Turning Back The Pages

100 years ago — July 1921

The Hydroplane which had been advertised to make flights from the lake last Sunday and Monday failed to put in an appearance. Pilot Ferry advertised to be here in good faith, but at the last moment the pontoons of the plane were discovered to be broken and rather than make flights with a machine not in good order, Mr. Ferry cancelled his arrangements to fly here. He hopes some time later to bring the plane here.

SALISBURY — William Raynsford has been exhibiting a live rattlesnake which was captured by a friend of his in South Egremont last week. The rattler was confined in a box with wire netting over the top and rattled viciously when disturbed. His snakeship had nine rattles.

LIME ROCK — C. Brasie and F. Chaffee and party went to horse races at Windsor Monday.

50 years ago — July 1971

FALLS VILLAGE — More than 150 firefighters battled for four days this week to contain and finally subdue a stubborn and dangerous blaze on the rocky and inaccessible slopes of Canaan Mountain. The fire, started by lightning last Thursday but undetected until it had gained a foothold Saturday, was finally declared well under control Tuesday evening. By that time state firefighting specialists, a helicopter from Rhode Island, and volunteers from Falls Village, Lakeville, Cornwall, Canaan and Goshen had all been pressed into service in a fire that brought droves of holiday spectators who lined Undermountain Road several hundred feet below the fire. J. Leo Cote, state central fire controller, said Tuesday that air patrols and ground surveillance would be needed for some time to come, barring heavy rain. He put the cost of fighting the fire at more than $10,000.

— Patterson Oil Company of Torrington has indicated interest in purchasing a major business block in Lakeville and replacing it with a gas station. The properties and four business buildings on Park Plaza stretch from Cannon Park to the corner of Montgomery Street and Farnam Road.

— An intense fire took just 30 minutes to level the big Vaill Farm hay barn in Goshen late Tuesday afternoon, killing 11 heifers. The farm is owned by State Rep. Gordon Vaill, who represents the towns of Goshen, Salisbury, Norfolk, Cornwall, Sharon, Canaan and North Canaan.

— Miss Rebecca Duntz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Duntz, will spend the summer touring the islands of Puerto Rico. While there, she will visit her aunt, Mrs. Celso Torres-Kempa in the Fontana Carolina.

— Steve Blass, Falls Village native and Canaan resident, was spotlighted this week in the latest issue of The Sporting News, national spots newspaper. A lengthy feature by Charles Feeney called the team of Blass and Dock Ellis, ace hurlers for the Pittsburgh Pirates, a “one-two punch” reminiscent of the old famed Vernon Law and Bob Friend, who helped pitch the Pirates to a 1960 world championship. Steve, who won his 10th game of the season Monday night, is having his best season since his 19-18 victory campaign of 1968. With lots of hitting and with the team of Ellis and Blass going for them, the Pirates are leading the National League East at the season’s halfway mark

25 years ago — July 1996

Michael Ongley retired this week from the Salisbury Post Office after 27 years. His fellow workers provided food and punch Friday for the many who came to wish Mr. Ongley well.

— Heads were turning around the Tri-State area Monday morning as Houston, Texas, police cars escorted bicyclists along routes 22, 44 and 7 in Amenia and Millerton, N.Y., Lakeville, Salisbury and Canaan, Conn., and Sheffield, Mass. The entourage was part of the Houston Police Department Bicycle Relay Team -- a 36-member group raising money for the Leukemia Society of America. The seven-day, non-stop trip began at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston June 25 and was scheduled to end July 2at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Portland, Maine -- complete with a greeting from former President George Bush.

These items were taken from The Lakeville Journal archives at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, keeping the original wording intact as possible. Go to www.scovillelibrary.org to find more archives.