mrs. Emil Schutte received a letter from her son, Walter, who has been quite ill in a hospital at Fort Monroe, Va. He wishes to thank friends who showered him with birthday cards on May 9th.
Killingworth, May 22, 1919: Lovell D. Parmelee has been presented with a German helmet for securing the largest number of Liberty Loans in town.
Haddam Neck, May 23, 1919: Memorial [Day] exercises will be held on the lawn of the Taylor place at Rock Landing. It is hoped that several of our soldier boys will be on hand and participate in the exercises.
Moodus, May 24, 1919: The arch bridge which caved in a few weeks ago, collapsed Friday. The entire new wall which was rebuilt is gone together with a portion of the downstream side of the arch proper. [Does anyone know the location of the arch bridge?]
Higganum, May 29, 1919: A meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a home town chapter of the Delphian society for the benefit both intellectually and socially of women. Mrs. Sarah Decker, realizing the need of women of her sex, who after leaving school or college, are quite often apt to retrograde mentally, worked to prevent that with this society. The charter members of the Haddam chapter are: Mrs. Deda Brainerd, Mrs Margaret Thompson, Mrs. Belle Russell, Mrs. Whitney Porter, Mrs. Phillip Porter, Mrw. Eugene Burr, Mrs. W.C. Marble, Mrs. C.B. Carlson, Mrs. Charles Lamson, Miss Amy Brosmith, Miss Ivanette Bailey, Miss Etta Trecotton, and Mrs. T.J. Riley.
Middletown, May 31, 1919: Middletown did itself proud yesterday in its welcome home celebration to those men who represented the city and town in the fields of France, on the ocean and at naval and military bases in this country. The spirit of the crowd was of the best and the parade itself was beyond reproach. The special train and trolleys came in loaded down with people from up and down the valley, the roads leading to Middletown were black with automobiles.
It was a picture worth seeing. As the men passed down Main street, they were given one great resounding cheer. Whenever a service flag came in view, there were tears to be seen in the crowd in memory of the deceased men. All honor was paid to their memory in the impressive ceremonies at South Green.
100 years ago, much has changed and, then again, nothing has changed.
