USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > Years of Meriden 150: published in connection with the observance of the city's sesquicentennial, June 17-23, 1956 > Part 12
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The California Wine Company, operated by J. A. McHugh
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NOTES OF A SPACIOUS ERA
in 1894, sold "real, pure and unadulterated California wines such as are often purchased by physicians for medical purposes." But it may be assumed that a doctor's prescription was unnecessary to obtain them here.
Distilled liquors were likely to be kept out of sight in Meriden homes of this period, for the cocktail before dinner had not become an institution, and young people were never allowed to partake. The man of the family, if he wanted to "wet his whistle," as the saying went, had his choice of a large number of saloons, or could drop in at his club. The old Winthrop bar was always well patronized in the late afternoon, when businessmen gathered there on their way home.
There was practically no "night life." The earliest sign of it was at the cafe operated by Claude Terrell on Colony Street, in the building which formerly housed Liggett's Drug Store. The Ponselle sisters were entertainers there for a brief period some years before Rosa took the path to stardom with the Metropolitan Opera Company.
This chapter should not be concluded without reference to a strange character who roamed these parts in the 70's and 80's. He was known universally as the "Old Leather Man," and never divulged his real name. His garments were fashioned entirely of leather, tailored by himself, and much patched to hold them together. Wherever he stopped, people were glad to feed him and give him a lodging in some barn or shed. Never did he utter a word, and the question as to whether he was dumb has never been answered. There were numerous explanations of his garb and behavior, some of them fantastic. His habitual itinerary covered many parts of the state, and many feature stories have been written about him. He died of exposure during a winter storm in a barn in upper New York state.
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CHAPTER TWENTY
The Century Turns
WHETHER OR not there is truth in the old saying that the first hundred years are the hardest, Meriden emerged from its first century as a separate community with few scars from its worst experiences and a rugged constitution that had proved itself able to survive every test.
Its city government was well ordered and ran smoothly. Its manufactures were thriving, and Meriden products were favor- ably known throughout the world. Its people had proved themselves industrious and thrifty. The business district was spreading out, and stores offered a reasonable variety of mer- chandise. The principal streets had been improved with new paving. Street lighting had been greatly extended. Railroad and street transportation facilities were even better, in some respects, than at present, and there was a network of electric lines to nearby communities. The school system did not suffer by comparison with the systems of other cities near Meriden's size. Banks were strong and able to respond to the financial demands of growing business and industry. There was no problem of unemployment.
The time had come for the city to review its past and take stock of its present while sending out feelers for the future. It was the psychological moment for a celebration that would give an opportunity for a display of civic pride and call attention to local achievements. The occasion was ready-made, just as at present, for in 1906 one hundred years could be counted since the first town meeting.
The Centennial was a masterpiece of organization, so well constructed that the group which planned the Sesquicentennial for the current year was able to draw valuable hints from the planning done 50 years ago. At least a year was devoted to arranging the details. Invitations were sent far and wide to reach former residents.
When the period of the celebration arrived, June 9 to 16, the town was filled to overflowing with visitors. Hotels and boarding
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THE CENTURY TURNS
houses were packed. Private homes opened their doors to take in guests, many of whom came not for just a day or two but for the entire week.
Factories closed at noon on June 9, to remain closed for the duration of the observance. Main Street, east and west, Colony Street, State Street, Pratt Street, and many residential streets were decorated lavishly. Store fronts wore red, white and blue bunting, which draped from the roofs and framed every window. Bands were so numerous that the air was filled with music nearly all day long. Small boys ran themselves out of breath trying to keep up with the parades. It was a holiday time for all, but there were serious moments, too.
The churches conducted special services to open the week.
The historical side of the occasion was amply presented in addresses by those who knew it best. Incorporation Day, which wound up the week, was marked by a reproduction of the first town meeting. The late Sherman F. Johnson was the author of the script, which was based on the record of that historic event, so far as it could be pieced together from old documents.
By authority of the general committee, "A Century of Meriden" was published as an official souvenir of the Centennial. The book was divided into three parts, each fully indexed. The early history of the town was written by George Munson Curtis. The remaining content was compiled by C. Bancroft Gillespie. A portion of the receipts from this volume, which was widely sold, helped to defray the expenses of the celebration. Fifty years later, there are still occasional demands for copies, but few who possess the book can be persuaded to relinquish it.
Another book issued at the time was entitled "Meriden's Centennial Celebration." In 400 pages, it contained a full account of the occasion and many photographs.
Although a special town meeting had appropriated $5,000 to defray expenses, the revenue received from other sources made it unnecessary to draw more than $600 from this fund. The general committee had more than $16,500 at its disposal to pay for the event.
There were carnival aspects to the affair which brought in large sums for the special licenses issued to vendors.
The sports program was almost continuous, with ball games, a golf tournament and racing at the old trotting park, with field
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THE CENTURY TURNS
events at the adjacent fair grounds.
An industrial exposition was held at Hanover Park, where there were also evening band concerts and displays of fireworks.
Several state conventions were held here during the week, including the Connecticut Bankers' Association at the Home Club, at which ex-Governor Abiram Chamberlain, president of the association and also president of the Home National Bank presided.
On "Labor's Big Day," Wednesday, June 13, a mammoth street parade was held, in which dozens of handsome floats were entered. Thousands of labor union members took part.
Meriden's veterans of the Civil War, although aging, were still vigorous. They were hosts for the Department of Connecticut Grand Army encampment here on two days of the celebration.
On another day, two large parades were held: one by the 32 drum corps in the Connecticut Fifers' and Drummers' Association; the other by the Second Connecticut Regiment of the National Guard. The drummers began marching shortly after daybreak, and were still marching at the noon hour. The United Spanish War Veterans also held an encampment here, extending over two days.
Wallingford's place in connection with Meriden's early history was not forgotten. One day of the affair was set aside as Walling- ford Day. The Putnam Phalanx of Hartford came here to do honor to the occasion, with its members in their ceremonial uniforms carrying out the colonial tradition. They marched up the hill to the city hall singing the song of the noble Duke of York, and carrying flintlock muskets, each weighing eleven and one-half pounds.
The Colonial Ball was held that evening, and proved one of the most spectacular features of the entire celebration.
Meriden's Centennial attracted wide attention and received favorable editorial comment in newspapers throughout the state. It was so successful that there was serious discussion of the proposal that the city hold some sort of public celebration annually to proclaim its progress. Before a year passed, this proposal had been forgotten. Other matters were more pressing. But memories of the Centennial lingered with those who were here when it was held, and older residents still like to recall it.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The Automobile Age
THE AUTOMOBILE Age had barely begun when the current century was ushered in. There were only two cars in Meriden in 1900: one, an Olds runabout owned by Wallace F. Bowe of A. Bowe & Son; the other, a steam-powered car, make unidentified, belonging to Dr. H. L. Patzold, a dentist.
But the urge to own an automobile spread rapidly. In 1903, there were 38 cars registered here. It was the custom of the state at that time to issue numbers to the possessors of motor vehicles and let them make their own number plates. Some used slabs of wood, others patent leather with brass figures, or painted oilcloth with a stiff backing.
Three years later, at the time of the Centennial, there were enough new cars to make an impressive showing in the street parade. Some of them cost as much as $7,500, and the average cost was more than half that sum. First prize for the most handsomely decorated car went to the late Dr. F. L. Murdock, dentist, for his "big Thomas car," covered with a blanket of flowers arching above the heads of the passengers.
Among the early dealers were Wilbur F. Parker, agent for the Thomas "Flyer" and Thomas "40," and Arthur Meeks, who handled several makes including the Cadillac "one lunger."
The purchase of an automobile was considered real news in those days, and sales were reported regularly in the press.
The demand for cars grew each year, and more and more businessmen joined the ranks of automobile dealers. Some of them had gained mechanical experience tinkering with bicycles.
The Meriden Auto Station is, by long odds, the oldest agency in the city. It was founded by Adam Englehart, and is still conducted by his son Leon J. Englehart. The original garage was where the Connecticut Light & Power Company building stands today. Later in the Yost Block, it was moved finally to 231 West Main Street. For most of these years, it has handled the same make of car - the Buick.
John F. Miller engaged in business in 1911, handling the
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THE AUTOMOBILE AGE
air-cooled Franklin, and was still selling Franklins when the company went out of business about 1934.
F. N. Hastings was another early dealer, representing the Oakland car. His garage was in the rear of his home on Griswold Street.
Charles H. Cheeney began to sell Studebakers in 1916, and was one of the earliest Chevrolet dealers.
There were numerous others in the period just before and just after World War I. The first great line-up of local dealers occurred in 1922 when the first automobile show in Meriden was presented at the New Departure plant shortly before it opened for production. After that year, shows were staged annually for a long period at the state armory. The incentive to hold them began to disappear when most dealers opened showrooms of their own, where they could display a variety of models.
Scores of makes of automoblies have been handled in Meriden during the last 50 years, and the names of many would be remembered only by older residents who knew what it was to fumble through a tool kit while trying to make repairs on the road, or to change one of the old clincher tires under similar conditions.
Among the older agencies listed today is Gilmartin Motor Sales Corp., Dodge and Plymouth, founded by the late John Gilmartin in partnership with the late John F. Day, as Gilmartin & Day, and now conducted by John Gilmartin, Jr. The garage at 127 Colony Street was built in 1910. John J. Scanlon, now handling Chrysler and Plymouth at 34 Miller Street, began business in 1924. Max's Automotive Service, DeSoto, Plymouth, at 172 West Main Street, established 1933, is owned by Max Katz, whose connection with the automobile business began much earlier when he was a mechanic for Charles H. Cheeney.
The Alderman Motor Co., 65 Cook Avenue, Oldsmobile and Cadillac, began business in 1923 at the corner of Cook Avenue and Hanover Street, and later was on Pratt Street before moving to the present quarters. The Ford agency of D. W. Flint, Inc. was once in the same building. Later, the agency passed to Budd Motors and finally to Danaher Bros., whose garage is on Parker Avenue.
Other automobile dealerships here have much briefer histories.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Theaters, Past and Present
THE CENTENNIAL celebration was handicapped in one respect. Arrangements had been made to hold a number of the most important gatherings in the Meriden Theater on Church Street, more generally known, through long tradition, as the Delavan Opera House. But the old theater, which was practically the only place of theatrical entertainment here for a quarter of a century, burned down on March 27, 1906, forcing a revision of all the plans to connect it with the program less than three months away.
The building so inconveniently destroyed had once housed religious services. It was erected by the First Congregational Society in 1847, when a portion of the membership of the uptown church broke away to establish a new place of worship down- town. It was used continuously as a church until 1879, when the last communion was held on March 2. Then located at the corner of Church and Colony Streets, the building was moved to the rear and turned to face Church Street. The present First Congre- gational Church on Colony Street was constructed at that time, and the former church was purchased by Horace Wilcox. After the removal of the edifice, he proceeded to erect the Wilcox Block on the corner site. Meanwhile, the conversion of the church into a theater proceeded, and the work was finished in time for the scheduled opening performance on December 4, 1879. The first play presented was "Our Bachelors," produced by Robinson & Crane. It was written by Joseph Bradford, brother-in-law of J. S. Norton, cashier of the Home National Bank. Charles S. Perkins, later to fill the same position and to rise to the presidency of the bank, was appointed manager of the theater by Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Perkins remained as manager through the first season, but was replaced the following year by Thomas Delavan. Delavan did not remain long in charge. He left town. But his wife succeeded him and directed the theater until the summer of 1901, when Jean Jacques, who conducted a theater in Waterbury, took over the lease. The Jacques management lasted until 1904. Ira W. Jackson and William D. Reed of New London then assumed the lease,
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THEATERS, PAST AND PRESENT
changed the name to the Meriden Theater, and ran it until it burned.
Many of the great and the near-great actors of the nineteenth century played at the Delavan Opera House during its heyday. The old productions required licenses, and records at the city hall contain the illustrious names of Edwin Booth, E. H. Sothern, Joseph Jefferson, Mary Anderson, Fanny Davenport, Modjeska, Januschak, Emma Abbott, Pat Rooney, Sr., Sol Smith Russell, Denman Thompson and Buffalo Bill.
The mainstay of the old theater was the "stock company." A long succession of these companies performed such standard plays of the period as "East Lynn," "Two Orphans," "Only a Farmer's Daughter," "Pirates of Penzance," "The Old Home- stead" made popular by Denman Thompson, "Rip Van Winkle" with Joseph Jefferson in the title role, "The Celebrated Case," "Bess, the Waif," "Peck's Bad Boy," "Black Flag," "Power of Money," "Wages of Sin," "The Black Crook," and many more. "Uncle Tom's Cabin," based on the famous book by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was presented on numerous occasions.
Minstrel performances were frequent attractions, always pre- ceded by a "mammoth street parade."
Light opera companies with casts of 40 to 50 persons came here often to present the equivalent of today's musical comedies.
After Mrs. Delavan gave up the lease in 1901, the character of the shows began to change. Under Jackson and Reed, a decline in attendance was noticeable, but by then motion pictures had begun to offer some competition. The Meriden Theater began to show movies to fill in the week's bill about a year before it burned. The management promised to build a new theater, but could not obtain the backing necessary for the venture.
Only a few traces remain of this once celebrated playhouse, to be seen by those who look for them carefully. The entrance, now boarded up, was at the east end of the Horton Printing Company building. An archway of brownstone marks the spot. A small area of much-worn marble flags may be noticed just inside the archway. Near the ceiling are traces of ornamental iron work in relief, the material which lined the lobby. Through this entrance, theatergoers passed directly back to the box office and from there to the auditorium at the rear. A yard, partially enclosed by small garages, occupies the space where the audiences were
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THEATERS, PAST. AND PRESENT
seated. The stage was at the west end of the auditorium, near the retaining wall which rises to the municipal parking lot. Entrance to the top balcony was gained by means of a door on the alley which runs between the printing company's building and the rear of the Wilcox Block.
At the corner of Church Street and High School Avenue stood Austin's livery stable, where Mrs. Delavan kept the horse which drew her light buggy and the heavier wagon used for bill-posting excursions, and to convey scenery for the performances from the railroad station to the theater. The wagon was backed up to an alleyway which led from Church Street, and from there was unloaded into a storage room beside the stage. The stage entrance was beside this passage.
Meriden missed the opera house and the types of entertainment which had been presented there. Not long after the fire, the Meriden Board of Trade, predecessor of the Chamber of Com- merce, started a movement to gain backing for a new theater. Early in 1907, this effort was successful, for S. Z. Poli of New Haven, who had already started a chain of theaters in New England, told a local committee, headed by C. H. Tredennick, that he would invest capital if a company could be formed to erect a theater here, taking a long term lease on the house and guaran- teeing a rental that would give investors a good return on their money. The Meriden Theater Company was organized, with a capital of $100,000, and C. W. Cahill, owner of the Cahill Block, agreed to build the theater in the rear of this property, with a lobby opening from East Main Street. On August 17, 1907, the first brick of the new theater was laid by Mayor Thomas L. Reilly.
The theater had 1,700 seats, originally, on main floor and first and second balconies. The stage was 40 feet deep and the proscenium arch measured 36 x 27 feet. The decorations were ornate and the appointments impressive. Few theaters in New England could match it at that period, and to it some of the best legitimate attractions in the country were brought during its earlier period. But even before World War I the competition of motion pictures was making it unprofitable to send the better class of road companies on tour into the smaller cities. Vaudeville and variety shows were still in the ascendant. The Poli Theater compromised by booking road shows occasionally while concen-
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THEATERS, PAST AND PRESENT
trating, through most of the season, on combination programs of vaudeville and motion pictures. By that time, the S. Z. Poli chain had access to the best acts in vaudeville. The bills changed twice and sometimes three times weekly, and the house was well filled throughout the fall and winter.
In 1920, Mr. Cahill offered $100,000 for the theater, its site, and the equipment, and the offer was accepted by the directors of the Meriden Theater Company, which then proceeded to disband.
After the collapse of vaudeville, due mainly to the advent of movies with sound, the Poli Theater became a motion picture house entirely, except for occasional performances by amateurs, such as the annual Charity Club show and the Fellowcraft Minstrels, presented there for a number of years.
In 1928, the theater lease was taken over by the Loew interests, combined with what was left of the original Poli enterprise.
The death sentence for the 45-year-old theater, which had often served for community gatherings, such as war bond rallies during World War I, came in 1952, when William J. Cahill, Jr., mayor at that time, announced that the building would be razed. It was torn down in 1953.
The Loew Poli Palace Theater on West Main Street is the successor to a theatrical enterprise which began in 1921, when the late Esidor Derecktor signed a contract with the Sutherland Construction Company of St. Louis to construct a theater in the rear of a business block which he owned. The St. Louis concern agreed to put up the building for $225,000 and to sign a lease for a term of 50 years. Some local capital, in addition to that furnished by Mr. Derecktor, had been attracted to the venture, and the enterprise was named the Community Playhouse. Its life under these auspices was short. Even before the first year was out, it was apparent that mistakes had been made, both in the design of the theater and in its management. Built all on one floor, with no balconies, the acoustical properties of the auditorium were found to be deficient. Much space was wasted in the lobby, where a fountain played. Some big names of the theatrical world had been featured in occasional legitimate productions there, but the general run of attractions brought poor to only fair attendance. In 1922, Patrick F. McMahon, a former resident of Meriden, and Nathan and Samuel Derecktor bought practically all of the stock
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THEATERS, PAST AND PRESENT
in the company, and took full control. But their reign was also short.
The Sutherland Construction Company was still in the picture, through the arrangements made originally, and it had the deciding voice. The Community Playhouse was sold in 1924 to the S. Z. Poli Theatrical Enterprises. Mr. Poli himself was still active. The move gave him control of two theaters in Meriden, for he was still operating the older house.
Although still young, the Community Playhouse was already showing signs of wear, and Mr. Poli gave orders for its entire renovation and for alterations to improve the arrangement and acoustics. This work was completed, and the theater, entirely changed in the interior, was opened for the first performance on August 11, 1924, rechristened the Meriden Poli Palace.
Due to a combination between the Fox and Poli interests, the name was again changed in 1930, when the theater became known as the Fox-Poli Palace. Later the Fox name was dropped, after a financial reorganization which brought the famous theatrical name of Loew into the picture, and placed it beside the name of Poli, which was equally well known in New England.
The Loew Poli Palace Theater has continued the successful policies which were inaugurated after the Community Playhouse venture failed. M-G-M productions are featured, but a wide range of selections from Hollywood's best is offered throughout the year.
The Capitol Theater on Grove Street is strictly a local enter- prise. Originally called the Life Theater, the name was changed to its present form in 1930, when J. M. Ricci, owner of the property, decided to operate the business, and placed his son Leo Ricci in charge. During the spring and summer of that year, the theater was enlarged and entirely renovated. It underwent further alterations in 1937. While they were in progress, the staff was moved to the East Main Street Poli Theater, and the programs were presented there. The personnel returned to the Capitol as soon as the work was completed, and the house was reopened December 17, 1937. Since then, it has been completely renovated several times. In 1950, an addition was built, measuring 103 feet in depth, 35 feet wide at the front and 22 feet wide in the rear, to provide a new entrance and a new lounge. Air conditioning was
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THEATERS, PAST AND PRESENT
also installed. Leo Ricci has continued to manage the theater since 1930.
The latest addition to Meriden's theatrical enterprises is the Meriden Theater on South Broad Street, near the Wallingford town line. It was constructed on a portion of the old Watrous farm. Three New Britain men, Nick Kounaris, A. Tolles, and George Ulysses were originally involved, but there have been changes in ownership since. The structure was designed to seat from 950 to 1,000 persons in an air-conditioned auditorium. It was completed in 1949.
There have been other theaters in Meriden since motion pictures became a popular form of public entertainment. Among them were the Star, Bijou, and Crystal which were opened in the period between 1910 and 1920. All these were small movie houses. For a time, an open-air theater was in operation on Church Street, during the summers. Known as the Air Dome, it was under the same ownership and management as the Crystal Theater on Colony Street, opposite the Winthrop Hotel. Many older residents had their first introduction to the movies in these tiny theaters, which went out of business many years ago.
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