USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > West Haven > History of West Haven, Connecticut > Part 11
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Organized in 1905, the Village Improvement Association has made note- worthy progress in promoting better sanitation, policing, and park facilities, has secured improved service from public utilities, and was instrumental in forming a library for the community.
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WEST HAVEN ORGANIZATIONS
COMMUNITY COUNCIL,
Under the name Central Council of Social Agencies of the Town of Orange this organization was first formed in 1921 for the purpose of establishing a cen- tral welfare agency. Proposing to provide aid for "those who do not come within the jurisdiction of a town or church agency," establishing better relations between citizens and social service case workers, the council has become an important fac- tor in the rehabilitation of the unfortunate and underprivileged.
In 1922, support was received from the New Haven Community Chest, of which the local organization is now a member. In 1934, under a new constitution, the Community Council was incorporated under its present name. Trained social workers are in charge.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
After the founding of the Village Improvement Association, a score of active civic organizations and clubs were formed. Some are devoted to improving local conditions in specific sections of town ; others are concerned with improving bus- iness conditions, with politics, or have been formed simply for recreational pur- poses.
The leading groups, not previously mentioned, with the date of founding, are as follows :
West Shore Progressive Association, 1918
West Haven Republican League, 1926
Italian-American Club, 1928
West Haven Garden Club, 1929 Savin Rock Progressive League, 1929 Connecticut Federation of Women's Democratic Clubs, 1929
West Haven Democratic Club, 1929
Parents and Teachers Association, 1930
Salvation Army, West Haven Unit, 1930 Rotary Club, 1930 Aimes Point Club, 1932
Stevens-Heights Community Club, 1932
Probus Club, 1932
Minor Park Improvement Association, 1932
Allingtown Civic Association, 1933 Cosmos Club, 1933 West Haven Chess Club, 1934
West Haven Fish and Game Club, 1934
Lake Phipps Association, 1934 Sea Bluff Civic Association, 1935 Guiseppe-Massini Club, 1935
West Haven Scholastic Sports Association, 1937
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HISTORY OF WEST HAVEN
REVOLVER TEAM ( West Haven Fish and Game Club)
Several of the members of the West Haven Fish and Game Club organized a revolver team of ten members in November, 1938. During the first year, matches were scheduled only with other independent teams, but, in December of 1939, the unit joined the Connecticut Revolver League and since has participated in the regularly scheduled matches of the league.
This league, whose membership includes most of the police pistol teams in the State, is composed of five groups of four teams each. Each team shoots a match once a week; medals for the high team in each group are provided by the league.
The team representing the West Haven Fish and Game Club practices each Monday night on the West Haven Police Pistol Range in the Town Hall, under the coaching of Police Sergeant Gustave Misbach, an expert pistol shot.
Matches are conducted at indoor ranges during the winter and outdoor ranges during the summer.
Present (1940) membership of the team includes : John E. Guetens, Captain ; Louis Hamelin, Secretary-Treasurer; E. Harrington, Leonard Nolan, Steven Tabor, G. Reoch, A. Benson, and Byron .A. Guthrie.
WEST HAVEN BOYS' CLUB
Early in 1939 the West Haven Park Commission, by direction of First Se- lectman Schall, took over a building at 295 Thomas Street, owned by the Connec- ticut Savings Bank, for use as a Boys' Club, upon an absolute grant of use for 14 months with a 60-day termination clause. In payment for the privilege, the town abated all back taxes owed by the bank on this particular piece of property. It was agreed that the building itself was of practically no value, and that negotia- tions would be conducted later with the Connecticut Savings Bank to take over title to the land.
The Boys' Club project had been discussed for many years. The need for such a facility for the handling of youth problems in West Haven had passed be- yond the debatable stage and was generally conceded.
With the cooperation of the National Youth Administration, who provided a supervisor and workers, the old building was practically demolished and rebuilt. The work of remodeling was completed in early summer, and the official grand opening held on July 31, 1939.
The park department purchased the necessary new furniture, and citizens of the town were very generous in their donations. Pool tables, radio, table games, ping pong, books, and magazines were among the many articles received as gifts.
Continued Cooperation of the National Youth Administration supplies a full- time supervisor and 9 assistants, each of whom work a total of about 50 hours a month. There is no cost to the town for the services of any of these men, hence operating costs of the club are held to a minimum.
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WEST HAVEN ORGANIZATIONS
On the first floor of the eight-room building are the large auditorium, two small game rooms, and a large cloak room. On the second floor are a library, ping pong room equipped with two full sets, and three meeting rooms for the use of small groups. On the grounds are an outdoor basketball court, volleyball court, and horseshoe court; in the vacant lot on the west side of the building, baseball and football practice is conducted.
The club is open from 10 A. M. to 9 P. M. daily except Sundays.
In the 1939 season, the club was represented on the gridiron by a well-coached team in the 150-pound class. The present basketball team in the unlimited divi- sion is showing great promise. A baseball team wearing the colors of the organ- ization is a member of the West Haven Twilight League.
Situated as it is in the heart of the Second District (Savin Rock), this club meets a vital need that had been felt for many years. John F. King, club super- visor, was formerly a football coach of the Branford Laurels and the Wallingford Walcos, and a one-time member of the Fordham University football squad. Small in stature and young in years, but big of reputation, "Johnny" (to the hero- worshipping boys) has been largely responsible for the success of the club. . \t present (1940), there are 280 members between the ages of 8 and 21 years; a "Booster Club" has a membership of 50 adults. Membership fees are in four classifications : boys between 8 and 12 pay 25c per year ; 12 to 15, 50c per year ; 15 to 21, 75 cents per year ; and the adult boosters, $1 a year.
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WEST HAVEN NATIONAL GUARD
In 1922, when the post-war National Guard of Connecticut was expanded from one regiment of infantry to two, two new machine gun companies were or- ganized in the New Haven area. Largely through the efforts of Colonel (then Major) I,ewis L. Field, one of these units was assigned to West Haven. Recruit- ing was supported by veterans' and other patriotic organizations and by interested citizens; the company was soon brought to the required strength and received Federal recognition on July 1, 1923. The new unit was designated Company H, 170th Infantry, Connecticut National Guard. On February 28, 1924, the 170th Infantry was redesignated the 102nd Infantry, its war-time number.
Robert H. Stevenson, who had been serving as Second Lieutenant of Com- pany D in New Haven, was promoted to Captain and became the first Company Commander of the new unit. The junior officers were First Lieutenant, William L. Larash (now Major), and Second Lieutenant, Harry Robinson.
Company H began its training in cramped and inadequate quarters in the Town Hall. In the summer of 1923, the Company served its first field training period at Camp Templeton, Niantic, acquitting itself creditably, despite the small amount of preliminary training the men had received.
Shortly after returning from this first camp, Captain Stevenson was ordered to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia, where he took the three months' course for National Guard and Reserve Officers. On his return he was promoted to Major and detailed as Regimental Machine Gun Officer. First Lieutenant Larash was then promoted to Captain and succeeded Major Stevenson in command of the company.
After a little more than a year, Captain Larash was detailed as Assistant Machine Gun Officer on the Regimental Staff and was succeeded by Captain John F. Lynch. Captain Larash was later promoted to Major and is now a member of the Brigade Staff. Captain Lynch was succeeded by Captain Percival R. Jacques, one of the original members of the company, who served as Company Command- er from 1927 until 1935. Captain Wallace A. Moyle, the next commander, served until 1937 when he was succeeded by Captain Herbert A. Metcalfe, one of the original enlisted men of the company. Captain Moyle was promoted to the State Staff on which he now serves as Major.
This company functioned as a machine gun unit of the regiment until it was disbanded in October, 1939. At that time, its designation, Company 'H, was transferred to Waterbury, replacing the Howitzer Company. Captain Metcalfe was transferred to command Company M in Ansonia, and Second Lieutenant Stephen Brown was transferred to Company H at Waterbury.
With a personnel reduced from 62 men and 3 officers to 37 men and one officer, the local unit was redesignated an Anti-Tank Platoon of Headquarters Company, 102 Inf., C. N. G. The machine guns, shipped to Waterbury, were
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WEST HAVEN NATIONAL GUARD
replaced with 37 MM anti-tank guns. First Lieutenant Harold Berry, former Platoon Commander of Company H, is in command of the new Anti-Tank Pla- toon.
On May 7. 1940, a bronze bas-relief bust of Colonel John Henry Parker, of West Haven, World War Commander of the 102nd Infantry, was unveiled at the Goffe Street Armory in New Haven. Colonel Parker, known throughout the United States Army as "Machine Gun Parker", is the man who first used a rapid fire gun in modern warfare (at San Juan Hill) and who established machine gun schools for training the A. E. F. in France. The bas-relief by Michael Martino was executed under the direction of the Federal Arts Projects.
SERVICE COMPANY, 102nd Inf., CNG
About six months after the dedication of the West Haven Armory, in 1933, Service Company, 102nd Inf., C. N. G., composed almost entirely of New Haven men, was assigned to quarters in that building. This unit, organized in 1923, was first commanded by Captain Joseph S. Carusi. In 1925, he was succeeded by Captain Joseph D. McMahon. Upon the sudden death of Captain McMahon in 1932, the present commander, Captain Anthony Rappa, took charge of the com- pany. A part of the Service Company, the Band Section, and the Headquarters Detachment, are stationed in New Haven. The company's duties are among the most arduous and tedious in military life and contribute largely to the smooth functioning of the entire regiment.
WEST HAVEN ARMORY
Of red brick with a modernistic entrance of limestone, the West Haven Armory, erected at a cost of $150,000 and dedicated July 22nd, 1933, is consider- ed by high-ranking military officials as one of the finest of such structures in the State. Unlike most armories, because of its radical departure from the stereotyped fort-like architecture, the building has a front section two stories high. In this section, is a veterans' room, for the use of various veterans' organizations, and apartments for the State armorer. The drill shed, although not as large as in some armories of the State, is adequate for the units stationed in West Haven. The walls of the shed are of special sound-absorbing material; across one end of the hall is a large balcony with a seating capacity of 250. Locker rooms for the military personnel, on either side of the drill floor, are equipped with fire-proof lockers, tiled lavatories, and showers. Commissioned officers' quarters and lounge rooms are handsomely furnished. In the basement is a fully equipped kitchen, company supply rooms, a garage, and a rifle range.
The legislative appropriation for the building of the Armory was secured largely through the efforts of Colonel Lewis I. Field, Major William L. Larash, and Capt. John F. Lynch.
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1. Burwell Heights
2. Lincoln School
3. Adjutant Campbell Monument
4. New Haven County Home
5. Campbell Avenue School 6. Union Congregational Church
7. Forest School and Allingtown Branch Library
8. Park Theatre
9. Allingtown Fire Dept.
10. Alling House
11. St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church
12. First Avenue School
13. William Wirt Winchester Hospital
14. North End Hose Company
15. Richard Thomas House
16. Nehemiah Smith House
17. Stiles School
18. Stevens House
19. Humpreville-Clark-Ward House
20. Lutheran Church
21. Methodist Episcopal Home for the Aged
22. Johnson-Austin House
23. Site of First I,og House in West Haven
24. Second Avenue Hook and Ladder Company
25. Methodist Episcopal Church
26. West Haven Public Library
27. Rivoli Theatre
28. U. S. Post Office
29. First National Bank, West Haven Branch
30. Baptist Church
31. Center Hose Company
32. Town Hall
33. Mallory-Smith House
34. Union School
35. West Haven High School
36. St. Lawrence's Roman Catholic School
37. St. Lawrence's Roman Catholic Church
38. Bayview Park
39. Cameo Theatre
40. . World War Memorial
41. First Congregational Church
42. Christ Episcopal Church
43. Washington School
4-4. Noble School
45. St. Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church
46. Salvation Army
47. Savin Rock Hose Company
48. Hill's Homestead
49. Plaque Designating the Spot of Tryon's Landing
50. Savin Rock
51. Thompson School
52. Capt. John Ward House
53. Abbott Park
54. West Shore Fire Dept.
55. Colonial Park School and Prospect Beach Library ( Branch of West Haven Library )
56. Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church
57. Samuel Clark House
58. Merwin-Hubbard House
59. Sorghum Mill
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