USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Winsted > The Winsted tercentenarian > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
The officers of the Strand Theater Corp. are: President and manager Harry M. Gale; vice-president and as- sistant manager. William JJ. Brennan : secretary and treasurer. Mills T. C'ar- ter; directors, the officers, and Daniel C'olt and Albert T. Steele.
Mr. Gale has been a theater man- ager for twenty-eight years and be- came the manager of the Winsted Opera
honse May 1. 1909, which the next year after the Strand theater was opened was leased by that corporation and closed.
Mr. Brennan is Democratic State Central Committeeman for the 31-t District. chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Connectiont Theater Association and of the Chamber of Commerce Committee to secure a new postoffice building for Winsted.
The Music Hall or Winsted Opera House, as it was later named. Was open- ed in 1872 with a concert by Clara Louise Kellogg (Strakosch) of New Hartford. America's first great prima donna. and was the scene of many notable events. It was damaged by ffe in 1902 and practically rebuilt.
Edward M. Phelps, Grocer
EDWARD M. PHELPS, the grocer. of 633 Main Street. has demon- strated that, in spite of the sharpe -! competition any line of merchandising ever had. the independent grocer can succeed by adhering to a policy which the public is bound to recognize and appreciate. The answer is quality goods at uniformly low prices. a store that is neat beyond criticism and cordial and particular service.
Five years ago Mr. Phelps became a member of the I. G. A .. a buying or- ganization composed of several thon- sand independent grocers with immense warchonses from Maine to California and purchasing facilities in such a large volunte that the members need not fear anyone.
Mr. Phelps established his grocery business on New Year's day. 1900. in partnership with his brother-in-law. Howard B. Deming. under the name of Deming & Phelps at 613 Main Sireet. Six years later he became sole proprietor and soon afterward in 1906 moved to his present location in the Slocum and Swenson block when it was completed.
Mr. Phelps served as a Selectman right years and was a member of the road committee and chairman for six voars and vice-chairman of the board for a time. Ile is a member of the Odd Fellows. Masons. the Winsted ('lub. a director of the Winchester Ilis- torical Society and for many years has toen a member of the Prudential com- mittee of the Second Congregational ('Imurch. Ile is also a member of the Federal Emergency Relief conunittee.
It is interesting to note that his clerk. Edwin A. Simonds, has been as- sociated with him thirty-five years. the whole time Mr. Phelps has been in business, lacking six months.
1
F
55
THE WINSTED TERCENTENARLLN
The Boston Store
Dry Goods House Established in 1383 by James P Davidson
F IFTY-TWO years in merchandis- ing. catering to the needs of the public. and forty-seven years of that time in the same location. all the while building a reputation for spare deal- ing. is a record to be proud of. The Boston store at 430 to 434 Main Street. in the heart of Winsted. of which James P. Davidson & Son. Incorporat- ed. is the proprietor, has been a shop- ping center for over half a century und from a little shop it has grown and expanded into one of the largest and finest stores in the city. deahing in dry goods. ready-to-wear garments. including coats. suits and dresses. ho- siery. infants' wear. domestics. toilet goods, linoleums. shades. etc.
It was back in September. 1883, that the late JJames P. Davidson. a Scotchman from Aberdeenshire. then thirty-eight years old. came to Win- sted from Westerly. R. I .. where he had been in business for nearly ten years after a clerkship in Boston and Providence, and opened the Boston Store. After five years he moved to the present location and by hard work and a natural gift for pleasing his trade the Boston store forged ahead. In 1913. Mr. Davidson took his son. William Pirie Davidson. into partnership with him and the present firm name was aconted. The younger Mr. Davidson having finished sebool went to work in his father's store for a time and then served his apprenticeship at Brown Thomson & Co.'s. Hartford. Then in 1911 he was with Neal. Goff & Inglis of Hartford for six months and with the Albert Steiger Co. of Springfield. Mass .. until 1913, when his father. hav- ing been in business here thirty years. thought it was time to begin to shift the responsibility onto vonnger shonl- ders and so the son took over the man- agement of the business.
The firm was incorporated August 17. 1927. In the fall of 1930. Mr. Davidson. baving purchased the prop- erty several years before. built a large addition in the rear which practically donlled the floor space and gave the much needed room for expanding the departments. The Boston store has long been looked moon as a real Win- sted institution. James P. Davidson died December 2. 1931.
When the World War broke out. W. P. Davidson helped to organize the Winsted chapter of the Red Cross. He gave a great deal of time to its Urgent calls and during the many finan- cial campaigns was the treasurer and accounted for over $50.000. Finally. in September. 1918. though in his mid- dle thirties, he enlisted in the Field
---
1
The Park Hotel, Charles W. Herdling. Proprietor
Artillery and went to the Central Of- ficers' Training School at Camp Zach- ury Taylor. near Louisville. Ky. Ile was nmistered out in December. 1918.
It would be unfair in this brief article not to give Mrs. Davidson a lot of credit for the success of the store. to which. from her large experience. she has given much time and thought.
The Park Hotel
ONE of the charming hostelries in Litchfield County is the Park Hotel on Main Street. facing the Win- sted Park, of which Charles W. Herd- ling has been proprietor since March 1. 1916. Mr. Herdling has been in the hotel business all his life. as was bis father. formerly proprietor of the Windsor Hotel at Orange. N. J. The Park Hotel contains sixty pleasant roem's. Mr. Herdling believes one of the first requisites of a hotel is to serve good meals.
The Park Hotel formerly stord on the site of the Gilbert School and was moved to its present location to make room for the school building in 1894. It was built in 1870 on the site of the old Stevens' bones and was known as Hicks' Hotel. later the Winsted House.
Bunnell's Apothecaries' Hall
A good drug store is as necessary to a town as a good doctor or any kind of a store. In 1848 before there was a railroad in Winsted and when the population was abont 1.000 there was a drug store established which has been in existence for eighty-seven years. Some time after its establishment it
was conducted by Elmore & Welch. the junior partner being James H. Welch, a son of Dr. James Welch. a member of the great Welch family of physi- rians, who practiced medicine here for fifty-five years. 1831 to 1886. Later the firm became James II. and William C. Welch or Welch Brothers. the junior partner afterwards studying medicine and establishing a large practice in New Haven.
In the centennial year. 1876. the business was transferred to Lee & Mix and two years later Mr. Mix retired and George W. Lec and his widow. Harriet C. Lce. conducted the store under the name of Lee's Apothecaries' ball for twenty-nine years, when the business was bonght in 1907 by George L. Fancher who had been connected · with the store from a young man when Mr. Lee took it over in 1878 and after his death in 1894 bad managed it for Mrs. Lee. The business was removed from Camp's to Lee's block. 667 Main Street. in 1889. after the disastrous fire which swept the buildings on that cor- ner.
In 1903. Frank S. Bunnell. a regis- tered pharmacist. became a clerk in Lee's Apothecaries' hall and continued until 1923. when he established his own drug store in the Camp or Lentini block. Four years later he moved his business to the old location. continuing the name of Apothecaries' hall. finally purchasing the block and remodelling the store. equipping it with modern fixtures, giving Winsted an up-to-date city drug store. His long experience in compounding prescriptions and sell- ing pure drugs and medicines and all the necessary articles found in a store of this kind, from the popular soda fountain to a large display of toilet articles or whatever you wish, are high- ly appreciated.
56
THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
Winsted Water Works
Municipal Owned Water System Furnishes Abundant Supply of Moun- tain Water-Fall of 285 Feet-Nets City About $20,000 Annually
WINSTED is most fortunate in owning its municipal water sys- tem with an unfailing supply of moun- tain spring and brook water, having a watershed of 11.3 square miles. Crystal Lake. the City reservoir, is 285 feet above Mad River at Lake Street and gives a pressure of 145 pounds per square inch at the upper end of North Main Street. and is ample in most parts of the City for fire fighting. There are 1.565 service connections and approxi- mately 1.700,000 gallons of water a'c used daily. With low water rates. the City has a net income from its Water Works of about $20.000 a year.
On August 30, 1858. the warden and burgesses were instructed to ascertain whether the borough had the right to draw water from Long (Highland) Lake and in May, 1860, it was given authority to draw water from High- land or Crystal Lakes and to raise the water in the former four feet. A loan of $25.000 was made to purchase the flowage rights, construct the embank- ments and lay pipes. August 1. 1860. Lyman Case. John T. Rockwell and William L. Gilbert were appointed the first water commissioners. A nine-inch cement-lined sheet iron pipe was laid in Lake Street and a six-inch pipe in Main Street. The embankment was so frail that when the lake arose four feet above the old highwater mark there was fear of the dam giving away and it was greatly strengthened. During Dr. H. H. Drake's administration as commissioner, 1872-1879. the bulkhead was rebuilt and strengthened and the waste weirs and roadway constructed.
JJune 11. 1890, William L. Gilbert affixed a codicil to his will giving the borough $48.000 for a tunnel through the mountain from Crystal Lake to Rugg Brook, provided the borough would construct the necessary dams and canal for diverting Mad River and Rugg Brook. July 29. 1892. $40.000 was voted for the dams and canal and $35.000 for raising Crystal Lake ten feet. and a committee, consisting of T. C. Richcards. George B. Owen. Henry Gay. David Strong. R. H. Moore. J. E. Spaulding. Edward Finn. R. E. Holmes. E. P. Wilcox. E. A. Nellis and TI. II. Drake, was appointed to carry out the work. The contract was let to Babcock. Lary & Co. to tunnel the mountain and build the reservoir at Rugg Brook and a diversion canal and dam on Mad River. The tunnel is six feet square and nearly 4,000 feet long. Crystal Lake was increased in arca from 96 to 146 acres.
March 8. 1894. the water began run- ning through the tummel, and on De-
cember 5. 1895. over Crystal Lake dam. The water was turned into the mains July 20. 1896. In May. 1897. by terms of the revised charter. a superintendent of water works was elected in place of water commissioners. Crystal Lake dam was raised twelve inches in 1910. The dams are now being reinforced with cement cores.
There are thirty-one miles of water mains from twenty-four inch at the lake gradually reduced to twelve-inch in Main Street and to eight-inch on North Main Street. A chlorination plant was built in April. 1925. In 1929 the City purchased the rights to con- trol the gates at Rugg Brook dam.
The City has extended its owner- ship of the watershed from time to time and since 1925 there have been 55.000 white and red pines and 3,00C spruce trees transplanted on the water- shed.
Thomas D. Walsh was appointed superintendent September 1. 1925. Ha is also superintendent of cemeteries and tree warden. His assistant is Edward Keefe. C. E.
Winsted is making preparations, after twenty-five years of delay. for the construction of a modern sewer system. Land has been purchased on North Main Street. A chlorination plant beels at a cost of $10.000 and work has begun there under the Federal Emer- gency Relief Association. Several pre- liminary surveys for the pipe lines have been made and it is expected work on the system will be started soon with government funds. The City has al. ready started a sewer fund.
Joseph C. Girard Contractor
IN the nearly twenty years since Jos- eph C. Girard. of 21 Bank Street. has been a contractor and builder he has erected many of Winsted's finest and most modern residences which show better than words can tell the class of work he does. Among the houses he has built are those of Dwight B. Titlany. Mrs. Jabez H. Alvord. Al- bert T. Steele. George II. Chapin. Mor- ris Dolinsky. Harry M. Gale. D. Fletcher Alvord. Ralph V. Tiffany. Ellsworth A. Frazee and the west ell of Mrs. William C. Burwell's house which was built by L. W. Tiffany. The · first contract Mr. Girard had after he worked for Frank W. Enller on the Winsted Y. M. C. A. building in 1915,
and started business for himself was Spencer G. Pierce's residence. Among the many other buildings he has ereet . ed is the Citizen Printing Co.'s office. At Tolland, Mass .. he has built a colony of abont twenty cottages, many of which are quite sizeable. Ho sometimes employs twelve or fifteen carpenters.
Coming to Winsted from Queber, Canada, when he was a lad of twelve. Mr. Girard worked in the New Eng- land Knitting Co.'s mill four and a half years and began at eighteen to learn his trade. He spent a winter in the Hotchkiss Brothers' Co.'s sach and door shop in Torrington and worked outside eight months for the Torring- ton Building Co. Then he finished learning his trade with N. J. Thibault. was employed by Kirsch & Racheter - of Torrington three years, by Edward R. Beckley four years and from 1912 to 1915 was in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada.
Mr. Girard's hockey and tug-of-war teams won many hard fought contests. tests.
Hart's Department Store
HART'S DEPARTMENT STORE at 386 Main Street celebrated its thirty-second anniversary in January of supplying the innumerable wants of every household. including dry goods. hosiery, art goods. glassware. dinner- ware. kitchenware, electrical goods. groceries, candy, toys, shades. curtains. awnings, floor coverings. etc .. etc.
al ek B: ha lin of la th ha 111 in
Peter Hart purchased D. S. Wat- son's five and ten cent store Jannary 15. 1903. when it was located in Colt's . block. In December. 1909. Mr. Hart moved into I. E. Manchester's new block and the business was conducted there nearly 25 years. moving to the present location March 10. 1934.
Clifford Marsh became associated with his father-in-law in 1914 and took over the business in January. 1918. after Mr. Hart's death. He opened a second store in Canaan in February. 1932. From five and ten cent mer- chandise the line was extended to in- clude twenty-five-cent goods and later to $1.00. allowing a much greater and more satisfactory variety of goods.
Hart's Department Store is a miem- ber of the Consolidated Merchants Syndicate and the Limited Price Vari- ety Stores' Association which gives them the very best purchasing facilities. Each year Hart's features a made-in- Winsted merchandise sale which ha- been greatly appreciated by the sum- mer visitors as well as by home folk -.
Mr. Marsh is a director and treas- urer of the Y. M. C. A. and a deacon and trustee of the First Baptist church.
1
-
N 1
-1
pl
1 to 1*(*
fo in 10 at in 111
И
P: I 1 hi
to T
57
THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
The Highland Sweet Shop
New Interior Finish Equal to Better Restaurants in the Larger Cities
TX ennu.erating the many outstanding features of Winsted which make it a desirable place in which to live. one must mention the Highland Sweet Shop at 414-416 Main Street. of which Nathra Nader is proprietor. Mr. Nader has spared no expense in making hi- restaurant attractive. having just com. pleted remodelling the interior in Ori- entnl walnut. with fine comfortable seats. wall mirrors, etc., which was done by Fisher Brothers of New York. One has to see the beautiful work there to appreciate it. None of the better restaurants in the larger cities are nicer.
Included in the equipment is a new fountain. Mr .Nader believes in keep- ing one step ahead in his efforts to cater to the wants and pleasure of the public.
There are tables to serve 135 people at the Highland Sweet Shop. In the rear is a nicely equipped private din- ing room. A new kitchen and ice cream manufactory have been constructed which are very handy and complete.
The Highland Sweet Shop caters for parties, receptions, weddings and all sorts of social functions. There are eleven employes. The chef is Benjamin Barton, who comes from Maine and has had eight years' experience.
Mr. Nader has been in business for twenty-one years and has been located in Winsted ten years. He is the owner of the Wetmore block where the High- land Sweet Shop is located; also of the Winchester apartment block and has a fine residence on Hillside Ave- nne. He is one of the larger taxpayers in Winsted.
Winsted's System of Parks
Continued from Page 2
The Second Church Park was a part of the Col. Hosea Hinsdale home- stead lot and was purchased by the Second Congregational Church abont 1897.
The Veterans' Cobble Memorial Park was given to Seicheprey Post. Veterans of Foreign Wars. in 1933. by Irving E. Manchester in memory of his father. Edward Manchester. contains nearly three acres.
The Winsted playground was given to the town in 1927 by Leverett W. Titany and Edward B. Gaylord.
The Winchester Green was pur- chased by the Winchester Ecclesiastical Society in 1785 and was made secure as a public green in 1841 by the gift of the church site by Isaac Brownson.
24
The Highland Sweet Shop
Holmes Electric Store
SO rapid an advancement has been made in the field of electricity that the electrical service line running into the home. the store or factory is nearly as important as the water service or heating system. Holmes' Electric Store at 673 Main Street. now in its tenth year, of which Henry T. Holmes is proprietor. is headquarters in Winsted for electrical supplies, meeting the many needs of the people. Mr. Holmes does all kinds of residential and in- dustrial electrical work, radio repair- ing, electrical refrigeration and appli- ances, electric oil burners, and he covers every phase of electrical uses.
Mr. Holmes served his apprentice- ship and completed a course in the New York Electrical School and is familiar with all the code requirements. He has a long list of installations. many of them having been important contracts. In 1931 he purchased what was known as Burr's block, enabling him to carry a larger and more com- plete line. The block was built in 1889 by John M. Burr of Burrville follow- ing the disastrous fire which destroyed the original Camp block and a frame block on the site of the Higley tavern. formerly a dry goods store, occupied by Whiting. Miner & Allen, where Mr. Hohnes' block now stands.
Mr. Hohnes recommends the Norge- Crosley electric refrigerators and the Silent Glow oil burners, which are na- tionally advertised.
Mr. Holmes is a member of the Odd Fellows and Masons. His brother,
Ernest, who is associated with him, has been engaged in electrical work for thirteen years.
Holland Beach, Highland Lake
HOLLAND BEACH at the west side entrance of the Wakefield Boulevard at Highland Lake has grown to be a popular resort in the past few years. Situated on the north shore of the lake within the city limits and only a few minutes walk from Main street, one may spend a delightful afternoon or evening there, enjoy the bathing and obtain a fine lunch or supper on the screened-in- piazza at the Manchester food shop, of which Mrs. Helen B. Clover is proprietor. or on the shady lawn adjoining where there are tables under the trees.
The slogan: "Where food is really tasty." is a good one, for they are strictly home bakers, making their own pies, cakes, rolls, etc. Those who love a good cup of coffee after a swim can get it at the food shop which has been enlarged three times in order to accom- modate the people.
The new diving tower is the best one on the lake. There are bathing suits and lockers for the patrons of the beach.
Regular daily delivery service is maintained around the lake and in the city. A little later Mrs. Clover plans to have overnight cabins.
58
THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
1
Vanderpoel Motor Service
IT is probable that the majority of automobile owners do not realize that most ears that are stalled or have tronble on the road can be fixed up on the spot and continue on their way. This is true because the trouble in most antomobiles is something that can be quickly repaired by an expert in auto- motive electrical service which includes the repairing of generators, starters. ignition, lights, horns. batteries. the tuning up of motors, ete. Many times what seems a serious trouble to the driver is only a very minor matter to the automobile electrician.
It is important news and good news to know that there is being established a chain of independent stations in every State in the Union known as the United Motors Service, where im- mediate and satisfactory service can be obtained.
On July 1, 1934, the Vanderpoel Motor Service, which is connected with the United Motors Service, was estab- lished by A. P. Vanderpoel, the pro- prietor, at S and 10 Center Street, di- rectly in the rear of the Winsted post- office, succeeding the Smith Storage Battery Co., which had been in the bat - tery business about ten years, succeed- ing in turn the Durand Willard Bat- tery station which was established be- fore the World War.
Mr. Vanderpoel was graduated in the special electrical service course in the Springfield, Mass., State Trade School in 1926. Ile was then employed by the Packard Motor Car Company of New York in the Springfield service station for four years and next at the Greenfield, Mass., Auto Electric Serv- ice station and by the Hartford Stan- dish Battery & Electric Co., and then by the Bartram Anto Electric Co. of Torrington, for a year before coming to Winsted, having thus had nine years' experience specializing in auto- motive electrical service for every make of car.
It is also important news to know that the Vanderpoel Motor Service carries electrical parts for eighty-five per cent of all the ears on the road today. It sells the Delco batteries which are standard equipment in fifty- five per cent of all the new cars mann- factured. In addition to servicing gen- erators, starters, ignition. magnetos. batteries, horns and lights. they service windshield wipers, shock absorbers, car heaters, auto radios, spark plugs. fuel pumps, fan belts, ammeters, etc .. etc. A telephone call to 859-2. Winsted. will bring immediate service twenty miles or farther, day or night. if desired. There is one important thing left to be said, the Vanderpoel Motor Service is reliable and reasonable.
The Mechanics Sucings Bank
Mechanics Savings Bank
Established in 1875-Assets Over $4,000,000 and Over 5,000 Depositors
T the time that Connecticut is com- A memorating the 300th anniver- sary of its foundation, it is interesting to note that this mutual savings bank is celebrating the sixtieth year of its existence. At the 1875 session of the General Assembly an act incorporating the Mechanics Savings Bank of Win- sted was passed which was duly ap- proved on July 15, 1875. Among the original incorporators were men who were leaders in the community, and who freely gave the benefit of their services and experience to start the bank on its course. Numbered among these were such men as William L. Gil- bert, J. G. Wetmore, Harvey B. Steele, Joseph H. Norton, Charles B. Hallett, David Strong, John Hinsdale, Harvey L. Roberts and others prominent in business couneils at that time.
The bank opened for business ou September, 1, 1875, in a small building then used as the insurance office of Elias E. Gilman who was its first treas- urer. Its records show that the first deposit was made by William S. Bun- nell, who received passbook No. 1 with a credit of $5 thereon. At the end of its first year of existenee, it had a total of sixty-seven accounts representing $12,798 in deposits.
Later its business was moved to the offices now occupied by the First Na- tional Bank and which it occupied in conjunction with that bank. About 1908 it transferred to new quarters at 64 Main Street where it was located until 1930 when it moved to its pres- ent spacious quarters at 86 Main Street in a beautiful Indiana limestone struc- ture erected by Hoggsou Brothers of New York city, specialists in bank buildings.
From a modest beginning this bank has grown to one of over 5,000 deposi- tors and over $4,000,000 in assets. It
is a mutual savings bank, having no stockholders and all profits are either paid to its depositors in the form of dividends or allowed to accumulate as reserves to care for contingencies that may arise from time to time. It is gov- erned by a board of eight trustees who receive no salary for their services iu that capacity, but who supervise it for the good. of the community. It now numbers among its customers residents of nearly every state in the Union.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.