Turning Back the Pages

100 years ago —
 November 1923

The young men of the forestry service are again inspecting the trees in this section for the gypsy moth and other tree pests.

Philo Lyon of Bridgeport has purchased the C.W. Barnum property in Lime Rock and is moving there. It is reported that he expects to start a Garage.

LIME ROCK — The remains of George Wickwire were brought here for burial last week. Also brought here recently were the remains of Mrs. Duncan Tellerday from Marlborough, N.Y., for interment.

John Maddrah of Winsted recently killed a wild cat that weighed over 25 pounds.

R.W. Dufour is having the main chimney at the Hub enlarged.

50 years ago —
November 1973

A major new plan for the Filston House estate was unveiled Wednesday afternoon for members of the Sharon Planning and Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Commission members appeared generally impressed at the informal hearing, with the concept of an extensive “retirement community” complex for the former Colgate Estate owned by Mark Cohn.

The real estate spiral in Kent continues with no end in sight. Last week the Naboring farm on Cobble Road was sold to an illustrious group of investors for an indicated price of half a million dollars. The 265 acre tract was sold by Paul Naboring, life tenant of the estate of Frank Naboring, to Allen Lewis, et al. In this case the et al stands for three well-known theatrical and literary names: Mike Nichols, director of the movies “The Graduate” and “Catch 22”; William Styron, author of “The Confessions of Nat Turner” and “Lie Down in Darkness” and Philip Roth of “Portnoy’s Complaint” fame. Speaking for the buyers, Mr. Styron has stated that the group intends to preserve the land as open space. 

It took 45 whacks with a 2½ ton wrecking ball Tuesday to start the demolition of the bridge which carries the Lime Rock - Salisbury Road over Salmon Kill. Workmen have begun removing the old bridge to make way for a wider, straighter, safer new structure. Travelers will have to detour by way of Brinton Hill or Wells Hill for about three weeks.

The home of J. Dormer Cannon on Farnam Road was burglarized early last Wednesday morning, according to a State Police report. The robber, whose visit was discovered by a caretaker, apparently had taken time to enjoy a helping of ice cream from the Cannon kitchen. 

Lena Blodgett, Falls Village’s oldest resident, died Sunday in Brightview Convalescent Home in Avon. She was 102 years of age. Mrs. Blodgett made her home in Falls Village for over 90 years. She was born on Oct. 10, 1871, on what is now called the Canfield Farm, the only daughter of William and Frances Gillette. She could trace her family on both sides to the earliest days of the community -- on her father’s side she was descended from Jonathon and Esther Gillette who moved to Canaan shortly after the Revolutionary War; and on her mother’s side she was sixth generation descendant of James Beebe, one of the original proprietors of the town of Canaan.

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Cecchinato were the guests of honor Sunday at a party celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. An open house, attended by about 175 friends and relatives from as far away as California, was held in the VFW Post home. Mr. and Mrs. Cecchinato, both natives of Canaan, were married in the old St. Joseph’s Church on North Elm Street Nov. 7, 1923.

NORFOLK — Last Saturday, the Bruey family of Litchfield Road delivered its last bottle of milk after several generations of work in the milk business. Wesley Bruey and his son Lyle have been delivering milk to nearly 200 customers. In 1928, the senior Bruey started to run a dairy and bought out a milk route. For the last few years, the Brueys have been delivering Guida Seibert milk. The company has taken over their route and will deliver milk on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

25 years ago —
 November 1998

At Lee H. Kellogg’s building committee meeting Thursday, a date for groundbreaking on the school’s renovation was set. After years of political battles and dispute surrounding the project, Principal Jack Pozzi had this to say: “Barbara Collins (music teacher) and I are going to get up and sing ‘The Impossible Dream’ at the ceremony.”

Canaan residents will meet next Tuesday at 7:30 in the Town Hall for the annual town meeting. In addition to the usual town business, voters will be asked to consider the town’s acquisition of the Laurel Grange Hall in East Canaan. The recently disbanded Laurel Grange owes back taxes on the Route 44 property, and the selectmen have offered to take the property in lieu of taxes owed.

These items were taken from The Lakeville Journal archives at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, keeping the original wording intact as possible.