Compiled by Dave Greenleaf
150 Years Ago – May 1872
A destructive fire occurred last Thursday caused by sparks from the locomotive setting fire to dry leaves near Cuss Gutter. The flames spread southward and westward, setting fire to the house, barn and sawmill of Hiram Norton, but the building was saved by the activity of the fire department. The fire continued up the hill towards Fall Mountain and Messrs. J.R. Gridley and J.G Peck are the chief losers in fences and timber.
Mr. King, engaged as assistant for the summer at the high school, left after just a few days. The principal takes teachers of the members of his first class to supply the vacated place.
Four hundred dollars has been pledged to complete the sidewalk from Mr. Funck’s corner to High Street. As soon as this is done residents of High Street have agreed to lay a good sidewalk on both sides of the street as far as it is built up.
Now the question is will this work be delayed another year subjecting our citizens to such inconveniences as were experienced this spring or shall the much needed improvement be done without further delay? A clergyman last Sunday in the pulpit praised the public spirit of the citizens of Bristol. Remaining to be seen is whether he was speaking plainly or ironically. Public spirit, of the right sort, puts sidewalks into good shape, always and everywhere.
125 Years Ago – May 1897
Election Day was wet and dismal. From the time the polls opened at 11 am to the close there was strong effort to bring out the votes but there was noticeable lack of interest. The Republicans took success, but there was much scratching of ballots. The total vote was 595. Lemuel L. Stewart was elected Warden with 297 votes to 270 for Herbert J, Mills.
The new Board of Wardens and Burgesses met and organized on Tuesday last. The Board approved a new sewer for Valley Street but denied a request from the Bristol Brass and Clock Company to allow sink drains from its tenement houses to flow directly into the Pequabuck River instead of the sewer on the grounds that a troublesome precedent would be set.
George W. Bartholomew, prominent local businessman, developer of the Bristol Copper Mine, Justice of the Peace for 40 terms, state representative and California 49er who returned home to start the Bartholomew Manufacturing business with his son, died at the age of 92 after serving this community for most of the century.
The town has sued the railroad company to prevent the bridge abutments for the new Main Street crossing from encroaching on North Main Street.
Sports 125 Years Ago – May 1897
Bristol opened the league season with a loss to Bridgeport but came back to beat Bridgeport 27-1 in the home opener. The locals ended the month of May in fourth place in the State League standings with a 4-7 record.
100 Years Ago – May 1922
Bristol High School construction resumed after a brief strike by the carpenter’s union over a pay reduction to 75 cents an hour.
An employee error shut off the gas supply to a large portion of Bristol and Plainville for more than four hours, forcing the shutdown of many factories and businesses.
A fight at the corner of West and Orchard Streets resulted in serious stab wounds to two men and the arrest of two others.
Sports 100 Years Ago – May 1922
The Grammar School leagues opened with the North Side School holding on for a 3-2 win over St. Anne at Muzzy Field. Forestville, Park Street and South Side also won their openers.
The Fisk Red Tops downed the New Departures 4-3 before a large crowd at Muzzy Field.
75 Years Ago – May 1947
The city proposed construction of two barracks type buildings sufficient to house eight families each at the Victory Heights federal project off Peck Lane to deal with the city’s acute housing problem.
Bristol High School principal Carl A. Magnuson declared a three-way tie for valedictorian between twins June and Jane Schneider and Martha Rayder.
Bristol merchant Abraham S. Mines was a leader in the fight against the proposed one percent sales tax, speaking against the tax before the state legislature in Hartford.
No injuries were reported when two city busses collided on Pine Street, but the empty bus that rear-ended another bus enroute from Plainville was totaled.
Sports 75 Years Ago – 1947
The Bristol Bees downed Ottawa 10-9 as Professional baseball returned to Bristol at Muzzy Field. Jack Westley homered over the right field wall in his debut.
Bristol High School’s win streak ended as Hall’s Johnny Pearson hit a long homerun at Muzzy Feld to power the West Hartford team to a 7-4 win.
50 Years Ago – May 1972
A spitting diesel engine on a passing train caused more than 30 brush fires along the railroad right of way from Pierce’s Bridge to Barlow Street. Five city fie companies battled the blazes for more than two hours.
Unemployment in Bristol dropped to 18.2% in May, the lowest in more than a year.
Pickets marched on the Cambridge Park headquarters of the Bristol Housing Authority to protest the board’s firing of Executive Director Daniel J. Heffernan.
More than 500 attended a testimonial at Lake Compounce for retiring St. Anthony Church pastor Rev. Settimio Crudele.
Henry Gaski was chosen by the Fire Board to be the city’s new chief, but the appointment was rejected by the city council. Asked for a new nominee, the Fire Board again nominated Gaski for the position.
Mayor Longo invited Congresswoman Ella T. Grasso to attend the dedication of the new Gaylord Towers, but the Housing Authority said that no dedication ceremony was planned on the date selected by the mayor.
The Park Board approved a plan to designate the Veterans Memorial Park alongside the Memorial Boulevard.
Major Longo directed the Park Board to stop hiring teachers for summer positions. Park Superintendent Joseph C. Riley reached a compromise with the mayor to allow him to hire teachers for “key” assignments.
The Dunbar Bell, used to summon workers to work in the morning and dismiss them at the end of the day for more than 100 years, was donated by Associated Spring to the Fire Department and was dedicated on Memorial Day as a memorial to city firefighters at the Dept. Headquarters on North Main Street.
New Departure announced plans to sell its North Side factory site. The Citizens Advisory Committee recommended that the city take a second look before accepting the gift of the New Departure downtown properties.
Greg Laviero won the city Soap Box Derby race on Memorial Day.
Sports 50 Years Ago – May 1972
Southern CT State College player Mike Giovinazzo took over as player coach of the Bristol Collegians.
Bristol Central remained unbeaten with a 6-0 win over Bristol Eastern in the first meeting between the rivals. Rob Nicoletti struck out 18 Lancers.
25 Years Ago – May 1997
New York developers looking to buy the General Motors plant on Chippens Hill requested an extension to July to complete the deal.
Theis Precision Steel sought a waiver from emission regulations for the new tower it planned to build at its Broad Street factory.
The School Board named Dr. Ann Clark as the new Superintendent of Schools to succeed retiring Superintendent Dr. Edward Maher.
The city library board was urged to hire an expert on computers after it revealed plans to purchase up to 50 computers; the library will need someone who can teach patrons how to use them.
St. Paul High School launched a campaign to raise up to $60,000 to renovate its football field.
GOP Mayoral hopeful Elbert Huckaby and Finance Board chairman John Letizia sparred in a debate over the city’s budget surplus.
Convenience store owner Abdullahi Dualeh was arrested on arson charges after allegedly hiring someone to burn down a rival store on Lake Avenue.
Helicopters hovered over the city as Lake Compounce installed towers for its new chairlift that will take guests to the top of the mountain.
The Hopper’s Golf Course proposal was left off the city’s long-range project plans despite the Chamber of Commerce support of the project.
Sports 25 Years Ago – March 1997
Bristol Eastern swept Bristol Central in baseball (10-2) and softball (6-0) in the first meetings. Jen Hadley threw a two-hitter for the softball win.
Mike Moylan, Steve Joslyn, Gary Mackiewicz and Lenny Rinas led Bristol Central’s golfers to a win over Bristol Eastern.
Central rallied to beat Eastern 5-2 in the second baseball meeting of the season, scoring four runs in the last of the sixth.
Jen Hadley homered and struck out 14 as Eastern downed Central in softball.
The Bristol Eastern girls tennis team earned the top seed in the CIAC Class M tournament.
From the annals of the Bristol Press
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