Compiled by Dave Greenleaf
150 Years Ago – November 1871
On Thursday afternoon, Mr. Austin’s horse that had been unhitched for want of a hitching post in front of Daniel Buckley’s new residence started on his own responsibility for home. The carriage was pulverized and the broken shaft badly damaged the horse’s hind leg. It is satisfying to know that a hitching post was promptly planted after the running, smashing and crippling were accomplished.
On Saturday night last a fracas occurred in a billiard saloon. The parties were George Spring, a Mr. Woodruff and L.P. Goodwin who holds the important and responsible office of constable in the town. The dispute was over a game of cards and the violent proceedings were initiated by the constable. We would suggest that he arrest himself and put himself in the lockup.
The pews in the Congregational Church were rented for the season for a total sum of $3750.
Sports 150 Years Ago – November 1871
A game of base ball was played Nov. 1 between the Polkville Base Ball Club and the Bristol Center School. Bristol won 25-15.
125 Years Ago – November 1896
Republicans won the national and local elections. Bristol’s vote was 1007 for William McKinley and 487 for William Jennings Bryant. George Hull and A.J. Muzzy were elected to represent Bristol in the state legislature.
The Bristol and Plainville Tramway Company has equipped one of its cars with an electric heater.
At a meeting of the school board Principal Hosmer initiated a discussion about moving the high school to one session daily. Mr. Wooding and Mr. Peck were appointed to investigate.
The work of enumerating school children has been completed and shows an increase of 130 over last year to a total of 1,928.
100 Years Ago – November 1921
The new Central Fire House on Meadow Street held a well-attended open house.
The John J. Jennings School on Burlington Avenue opened with eight rooms for kindergarten through sixth grade. All students who live north of the railroad tracks will report to the new school giving relief of about 200 students to the Federal Hill School.
Heavy ice in the Litchfield Hills broke the transmission lines from the Falls Village station forcing local factories and trolley service to shut down. The Bristol and Plainville Electric Company tried to provide local power but had to abandon parts of the city because it was unable to carry the load.
SNET reported about 150 telephones out of commission due to the ice, mostly in the Chippens Hill, Johnnycake and Wolcott Rd. areas.
Sports 100 Years Ago – November 1921
The West Ends opened the season with a 38-27 win before a large crowd at Red Men’s Hall on Thanksgiving night.
The New Departure girls basketball team began practice under new manager Alice McCarthy.
75 Years Ago – November 1946
A record turnout of better than 75% locally helped the GOP elect Gov. James McConaughy, US Sen. Raymond Baldwin and six Republican congressmen in the state. Republicans won locally for the first time in 14 years.
James P. Casey and Leslie Manchester were elected to represent Bristol in the state legislature.
The Armistice Day committee honored 129 local men who made the supreme sacrifice including 69 who were Bristol High School students.
The local OPA office closed as all wartime price and wage controls were lifted.
The state is conducting a survey at the West End corner at the town’s request that the rotary at the intersection be replaced with an overhead traffic light.
Bristol joined in the national dimout as the coal miners’ strike forced restrictions in natural gas and electrical use. The police were directed to enforce any unnecessary lighting.
Four Bristol Police officers earned a week’s vacation and a citation for their role in apprehending a band of serial burglars. Honored were Sgts. Joseph Ryan and Eugene Hennessey and patrolmen Robert Grace and William Mead.
Sports 75 Years Ago – September 1946
Bristol High School closed its football season with a 7-0 loss to Meriden to finish second in the CCIL.
The Bristol High School soccer team ended its season with a 4-1 loss to Manchester.
The Tramps opened their basketball season with a 56-44 win over Springwoods.
Bristol’s Thomas M. Monahan was elected president of the CCIL as the league welcomed Hamden as its newest member.
Clyde Brouker and Eddie McHugh led Bristol High to a 65-28 win over Terryville in the season opener. A crowd of 1400 attended and more than 1,000 were turned away in the Thanksgiving night match at the Armory.
50 Years Ago – November 1971
Frank Longo upset incumbent Stretch Norton by 64 votes to become the city’s 13th mayor. The Democrats swept the city council. Donald Cassin, Mike Boguslawski, Gardner Wright, Joseph Mike, Alec Kaminsky and Edward D’Amato were elected.
A recount confirmed Longo’s win by 62 votes.
The city retained its AA credit rating despite its high unemployment.
The Federal Board approved the merger of Northside Bank and Connecticut Bank and Trust.
Mayor Longo reached out to the state about the possibility of construction a vocational technical school in Bristol.
Longo clashed with city snowplow contractors over rates.
One week later a Thanksgiving Day snowstorm dumped 8 to 12 inches on the city. Contractors were not ready for the early season storm but claimed it was not about the rate dispute.
Mayor Longo went on police radio in a bid to “intoxicate the town so they will all go to Muzzy Field with their snow shovels to clear the field for the annual Thanksgiving Day clash.” Longo was criticized for using the police radio to broadcast a “high priority message.”
The city snow removal crews cleared the field with little damage to the playing surface after about 100 persons with shovels, mostly players and parents, failed to remove the snow by hand.
Bristol native M Sgt Eugene R. Johnson died in DaNang, Vietnam.
Sports 50 Years Ago – November 1971
Jeff Castolene rushed for 254 yards as the Rams beat Windham, becoming the first Bristol Central back to top 1000 rushing yards for a season.
St. Paul christened its new football field with a 30-8 win over Immaculate. Frank Sanders scored the first touchdown on the new field.
Jim Dumont powered St. Paul to a season ending upset of powerhouse Holy Cross.
Snow postponed the Battle of the Bell to Saturday. Bristol Central won 34-0 on the strength of four touchdowns by Jeff Castolene.
25 Years Ago – November 1996
ESPN launched its third network, ESPN News on Nov. 1 with Mike Tirico as the host and New York Yankees rookie sensation Derek Jeter as a studio guest.
Bill Clinton won a landslide victory in Bristol and incumbents captured all state legislative seats.
The Board of Education heard a first reading of a proposal to switch the high schools to an alternating day 8-block schedule of 84-minute classes.
City council members leaned on the side of conservationists in debate over whether to build a municipal golf course on the Hoppers-Birge Pond property.
Police and Board of Education officials began investigating a complaint of improper touching lodged by a student against Bristol Central principal Michael Ferry.
Lake Compounce announced plans to replace the Gillette Railroad that had encircled the lake for more than 50 years.
Paula Abdul hosted a wedding reception for her east coast friends at the Carousel Museum.
The city unveiled a $40 million plan to renovate the city’s two high schools and athletic fields beginning in the spring of 1998.
Sports 25 Years Ago – November 1996
The Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern boys soccer teams battled to their second 0-0 tie of the season at Muzzy Field.
The St. Paul girls swim team claimed the CVSC title with a strong championship meet performance.
Bristol Eastern volleyball reached the finals of the state class L tournament with wins over defending champ Amity and CCC South power Maloney before falling to Newtown in the championship.
A campaign was begun to raise funds for lights at Edgewood Little League’s Breen Field.
Bristol Eastern downed Bristol Central 29-14 to claim a share of the CCC South crown in the annual Battle for the Bell.
Bristol in Earlier Days is comprised of material from the annals of the Bristol Press.