USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Winsted > The Winsted tercentenarian > Part 8
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In 1774, Phineas Potter from Wood- bury, with the help of Landlord Burr of Torringford, in one day ent out : path for his team a distance of five miles from Hayden Ilill to Winsted and camped east of Still River, near the Winsted Hosiery, and the next day crossed the river and built a shanty against the large rock on the Green Woods School grounds, and became the first settler in the Still River Valley south of the Old North Road.
1
"Solomon's Temple," Home of Winchester Historical Society
The Gilbert School
Continued from Page Ten
Years. The first faculty. in addition to Dr. Clarke, consisted of Miss Flor- ence W. Sampson. A.B., German and history, and Miss Alice W. Emerson. A.B .. classics, who remained from the founding of the school until 1908 and 1909, respectively : Herbert Moody. B.S .. physics and mathematics: Miss Jeannette Wendell. French and Eng- lish: Miss Edith M. Garvin. A.B .. English and Latin: Miss Frances Dut- ting. music. and Miss Carrie M. Dongh- ty. drawing.
In 1905. the commercial department was established preparing students for business and office work. offering type- writing. stenography. bookkeeping. commercial arithmetic. business law. etc. Manual training was also intro- duced in the early years in a small was
Residence of Walter Davenport
and was greatly enlarged when the annex was opened in 1908. the manua! training department, drafting, machine shop and woodworking occupying the entire basement, the commercial de- partment the second floor, and the gymnasium the upper portion of the building.
It was in 1908 that the present principal, Walter D. Hood, B.A., & graduate of Yale, 1894, aud supervisor of schools in Shelton and Stratford, sneceeded Dr. Clarke, and began his long and most successful administra- tion of the school which has added new departments and kept on expand- ing, gaining a very wide reputation as one of the distinctive high schools in New England. Mr. Hood has been a member of the State Board of Educa- tion for sixteen years and has rendered invaluable service to the advancement of 'education in Connecticut.
A course in home economics was in- troduced in Gilbert in 1912, whereby hundreds of future home-makers have been taught sewing and cooking.
About 1915 another building was erected to make room for the machine shop and provide quarters for the agri- cultural department which was intro- duced under the Smith-Hughes law.
Mr. Gilbert made provision in his will for a library in connection with the school to be open to the public. It contains about 15,000 volumes besides current magazines and periodicals and. while the first consideration is given to reference material for the assistance of the students, there is considerable fiction which is enjoyed by a large number of people. About 30,000 books are drawn annually.
The Gilbert School purchased the Burr Meadow on Willow and Rowley Streets many years ago and a decade ago built the new athletic field and tennis courts. For several years past the students have engaged in baseball,
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
football and basketball and have been represented in some of the high school leagues and made a very creditable showing. The teams are coached by amateurs among the members of the faculty. Gilbert won the Naugatuck Valley high school baseball league championship in 1935.
For the past four years. afternoon and evening classes in home economics have been conducted for six weeks and are open to any women above high school age.
The school has a very fine orches- tra and boys' and girls' glee clubs. and there are several school clubs and so- cieties which add to the activities and interests of the students. The school has at present 650 students and serves seven towns, Winchester. Norfolk. Cole- brook, Hartland. Barkhamsted and New Hartford, with a few from more distant places.
There is a faculty of thirty teach- ers and librarians.
Mr. Hood, Miss Larkin, Miss Brownell, Miss Swanson. Miss Crnte. Mr. Atwood. Mr. Coleman. Mr. Frank- Jin and Mr. Rumrill have taught for an average of more than twenty years.
The present board of trustees con- sists of Edward B. Gaylord, president : Dudley L. Vaill, vice-president ; Clar. ence II. Bunnell. secretary and treas- urer; D. Fletcher Alvord, Luther I .. Chase, Hallett F. Clark, Robert E. Gaylord, Edward R. Holmes, Robert J. Leighton, Wilbur G. Manchester, Joseph A. Norton, William II. Phelps. Edward L. Pratt. J. Albert Smith, Frederic C. Strong and Dwight B. Tiffany. Of these. Mr. Manchester has served on the board for thirty-three years, succeeding William L. Camp. and Dr. Edward L. Pratt thirty-two years, succeeding Gov. Lorin A. Cooke.
Mr. Gilbert made a provision in his will that $10,000 from the income be added to the principal annually for 100 years, which has proven a very wise plan. The assets at present amount to about $1,200,000.
The school is fortunate in having ten scholarship funds to assist deserv- ing students to continne their educa- tion after leaving Gilbert. as follows: The Emily P. Roberts' fund of $2.500. two alumni funds of $2,500 each. a faculty fund of $2,500, and six annual scholarships of $600 each for students attending Yale University, given by the late Mrs. Jane Nisbet.
Each year on Founder's Day for twenty-five years the students and teachers have placed a wreath upou Mr. Gilbert's grave in the Central cone- tery as "a mark of appreciation and respect."
The Leonard Grain Company
THE LEONARD GRAIN CO .. of which Charles H. Leonard is gen- eral manager, with a store at 70 Main Street and feed mill on North Main Street. is the successor of a grain busi- ness that has been in continnons opera- tion for sixty-five of seventy years. The grain business is one of the staple in- dustries with few changes. for people like Mother's Best Flour. the flour with a flavor, which has long been a house. hold favorite and hens like Park & Pollard's "Lay or Bust" poultry feeds sold by the Leonard Grain Co .. just as they did twenty-five years ago.
It was some time before 1870 that Frederick Woodruff took over the fac- tory on North Main Street which was
Charles II. Leonard, Manager
built in 1853 by Benjamin and Edward Woodall. Englishmen, who began mak- ing steel fire irons and was operated until 1857 by the Winsted Shovel & Tongs Co. Previously there had been a scythe shop there conducted by Hal- sey Burr from 1814 until he sold it to the Woodalls. Mr. Woodruff con- verted the factory into a feed and grinding mill and it has been in oper- ation as such ever since. Mr. Woodruff and his sons, Alfred and Stanley, built up a prosperous grain business. the sons making large bequests to the town and hospital.
The Woodruff interests were pur- chased in 1912 by M. D. Leonard & Co .. extensive dealers in grain, and Charles Il. Leonard, a consin of M. D. Leonard became the manager. Iu 1920. Mr. Leonard and his brother. Claude, organized the Leonard Grain Co. and in 1929 the business was in- corporated and continues to do a large business, at wholesale and retail, in
grain, feeds, flour, seed potatoes and fertilizers throughom. this section. The mill was enlarged in 1919, raising the roof another story so as to elevate the grain, making it easier to handle. and a steel attrition mill and other equipment installed.
Mr. Leonard is a native of Vermont. his father, who joined the Argonauts in the gold rush to California. later becoming the largest maple syrup deaì- er in the Green Mountain State. Mr. Leonard took up the jewelry trade. first in Boston and then as a salesman. covering New England and New York and finally purchasing F. B. Catlin's jewelry store in 1905 and selling out to W. D. Churchill in 1912. when he went into the grain business. For sev- eral years he was a deacon of the First Congregational church and a director of the Y. M. C. A. and Chamber of Commerce.
Henry Allen & Son, Jeddo- Highland Coal
FORTY-THREE years in the coal business means forty-three years of selling good coal and forty-three years in the public's confidence.
Henry Allen & Son whose yard and office are located at 234 Willow Street deal in Jeddo Highland, a high grade Lehigh anthracite coal which has al- ways given mich satisfaction, and their equipment for handling it is the latest. the coal being lifted from the cars by a sixty-foot elevator and lowered into the bins by a spiral chute which elim- mates breakage. There are five over- head bins for the five sizes of coal with a capacity of 1.000 tons. The coal is of the best quality and free of dirt.
Ilenry Allen was a scythe maker until after he was fifty years of age when. in Angust. 1892, he established his coal business. Five years later his son. Ralph. left school and went to work and in November. 1904. was taken into partnership with his father. the firm becoming known as Henry Allen & Son. A year later Ralph purchased his father's interest and has been the sole proprietor ever since. For six years he also conducted a coal business in Windsor, disposing of that in Novem- ber. 1934.
In addition to his coal business. Mr. Allen has other interests. Ile has done considerable building and is the owner of nine dwelling houses and of a large modern brick and steel garage on Main Street which is occupied by the New England Transportation Company. He is the largest individual taxpayer in Winsted.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN .
Winsted Motor Sales Company
Buick Agency-Ernest G. Williams, Manager-Established 1926
L IVING up to its familiar slogan of many years. "When better auto- mobiles are built Buick will build them." the new Buick is the greatest performer on the road. Words on paper can never tell the reader the glory of the new Buick performance, you must try it. for this is performance not only in smooth. safe speed and marvelous pick-up. it is performance at its best in braking-in safety-in riding-in roomy Inxnry-in trustworthy road - ability. Try the new Buick and you'll wonder why you ever thought of any other.
Since July. 1926. the Winsted Motor Sales Co .. at 475-481 Main Street. with its fine brick and steel salesroom and modernly equipped service station in the heart of the city, has been Buick headquarters in Winsted and this area. It was in that month that the company was organized with F. S. Pulver as president. A. A. Hotchkis-, vice-presi- dent ; W. J. Pulver. secretary and treas- urer, and Ernest G. Williams, a well
Ernest G. Williams
known antomobile salesman since the close of the World War. manager.
Each year since that time the Win- sted Motor Sales C'o. has been stepping ahead. with Buick as its great per- former and Pontiac with its speedline beauty in the lower price field. Ouly a car like Pontiac could come from such a modern plant as Pontiac.
So well has Mr. Williams succeeded that he has also become the manager. secretary and treasurer of Canaan Motors, Incorporated, representing the
Winsted Motor Sales Company's Garage
Buick. Chevrolet and Pontiac in the hustling Housatonic Valley territory.
The Winsted Motor Sales Co. is an official A. A. A. service station. which means efficiency, maintaining twenty- four-hour road and towing service. Re- cently the company installed antomatic ralenlating pumps in connection with its Shell gas-more miles per gallon --- and oils-more years of life for the car.
The service manager is Roy Church. who has been with the company from the beginning. while Albert Durant. the mechanic. bas been on duty for seven years, and Sidney D. Gray, who began selling cars for his father eight years ago. has been with the Winsted Motor Sales Co. for three years. It is an organization that any company might well be proud of.
The Hutton Bros. Company
THE HUTTON BROS. COMPANY
at 9 Union Street. Winsted. spe- cializing in plumbing, heating. sheet metal work. pumps. septic tanks, stoves. oil burners and air conditioning. ma- chine repairs, welding and tool making. was organized in 1914 by William and Andrew Ilutton to take over the estab- lished business of F. W. Marsh & Son. A large business has been done in Win- sted and throughout Litchfield County. The firm emploves a staff of thorough- Iv competent mechanies and is noted for up-to-date methods and wide know- ledge of all branches of the business in which it is engaged.
About ten years ago a well-equipped machine shop was added. with Robert Hutton in charge. Besides machine re-
pairing. welding and the making of special tools and machinery is under- taken.
All the partners are men of long experience in their particular lines. William Hutton. president and treas- urer. is a former editor of a plumb- ing trade paper and anthor of several standard text books on plumbing and heating subjects. Andrew Hutton. vice- president. is a sheet metal worker of exceptional ability, and Robert Hutton an all-round machinist. competent to design and make any tool or special machine that the shop is called upon te produce.
Porter C. Griffin, who has been in charge of most of the larger contracts handled by the company is an expert plumber and steam fitter with many years experience.
Among the larger contracts handled by the company are the Y. M. C. A. building. St. James Church. Mechan- ies Savings Bank. Winsted Savings Bank. Strand Theater. Central School. Landers Frary & Clark factory at New Hartford and many fine residences thronghont Litchfield County.
The company is distributor for lead- ing manufacturers of plumbing and heating materials such as Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Co. (sanitary fixtures). American Radiator Co. (boil- ers and radiators). Fairbanks Morse Co. (automatic electric pumps and engines, septic tanks, etc. ). Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Co. (oil burn- ers and air conditioning equipment ). Chambers Corporation (makers of fine gas ranges). and a large stock of these appliances is carried for the prompt service required by customers.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
Town Court of Winchester
Established June 1, 1899-Superin- tendent John H. Slocum "Chief" Since 1918
JINSTED'S first police officer was Caleb P. Newman, who was elect- ed bailiff in 1858. The "lock-in" soon afterward was in the Woodford block ( Fieldman's) next to the Hurlbut Bank. Bailiff Newman became a vel- eran of the Civil War. enlisting in Co. F. 28th Regiment. Connecticut Volum- teer Infantry. Stephen W. Sage, an- other Civil War veteran, was also chief several years.
The General Assembly in 1864 an- thorized the establishment of a police court with power to determine all cases for violation of the by-laws or ordi- nanees of the borongh and to have the same anthority in the borough as the instices of the peace in the town. Dur- ing the same or following year a bor- ongh building was erected. now .James Vita's market. 381 Main Street, with ac- commodations for borough meetings and police court. and the lock-up in the basement. The station house was moved to the then new town building in the late seventies. where there were three eells built under the vaults. one being recently removed. The station borse was moved a few years ago m- der the court house, steel cages: having previously been installed.
The Town Court of Winchester was established by a special act of the Gen- eral Assembly. June 1. 1899, with Frank W. Seymour as judge and the late Con-
Superintendent John II. Slocum
gressman James P. Glynn as pro-e- enting attorney. Judge Seymour pre- sided in the court over twenty-five years and was succeeded by the present judge, Hadleigh II. Howd. Jonathan
Judge Hadleigh II. Houd
Els succeeded Raymond L. Carmody as prosecutor July 1. 1935.
Stephen C. Wheeler was elected Forongh sheriff October 1. 1888, and was chief of police nearly thirty years. The wearing of uniforms was begun in 1889 and the keeping of police rer- ords in 1892. John H. Slocum snereed- ed Chief Wheeler as Superintendent of of the Police Department. February 25. 1918. having been a regular member of the department since May 10. 1909. He did special police duty in 1908. The department now has twenty policemen in addition to the chief. Frank W. White is Captain. Sunt. Slocum. the son of former Deputy Sheriff Michael ("Moody") Sloenm. has built up a strong organization.
The department was motorized in 1930. Supt. Slocum has been a mell- her of the executive committee of the Connectient State Police Association about ten years.
Bushnell's Tire and Battery Store
NE of the greatest recent improve- ments on Main Street has been made by Waldo E. Bushnell. propri- etor of the tire and battery store and garage at 716 Main Street. In order to build his handsome steel and gray brick garage and provide parking space in front. Mr. Bushnell took down the old Dr. James Welch honse, a Winsted land mark. and remodelled the store building that was erected abont forty- five years ago which he purchased in 1923.
Mr. Bushnell has been in the tire and battery business for eighteen years and by constant and personal attention
has built up a splendid trade. Ilis lin- includes Firestone tires and batteries. brake linings, ignition work, car greas- ing. Sinoco gas and oils. Philco radio- and Maytag washing machines, Mr. Bushnell gives reliable service and his charges are moderate. As a side line he has been dealing in real estate and especially in desirable property for summer homes.
I. Gaber, Dry Cleaning . Shop
I. GABER'S dry cleaning. repairing and pressing shop has been located at 419 Main Street for twenty-four years. he having come to Winsted two Years before. so that Gaber's tailor shop has long been a Winsted fixture. In 1920 his son. Morris, became associated with him and the business has grown steadily.
A few years ago they installed a Columbia "Dri-Clener" plant. which
Captain Frank W. White
means the Gabers dry clean garments in their own shop in the modern way ; the first plant of its kind to be installed in the state, getting rid of dirt and grease scientifically without the slight- est injury to fabrics, colors, buttons or trimming-, and leaving no odors. It "dri-clenes." perfectly. heavy suit: and overcoats, draperies, hats, blankets. robes. bed spreads, conch covers and all other hard-to-handle things, and dresses, ladies' suits. fur coats, gloves. scarfs and all of the frilly things.
If you have not yet taken your things to Gaber's to be cleaned you'll be surprised how perfectly they do it using the Dupont tri-clene.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
Stavnitzky Bros.
Representing DeSoto and Plymouth Automobiles in Northern Litchfield County
TO change from selling lumber, wood and ice to modern high powered de luxe automobiles is about as great a change as the mode of transporta- tion was from wagons and carriages to these same beautiful high speed ears. both being useful and necessary oecu- pations and requiring good salesmau- ship. Wagons were as necessary iu their days us automobiles are now. Sci- ence and art have been united to pro- duce a machine that outdistances all possible imagiuation of a few years ago.
The Stavnitzky brothers, Michael and George, who are natives of New Hartford and grew up on the John Richards place on the old historic Farmington River turnpike and were in partnership with their brother, John, in the lumber, wood and ice business, decided there was a greater field and opportunity for them in dealing m automobiles so Michael sold out his in- terest in 1925 and became an automo- bile salesman and George sold out two years later and the two brothers form- ed a new partnership four years ago in February under the name of Stay- nitzky Brothers and established the automobile sales and service station, their showroom being in the north wing of the Standard Cycle & Auto Supply Company's building on Rowley Street, next to the bridge, and the service station in the rear.
The business has grown rapidly and the chief reason is that they chose a fine line of cars, the DeSoto and P'ly- mouth, which they represent through- out northern Litchfield County.
The DeSoto Airstream of which there are eight models and DeSoto Air- flow in four models are Chrysler prod- ucts and are undisputed style leaders. The Airflow is the holder of twenty- nine world records for speed and econ- omy and is two years ahead of its field in new appointments, new per- formance, new comfort and new safety. The Airstream DeSoto in the popular price field has as one of its many fea- tures the famous "floating ride." eruis- ing at eighty-five miles an hour with amazing smoothness and no slowing down for "rough spots."
In the low price field there are thirteen models of the Plymouth which with its new design steel body gives roominess and assures great strength and safety.
Stavnitzky Brothers always have a variety of models ou their floor. They also have a fine display of used cars all the time which they keep moving. Telephone Stavnitzky Brothers for a demonstration.
11.
Michael and George Stavnitzky
Sterling Name Tape Story
"It's an Ill Wind that Blows No Good"
THE story of the founding of the Sterling Name Tape Company is an example of a slight misfortune be- ing a blessing in disguise. 'Way back about 1906, Mrs. Howard Deming re- ceived from the laundry an undergar- ment on which had been marked the laundry number in indelible ink. The spreading ink made a brown spot as farge as a quarter, quite visible through any thin waist. The idea came to Mr. Deming that, if laundry could be well marked at home, no similar accident need occur.
At that time Mr. Deming had a very small job printing plant and nov- elty store called "The Hoodoo Store" in a small building, long ago torn down, just north of the Hurtbut Bauk. Mrs. Deming had some tape and MIr. Deming knew how to make some in- delible ink. The laundry number, +40, was printed on tapes and sewed on all articles sent to the laundry. The print- ed tapes served so well that others were made for friends who also liked the idea. Some samples displayed in the show window brought some pleased enstomers from the hospital. Such be- ing the case, it was only natural for Mr. Deming to send samples to a few neighboring hospitals. The results be- ing favorable, advertising was sent to some 1,700 hospitals with similarly good results. Mr. Deming, having dem- onstrated that the little, old building was no hoodoo to him, moved into larg- er quarters where the up-west A. & P. store now is. The business continued to grow; job printing and stationery sales were discontinued and other lines were added. Eight years ago the large
building opposite the railroad station was purchased and soon filled with ma- chinery and supplies.
The printing of Washproof Name Tapes is still the leading item, but, now, a specialty is made of selling hos- pital, camp and school supplies with names of owners indelibly printed or engraved. Items sold now are blankets, sheets, pillow cases, towels, handker- chiefs, laundry bags, napkin rings, bandage scissors, fever thermometers, identification pins, scout kuives, flash- lights, fountain pens, watches, diaries, leather novelties, ponchos, duffel bag>. etc. The work gives employment to from twelve to twenty persous. accord- ing to the season. Orders are received from all over the country with fairly frequent orders from foreign countries. even those not in the daily news, such as South Africa. Liberia. Ethiopia. Arabia. Iceland, etc. It is interesting. too, to open letters from well knwon people. At least thirty orders have been received from Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. : tapes have been print- ed for the sons of Calvin Coolidge and Franklin Roosevelt. Recent orders were from Gene Tunney, Fannie Brice and Joe Penner. Very ordinary-looking en- velopes may contain quite uunsual or. ders, such as one for 666 napkin rings and another for naute tapes for 1.300 boys.
In 1933. Mr. Deming removed the century-old building east of his factory and erected a substantial garage for twelve automobiles, thereby greatly im- proving the appearance of the section near the railroad station.
The depression was but a slight irritation to the Sterling Name Tape Company and the future appears ex- ceedingly bright.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
The First National Bank
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Winsted was organized Febru- ary 27. 1879, with the following direc- tors: Francis Brown. George S. Burn- ham. Elias E. Gilman. Charles B. Ilal- lett. Franklin Moore. Lyman R. Nor- ton and David Strong. The capital was $50.000. later being increased to $100.000. Mr. Gilman, who was then judge of probate and treasurer of the Mechanics Savings bank and had been a carriage manufacturer for thirty- seven years. postmaster. town treasur- er. representative and warden of the borongh. was elected the first president of the new bank and Frank D. Hallett. a son of Charles B. Hallett. was choseu first cashier and has been an officer of the bank ever since, having been elected president in 1923. a most remarkable banking record covering a period of fifty-six years.
Mr. Hallett, who is a native of Winsted, after attending the South Berkshire Institute at New Marlboro and. Wilbraham Academy. worked for a short time on the Springfield Repub- lican and a Waterbury newspaper and began his banking experience with the Connectient Trust Co. of Hartford. He represented Winsted in the Gen- eral Assembly in 1913 and was a men- ber of the committee on banks. When he was advanced to president. he was succeeded as cashier on November 20. 1923, by William F. Peetz, who had been with the Brooks National Bank
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