An Ordinary Day in Southington, 100 Years Ago
- Philip Thibodeau
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
From 1919 to 1974, The Southington News was the town’s main newspaper. For most of its run, it published a mix of articles on local news and sports along with editorials and ads, just like its successor, The Southington Observer. But for its first few years, local news formed just a small part of it. Most of its pages were devoted to national and international events, short stories, comics, and bits of trivia. Still, from these scattered notices it is possible to get a glimpse of everyday life in the town.
One-hundred years ago today, on April 8, 1926, the Southington News' headline was about Lewis High School:
“L.H.S GIRLS BEAT BOYS”
“Miss Vera Bassett Is Chosen Valedictorian of Senior Class.”
“HAD AVERAGE OF 90.95”
“Miss Joseph Valentine Will Be the Salutatorian.”
“Principal R. G. Blanchard of Lewis High school has announced that Miss Vera Bassett, through her faithful work and high scholarship record, will have the honor of delivering the valedictory address at the graduation exercises in June. Miss Bassett’s average for the three and one-half years at the school was computed at 90.95. Miss Josephine Valentine will deliver the salutatory address. Her average was 88.24.”
Just below, a series of notes reported on the recent travels of local residents. Then as now, many wintered in Florida:
“Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Lewis, of North Main street, who have been spending the winter in Florida, have returned home.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Percy Sloper, of Milldale, and L. W. Matthews, of South Main street, have returned from Ormond, Florida, where they spent the winter.”
Earlier that week the ‘chemical squad’ - a fire-fighting organization - was summoned to put out a fire:
“The chemical squad was called out shortly after 9 o’clock last Thursday morning for a chimney fire at the home of Joseph Delahunty on Curtiss street. The kitchen of the house was slightly damaged.”
A Mardi Gras celebration was scheduled to be held in the town hall featuring vaudeville artists and a ‘minstrel show’ – white performers wearing blackface. It was sponsored by the Order of the Eastern Star [O.E.S], an affiliate of the Masons:
“On Friday evening, Harmony chapter, O.E.S., will give a Mardi Gras and social in the town hall. Out-of-town vaudeville artists have been secured and a minstrel show has been arranged to be followed by dancing.”
In 1926, Prohibition laws were in effect which made it illegal to produce, import, transport, or sell liquor. One local resident repeatedly ran afoul of these laws:
“Antonio Tavalazzio, charged with selling liquor and keeping liquor with intent to sell, was fined $250 and costs and sentenced to jail for six months in town court Monday. It is the fourth time that Tavalazzio, who is better known as Tony Leo, has been arrested on the same charge. His wife, who was also arrested, was fined $[?]00 and costs and given a suspended sentence of fifteen days. It was her first offense. Thomas McDonough, of New Britain, represented them.”
In 1926, the Model T Ford was in its heyday and Southington was witnessing a rash of automobile thefts:
“A gang of young men are making practice of taking automobiles without permission of the owners and running them about town for hours at a time. One owned Dr. William T. Nagle, of Center street, was taken early Saturday evening and, after it had been missing for several hours, was returned. The police have received six complaints during the past two weeks from owners of cars, claiming that their machines were taken without permission.”
“Thieves broke into the private garage of Charles E. Smith on Main street late Thursday night and stole Mr. Smith’s car. Unaware that his car had been stolen, Mr. Smith received a telephone call from the Plainville police that they had found the machine. The thieves were traveling through Plainville at a rapid pace, and the police, becoming suspicious, started in pursuit. They followed the car for several miles when the thieves abandoned it.”
Curiously, the paper’s editors distinguished Milldale from Southington, and gave the former its own news section, which includes various brief notes:
“Miss Mildred Bemia is recovering from an attack of grip.” (‘Grip’ is an older name for the flu.)
“Ground has been broken for another house on the Dickerman farm, located on Norton street.”
“Wednesday afternoon the Ladies’ Auxiliary will meet at the Community House to tack quilts.”
The Southington News also reported on doings in Cheshire and Hamden. The following account of a high-speed chase implies that reckless drivers on Route 10 are nothing new:
“Officer Ben Crosby had to do better than 55 miles an hour on his motorcycle in order to overhaul Isaac C. Schine, of Bridgeport, recently, in Whitney avenue. Schine was introduced to the Hamden town court and it cost him a tidy sum for the privilege of turning the avenue into a race course.”
Then as now, downtown Southington was the place to go for food, whether ingredients or meals. The prices are not as cheap as they may seem at first glance - in 1926 an unskilled workman might earn $3 a day, a skilled worker, about $10:
Most of the paper's advertising came from businesses in Waterbury, New Britain, Meriden, and Hartford. One could go to New Haven to buy shares in an asbestos-manufacturer -
- or to Waterbury to buy a refrigerator:
Notice the phone number – 1175 – which is no longer active.
Thanks to the Southington Public Library, which has made scans of most editions of the Southington News available through its website, here.
