USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Hamden > The history of Hamden, Connecticut, 1786-1936 > Part 29
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 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
THINGS THAT CAME AND WENT
The Hamden Times newspaper, at first under the editorship of Daniel Prince and later under Warren Brainard and William Davis, was published weekly, and its press was housed in the historic building in Cen- terville which had been the scene of old town meetings. The paper, a short-lived competitor to the two New Haven papers, was never a financial success.
Day Spring Lodge, following the razing of the old town hall, had occupied temporary rented quarters in Centerville while they accumulated funds for a build- ing of their own. In 1933 their Temple was built where Centerville trotting park had been, two blocks north of the central corner.
The repeal of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1932 caused a unique and unprecedented joint meeting of the Democratic and Republican town committees, in which they harmoniously set up the plans for getting out the vote-a circumstance which is not likely to be
438
The History of Hamden
repeated. Repeal added new sources of revenue to the town treasury, the first of which came from the state in the subsequent issuance of beer permits.
Pine Rock, notable for its early geological interest and the Indian Cave, as well as the Blakeslee Com- pany's quarry business was greatly changed when they set off 20 tons of dynamite there, which lifted 180,000 tons of rock and dropped it 40 feet away. The blast was the last of importance at the quarry, substantially exhausting the usable material there, where for forty years the plant had yielded millions of tons of trap-rock for construction and foundation work.
SESQUICENTENNIAL
The year 1936 marked the 150th birthday of Ham- den as a municipality, and First Selectman Rochford invited representatives of all religious, civic, fraternal, and patriotic organizations of the town to form a com- mittee to plan an appropriate celebration of the sesqui- centennial. This central committee, which divided it- self into the necessary number of subcommittees in charge of details, was comprised of: Arthur H. Adams, Recreation Board; Harry D. Alling, Day Spring Lodge, Masons; William H. Avis, Press; William H. Balke, Selectman; Floyd A. Beecher, Hamden Plains Church; Leon A. Booth, American Legion, Post No. 88; Jere- miah Camorota, Italian-American Club; Manley E. Chester, Historical Society; Fiore Ciccone, Crosswell Lodge, Odd Fellows; Rev. George Cooley, Whitney- ville Church; Miss Gladys Crook, Girl's Reliance Club; Mrs. William J. Curren, Colony Club; Mrs. Robert L. Eaton, Mount Carmel Book Club; Roland
Only the Giant Sleeps 439
C. Finley, Grace Episcopal Church; Bernard J. Fitch, Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; George P. Fitch, Selectman; George D. Ford, Mount Carmel Congregational Church; Mrs. George D. Ford, Mount Carmel Civic Club; Miss Angelina Funaro, St. Ann's Church; Mrs. Robert Gibson, Hamden Music Club; Goldwin H. Graham, Chamber of Commerce; John H. Hamilton, St. Rita's Church; Mrs. Amelia Hansen, Alice Chapter, O. E. S .; Mrs. Thomas Hartley, Thim- ble Club; Mrs. Howard Hine, Norwood Club; Mrs. Hamilton Ingersol, Whitneyville Community Club; George J. Kimler, St. Stephen's Church; Mrs. Harold Lewis, Dunbar Community Club; Mrs. Sadye Maguire, United Social Club; Mrs. B. Hartley Mann, Visiting Nurse Association; Edward A. Nichols, Disabled American Veterans; Mrs. John Nichols, American Le- gion Auxiliary; Fred C. Olsen, St. John the Baptist Church; Miss Alice Peck, West Woods Civic Club; Arthur J. Ralph, Historical Society; F. Raymond Rochford, First Selectman; Mrs. Clayton Shores, Whitneyville Woman's Club; Roscoe Steffen, Church of Christ in Spring Glen; Stephen J. Terani, St. Steph- en's Church; George Warner, Ex-Selectman; Michael J. Whalen, Press; Mrs. Arthur Woodruff, Red Cross. Mr. Rochford issued a proclamation :
Commencing today, Hamden will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its town government. We may prop- erly feel just pride in the founders of our town, and in their successors who have carried on the develop- ment of Hamden.
Many residents of other towns in Connecticut and of other states have through their forefathers, ties and connections with Hamden, and we now invite them to come and visit with us.
440
The History of Hamden
To others we also extend a sincere welcome. On June 14, 15 and 16 there will be formal functions, exhibitions and festivities, all of which we trust will be interesting and entertaining. June 16, which day marks the 150th anniversary of our first town meet- ing, will be observed as a holiday.
In behalf of the people of the town of Hamden, I invite all townspeople, neighbors and friends of Ham- den, to join in commemorating the 150th anniver- sary of Hamden.
In advertising the celebration, two thousand pairs of automobile markers were sold, bearing the words "Come to Hamden's 150th anniversary June 14, 15, and 16." Green and gold gummed stickers designed by Alex- ander Murdoch, picturing the town hall, and with the message, "Welcome to Hamden Sesquicentennial Cele- bration June 14, 15, 16, 1786-1936," were used by the hundreds on letters and packages. A bright neon sign was affixed to the front of the town hall: "1786-Ham- den-1936." The booklet and souvenir committee pub- lished a 35-page booklet containing brief historical matter, pictures and the celebration program. They also issued 500 copper coins commemorative of the occasion, bearing a likeness of the Sleeping Giant on one side and Eli Whitney's achievements on the other.
Nine evening broadcasts from radio station WELI were presented by prominent citizens, calling attention to interesting features of the coming activities. Many of the oldest houses in the town were labeled with the name of the builder and the date. The only one-room schoolhouse still in use in Hamden, in West Woods, was painted red to make it more realistically in keep- ing with old times.
MOUNT CARMEL CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH AVONNS
00.21 100H08 XYONNE
₹
1
-
'3
Mount Carmel Churchgoers in Costume on Sesquicentennial Sunday
786HAMDENLI9 . 6mm
Sesquicentennial Group at Town Hall
AN-
---
.....
Part of Sesquicentennial Parade, showing Selectmen's Carriage
441
Only the Giant Sleeps
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
At II A.M. services in the Mount Carmel Congrega- tional Church were conducted in the same manner as the ancient Sabbath procedure held there in 1761, and the congregation came attired in period costumes. Old collection boxes were used and the communion table was set with the original pewter service and a tablecloth eighty-one years old.
At I P.M. the firemen held memorial services at the Whitneyville firehouse hall, honoring members who had died. This service is a yearly custom, observed by fire companies throughout the state on the same day, which by chance this year fell on Hamden's celebration date.
At 1.45 P.M. a town-wide religious service under the direction of Reverend George Cooley of the Whitney- ville Church was held in the high school, attended by seven hundred people. Mr. Rochford spoke briefly, and the local clergymen who took part were Reverend Matthew Brady of St. Rita's, Reverend Harry Poole of Grace Church, Reverend William Jackson of Hamden Plains Church, and Reverend John Reilly of St. Ann's. The address, "The Founders of Connecticut, America's First Pioneers" was delivered by Reverend Dr. Rock- well H. Potter, Dean of the Hartford Seminary Foun- dation.
A pageant, "In the Valley of the Blue Hills," which depicted the history of Hamden, was presented by over 350 local participants under the direction of the author, Miss Lauretta Plumley, in Montgomery's Field on Mount Carmel Avenue in the shadow of the Sleeping Giant's head, to an appreciative audience of six thousand people.
442
The History of Hamden
The industrial exhibit in the Auditorium of the town hall was visited throughout the celebration by interested crowds, viewing the displays of twenty-eight local groups. Equal interest was shown in the exhibits at the Historical Society's old red house on Mount Car- mel Avenue, at the Mount Carmel Library, and in the town-hall committee room, which included military trophies and flags, ancient maps which showed the location of houses in the town, spinning wheels, beau- tiful old homespun cloth, furniture, dishes, and cloth- ing.
MONDAY
Under the training and direction of Miss Keane and Miss Andrus, one thousand school children presented a patriotic festival at Webb Field on Monday afternoon. At 4.30 P.M., sixteen memorial trees-eight on the north boundary of the high school and eight on the south-were dedicated and named in honor of the six- teen first selectmen of the last fifty years. The trees were given for this purpose by Walter Wirth, superintendent of the New Haven Park Department, and Joseph Bar- ry. Mr. Rochford presented the president of the Ham- den Historical Society, Manley E. Chester, as the speaker for the occasion, who said:
The town is justly proud of its sixteen stalwart leaders who have so ably managed our affairs these last fifty years. It has not always been easy in a town of this size to satisfy the many local points of view. With so many outlying sections needing local consideration, it has always taken tact and patience, love of their fel- lowmen, and consideration of the town as a whole, to satisfy all needs within the budget. We feel, how- ever, that these selectmen are representative men of Hamden. The present generation is showing the same
443
Only the Giant Sleeps
interest and responsibility in town affairs as their pre- decessors have done. We feel that the future years will be in good hands.
Of Mr. Rochford, Mr. Chester said:
Our present first selectman needs no tree or milestone at this time. He is demonstrating his keen ability to manage the town's affairs, and the citizens of the town have confidence that Hamden's "ship of state" will be safely guided through any troubled waters which may surround it. His will be the first tree and milestone of the second century of the town which will be celebrated in 1986.
A musical program was presented in the high school auditorium in the evening by Walter West, pianist; Katharine Grimes, violinist; and vocalists Caroline Thorpe, Ruth Brown, James Morton, and the Ham- den Music Club chorus. Prizes for winners in the essay contest were awarded to Betty Booth in the junior- high-school class for "Early Hamden"; to Gladys Jackson in the high-school class for "Hamden's Past Fifty Years"; and in the open class to Rachel Hartley for "A Plan for Hamden's Future."
At 10 P.M. a spectacular display of fireworks was shown on the high-school grounds, with accompanying concert by the high-school band.
TUESDAY
Tuesday was the culminating high point of the three- day celebration, starting at 9.30 A.M. with a program of school athletics at Legion Field. At 12.30, a parade of major proportions took place. The vehicular division went from the town hall down Dixwell Avenue to
444
The History of Hamden
Morse Street, to Newhall, to Putnam, to Whitney, and, joined at the Web Shop bridge by the foot division, pro- ceeded to Legion Field. It was reviewed from a stand in front of the Masonic Temple by the three encumbent selectmen, and former First Selectmen George Warner, Arthur Woodruff, John Davis, and Edward Sanford.
Led with dignity and precision by the veteran mar- shal Benjamin Bamford, the full parade was in the following order: Benjamin Bamford, marshal; Town officials, citizen's committee; 102nd Infantry Band; Hamden Police Department; Fire Department; High- wood V. F. A .; Hamden's oldest fire apparatus; Sec- ond Company Governor's Foot Guard, and Fife and Drum Corps; New Haven Grays; Horse guards; Sons of American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps; American Legion, Post 88; Disabled American Veterans; High- land Heights Drum and Bugle Corps; Girl Scouts- Boy Scouts; Hamden Grammar School Band; Meriden School for Boys Band; Mount Carmel Church (old straw picnic wagon); First District Republican Club Tally-Ho; Visiting Nurse Association float; Brock- Hall Dairy float (three old-style horse-drawn milk wagons); Norwood Club carriage; American Legion float; United Social Club float; Connecticut Doughnut Company float; St. Ann's Church float; West Woods Circle float; Chamber of Commerce float; Whitney- ville Community Club float; Dunbar Hill Community Club float; Red Cross float; Glen Terrace Nursery float; a 1914 Ford sedan (Anthony Raccio); Mr. DeVecchia store float; Hamden Laundry float; O. & F. garage float; Terrani Bros. (builders) float; Giant Valley Fuel Company float; Mount Carmel Civic Club auto; Ham- den Building Tile float; Hamden Provision Company; Goodman machines.
445
Only the Giant Sleeps
Prizes were awarded to the floats of the American Legion Post 88, depicting an old horse-drawn canal boat; to the West Woods Circle for their replica of the old red schoolhouse complete with teacher and pupils; and to the Red Cross Chapter for their effective and appropriately decorated float. When two years later the city of New Haven celebrated its tercentenary, the Legion canal-boat float was Hamden's entry in their parade.
Upon the arrival of the parade at Legion Field, the crowd of several thousand people stood at attention dur- ing the raising of the flag and the playing of the na- tional anthem. First Selectman Rochford welcomed the gathering and thanked the people of the town for help- ing to make the celebration a success. At his request the four ex-selectmen rose and were heartily applauded. Judge John L. Gilson, chairman of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, gave an address in which he drew attention to old family names of Hamden which had come down through the proud years of the town's growth - "Dickermans, Gilberts, Allings, Mixes, Hitchcocks, and a host of Warners." He spoke of our old town meetings as uplifting and inspiring, and said,
In this present atmosphere of tranquility, recollections of the early lives of the founders of Hamden must come back to rouse a nameless responsive thrill of some- thing deep within us. Like morning mists on Hamden's own immovable mountain, cling magic memories of her pioneers; raising a throb in every heart that loves liber- ty, rekindling the fires of patriotism in our own breasts, and engendering never-ceasing admiration for its splen- did exemplification in their lives.
The afternoon ended with a baseball game in which a team composed of so-called "old timers," appropriate-
446
The History of Hamden
ly in keeping with the nature of the celebration defeated the high-school team, 6-2. In the evening at the high school, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer was per- formed by the Hamden WPA adult education project.
The three days' devotion to the enactment of scenes and events of our town's proud past brought together people of all ages and of varied interests from the ten villages whose activities so rarely coincided, in a happy realization of mutual pride in the history of their own town. That history, thus touching them closely, be- came of more vivid importance, and no one who par- ticipated as either actor or spectator could fail to be inspired by the past and imbued with a wish to take personal part in the future accomplishments of Ham- den.
447
Only the Giant Sleeps SINCE 1936
With 150 years behind her, Hamden in many re- spects turned a new leaf in her history. Mr. Rochford instituted new governmental patterns; ever-mindful of the precedent and the personality of the town, he began the administration of its affairs-never forget- ting the law and the budget-with clear-sighted force, direction, and thoroughness. There were changes not only in personnel but in physical aspects of the town. Baldwin Drive was a park project built by WPA work- ers and Government funds as a memorial to Governor Simeon E. Baldwin, who left $ 150,000 toward it. (It will be remembered that he spoke at Hamden's cen- tennial.) The drive runs for six miles along the west- ern border of Hamden from West Rock Park entrance to West Shepard Avenue. Among the unparalleled views from this road can be seen almost the whole pano- rama of the town of Hamden. The extension of the New York Merritt Parkway known as the Wilbur Cross Highway has cut across Hamden, noticeably at Dix- well Avenue near the high school, and on Whitney Avenue in Centerville, removing from its path the historic Web Shop factory.
A road was constructed over Mill River and under the railroad from the rear of Spring Glen to Dixwell Avenue, chiefly for the convenience of high-school stu- dents. One of Hamden's typically packed town meet- ings had no comments or criticisms on a proposed finan- cial budget of $1, 100,000, but evidenced an enormous interest in what name should be given this extremely short road; the choice falling upon "Connelly Park- way." Building construction, both residential and in- dustrial, exceeded any time since the boom period in
448
The History of Hamden
1929, and included several sizable real-estate develop- ments, and the erection of such large factories as the High Standard on the Dixwell Avenue site of the Economy Concrete Company, the Botwinik Brothers on Welton Street, and extensive additions made to Whitney Blake and Acme Wire Companies.
Whitney Avenue, keeping pace with the other fine highways, was paved with cement from the New Haven line to Todd Street in Mount Carmel, with a new bridge over Lake Whitney at a considerably safer angle than the old one, and buses replaced the trolleys.
Hamden has developed out of her early self-con- tained disinterest in going to other places; and from the grass-grown mirey cart paths with primitive ox- and horse-drawn vehicles, through the period of horse- cars, carriages, and trolleys, she has progressed to broad, smooth highways built for both pleasure and conve- nience. Her large, high-powered factories, manned by hundreds of employees, are a far step forward from the mill on the river, run by the owner.
Nature contributed one change in the hurricane of September 21, 1938, which did no more serious dam- age than to fell 475 trees, and so far injure 140 more that the Public Works Department was forced to re- move them.
The Union & New Haven Trust company opened a branch bank in the Hamden Bank building in 1937. The town's bonded indebtedness was reduced between 1935 and 1942 from $1,328,000 to $920,000, and the tax rate was lowered one-half mill to 211/2 mills.
The transition from wooden bridges and culverts to all concrete was complete with the widened culvert at Wilmot Brook and the building of the new Davis Street bridge, which cost $63,500, and was the largest
449
Only the Giant Sleeps
engineering structure ever built by the town. The bridge was designed and the work directed by the as- sistant town engineer, A. Frederick Oberlin, and it was his last work. After his death in 1938, the bridge was dedicated to him. He was endeared to the people of the town during his official services to it, and for his outstanding record as a war hero. Under the leader- ship of the Hamden Post American Legion, a fund was raised by public subscription, of which Clayton Lindsey was treasurer; and memorial stained glass windows to his memory were installed in the rotunda of the town hall. Impressive exercises were held on June 25, 1939, in which some of his close military friends spoke -- Major Leonard Maloney, Captain Daniel Strickland, Major James Quinn, Captain Philip English, General James Haggerty, and Commander John Dillon. Se- lectman Rochford and Chaplain Bamford took their official part, and music was played by the One Hundred Second Infantry Band.
MAJOR OBERLIN PASSES
No bugle called his men to rally with him, No aide could tend him to this rendezvous; Alone he heard the single summons To face once more his adversary-Death. Unquestioning and wholly fearless, he accepts His last assignment,-and salutes.
No Croix de Guerre awards this triumph, but Another cross that names him ever hero, Dauntless, brave, and true.
His life was unassuming, simple, kindly, With every task done cheerfully and well; And though he never sought for praise, Nor wished to hear it,-today he surely heard "Well done, thou good and faithful servant,"
For he served his country, God, and fellowmen.
450
The History of Hamden
And those who loved him, think of him not dead But ever-living in their hearts, and in the lives of those Who, coming after him, have faith To make themselves as noble.
When, over him, flag-draped among the summer flowers, Two bugles blew our wistful, sad farewell- The echoes faded softly in that breathless moment, While all the trumpets sounded on the other side.
Military heroes of the past are not forgotten, while more today are likewise earning their glorious place in history, for the world went to war again in 1939, and hundreds of Hamden boys have joined the armed ser- vice since our country entered the hostilities. They are continuing to go in ever-increasing numbers, earning the pride and gratitude of a townspeople who are once more reminded that they owe an incalculable debt to the young men of this and former wars who offer their lives to give us the blessings of our way of life.
CHANGES IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES
In 1938, the parish of the Blessed Sacrament came as an outgrowth of the Church of St. John the Baptist. Services were first held in the Church Street School. The pastor, Reverend Charles Cavanaugh, preached the first Masses in the new church building on the cor- ner of Church Street and Circular Avenue on Christ- mas, 1939.
In this same year Reverend Matthew Brady, pastor of St. Rita's Church in Spring Glen, was appointed Bishop of Burlington, Vermont, making one more in- stance in which the ranks of Connecticut clergy afforded an episcopal head to a neighboring state. Vermont has
451
Only the Giant Sleeps
ever been called the child of Connecticut, and it seems historically fitting that emissaries from Connecticut should continue to go there.
Hamden has shown throughout her history the influ- ence of the churches. Out of New Haven Colony's humble beginnings of religious freedom-hampered by the dominating established church-we have gradually become a community in which all religious groups are not only tolerated but encouraged, in the knowledge of their contribution to our culture.
SCHOOLS
Dr. Herbert Landry was succeeded as principal of the high school in 1938 by Mr. Wilfred Moody. New auditoriums were added to six grade schools-State Street, Centerville, Church Street, Helen, Mount Car- mel, and Putnam, as well as more classrooms. The old wooden Dixwell school was torn down, and the corner- stone box was ceremoniously opened by a group of interested persons. With the addition of some other appropriate articles, the same box was placed in the addition to the Pine Street School, which was renamed Margaret L. Keefe School. Dunbar School was closed, leaving West Woods School the only frame building in our school system of 3,298 grammar-school students and their 116 teachers, 1,350 high-school pupils and their 56 teachers, 6 supervising principals, I high school principal, and 4 special supervisors. The town pays a fraction less than 50 per cent of the tax dollar for edu- cational facilities; an advance indeed from the early- Hamden single-room wooden schoolhouse with one teacher, pittance-paid from a minimum educational tax on the local district. The schools have become a part
452
The History of Hamden
of Hamden's thoroughly integrated system of govern- ment, a system still classified as the old town meeting, of which we have been such a perfect example, still placing the great civic responsibility upon the towns- people themselves in a local control which is real de- mocracy working in its purest form.
Such a form of government can be a success only in the hands of courageous, intelligent, and honest citi- zens; and throughout her history there have always been responsible people who have wanted good govern- ment sincerely enough to take part in it. If the town- meeting government must soon be superseded in Ham- den, it will not be for lack of able citizens but because of their great number.
It may be said that the corporate personality of Ham- den is inventive, shrewd, cautious, hardworking, and thrifty; and that our churches, our schools, and our politics are matters nearest our hearts. The old Giant -our fundamental unchangeable-bears his age-old benign imperturbable aspect toward the pulsing, grow- ing changes of our little life.
Municipally we are still young, and some of the pioneers who carved out our character were here within our memory, standing strong and fearless in town meet- ing, fighting-sometimes at great cost-for what they nevertheless believed to be right. The annals of Ham- den contain the names of men who will not soon be forgotten, because they unselfishly considered first what they deemed to be for the "general welfare." Come forward, then-you of the future generations who are not afraid-for there is no end of better things for which to pioneer.
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.