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Turning Back The Pages

100 years ago — July 1921

Several of the young folk at Twin Lakes’ summer colony climbed Prospect Mountain last Thursday night and had supper on the mountain top by moonlight at midnight.

— Mr. Bownes of Lime Rock is entertaining his uncle from Rome.

— Wm. A. Bartle of Ore Hill had the misfortune to lose one of his saddle horses last week.

— Bobbed hair, short skirts, peekaboo waist, bare knees, etc. etc. No wonder the boys refuse to stay on the farm.

 

50 years ago — July 1971

The natural fears and insecurities which so often accompany advancing years will soon be tackled head-on in Salisbury at Noble Horizons, a new kind of housing for senior citizens for which architects’ drawings have been released this week. The project is funded by the bequest of the late Mrs. John Noble of Sharon who for many years made her home at Blue Horizons, her estate on Route 41 in Sharon. Mrs. Noble left a fund of $8.5 million for moderate-priced rental housing for people over 65. A total of 97 applications have already been received.

— Northeast Utilities was granted a three-year preliminary permit by the Federal Power Commission Monday to proceed with studies of the Canaan Mountain pumped storage project.

— Building Inspector William Conrad on Tuesday issued a building permit to Fairfield builders Yovan and Desmond for construction of a much-discussed 18-unit condominium behind the Hotchkiss Library in Sharon.

 

25 years ago — July 1996

Salisbury’s real estate market heated up along with the weather this spring as second-quarter property sales surged ahead, powered largely by local residents rather than out of town buyers. The market was also invigorated by a few properties that sold for more than a million dollars.

KENT — Ruth Epstein has married an awesome number of people, but she’s only had one husband. She has a special, old-fashioned respect for the institution of marriage but never thought of herself as playing the part in it that she plays. Earlier this year she performed her 100th wedding as Justice of the Peace in Kent.

— Fred Perkins is still selling and servicing cars after 40 years in the family business, Brewer Bros. auto dealership in Canaan. His son, Bradley, has now joined the firm as the third generation in the company, which is in its 85th year of continuous business.

Norma Bosworth
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Lakeville Journal and The Journal does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

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Lelah M. Somers

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DOVER PLAINS — Lelah M. Somers, 97, a longtime Dover Plains, New York, resident, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, New York. Lelah was born on July 3, 1929, in Pawling, New York, to the late Byron and Lelah (Watts) Brill. Lelah grew up in Pawling and on Nov. 22, 1946, in Pleasant Valley, New York, she married James F. Somers, Sr. Mr. Somers passed away on Sept. 3, 1970. Lelah worked for New York State as a therapy aide for thirty-years and as a senior companion for New York State for thirty-two-years, with specific care provided to the mentally disabled.

She enjoyed taking care of the mentally disabled, was a wonderful mother to her four children, always putting her family first. She is survived by her son, James F. Somers, Jr. and his wife Donna of Dover Plains; two daughters, Doreen Monica of Wingdale, and Frances “Fran” Horton of Dover Plains, who was also her caregiver for many years; seven grandchildren, Debbie, Margie, Leah, Stephanie, Deirdra, Benji and Jimmy and several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, and her step-son, Kenny Elliott. In addition to her parents and husband, Lelah was predeceased by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol “DeeDee” Maile and Gil Maile, her son-in-law, Stephen Monica, and her son-in-law, Benny Horton as well as her companion of over forty-years, Andrew “Mac” McAlravey and her siblings, Ferris Brill, Eleanor Barryann, Richard Brill, William Brill and Barney Brill.

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Provided

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Bleacher and Everard Photography

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Provided

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