Turning Back the Pages - August 20, 2026

125 years ago — August 1901

Speaking of street lights; one of our city visitors declared that the lights were so far apart that even the bugs get lost. Too bad, but we haven’t a word to say. How long will it thus?

A spotted adder, measuring three and one-half feet, took refuge in the home of Charles Crosley, who lives on the Canaan mountain road, last week, while Crosley was at work in the hay field. Crosley first discovered his guest lying on a shelf. He dealt the reptile a heavy blow, where-upon it sprang at him, barely escaping his face. After smashing two chairs Crosley succeeded in killing the snake.

The bear finally disappeared from eastern Dutchess county; incidentally so have the berries. We should be (beary) thankful that we haven’t been eaten up alive.

This is the season of the year when goo-goo eyes and white duck trousers are the proper thing.

SHARON — The Rev. Wm. Hutchinson is away on a fishing expedition for a week.

Grove Miller has entered the employ of Harnessmaker Miller.

100 years ago — August 1926

Charles Millspaugh is off duty at Roberts’ Store, owing to a run down condition, which will necessitate a rest for a time from active duty.

Chester S. Thurston is in New London today as a delegate from Lakeville Hose Co. to the annual State Firemen’s Convention.

ORE HILL — George Barnett of Naugatuck is visiting Morris Dennis at Pine Cone Camp.

50 years ago — August 1976

A campaign has been launched for public donations to equip a room at Sharon Hospital in honor of Dr. George Anderson Fowler, long-time Northwest Corner surgeon and one of the founders of the Sharon Clinic, who is retiring and moving to New Mexico. A testimonial for Dr. Fowler will be held on the Sharon Green on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m. At that time it is hoped to present him with a document bearing the names of friends and patients who have contributed to the room at the hospital.

“We’re doing a little bit better this year,” was the general sentiment of Northwest Corner businessmen interviewed by The Lakeville Journal this week. The Journal spoke to a cross-section of retail outlets throughout the Northwest Corner and heard generally optimistic words about business conditions this year.

Senator Lowell Weicker said recently that “two of Connecticut’s greatest problems — unemployment and deteriorating rail transportation — could be blasted with one punch,” if Congress approves the pending Railroad Jobs Bill. In remarks prepared for delivery at re-dedication ceremonies for historic Union Station at New London, Weicker said the legislation, which he co-sponsored, will direct up to $110 million nationwide to hire workers to renovate rail lines.

TWIN LAKES — Fine weather graced the 76th annual Twin Lakes Day competition last Saturday. Races and other water events, such as canoe-tilting matches, began at 2:30 p.m. The annual family supper was followed by a dance at the Beach Club at which trophies were awarded in various age groups for outstanding performances in the competitions.

SALISBURY — The Williams Stock Farm of Salisbury has purchased 132 acres and a house on Under Mountain Road from Dr. and Mrs. John Elliott of Lakeville for a tax-indicated price of $332,500. Richard Williams, member of a Montana cattle-raising family, had previously purchased the nearby 114-acre Forrester Farm.

SHEFFIELD — Drawn by a controversy over the proposed establishment of a pig farm on the Bernard Fryc property at Boardman Street and Kellogg Road, an unusually large attendance of some 20 persons made a lively scrap out of the Town Planning Board’s meeting Monday night. A number of those present were residents who had descended on the Board of Selectmen’s meeting last week to protest the proposed piggery. The selectmen told them they could not interfere with Fryc’s plans unless a health code violation developed on his farm.

NORFOLK — The line seemed endless, but Dr. Richard Barstow of Norfolk seemed delighted as he took each proffered hand. The doctor was honored last Thursday by more than 350 friends and relatives upon the conclusion of his 40th year as a Norfolk physician. The Norfolk green glittered with people as the town turned out to honor the man who had seen many of them though the trials of illness and the joy of birth. Among the crowd was Richard Roberts, the first Norfolk baby delivered by Dr. Barstow. Roberts traveled all the way from Virginia to be there, bringing with him his 15-year-old son, Robert, also delivered by Dr. Barstow. Also on hand was Mrs. C.D. Williams, Dr. Barstow’s first Norfolk patient.

CANAAN — Hurricane Belle canceled meetings and events all over the state of Connecticut but it failed to dampen the enthusiasm of 40 area youngsters for soccer. The hardy young people turned out for the first night of a soccer clinic planned by Morgan Schafer of Morgan Motors of Canaan. The three-day clinic was held at the car dealership and featured William Chivers, secretary of the London Football Coaches Association of London, England. Chivers was in the country to assist with a soccer clinic at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass.

CORNWALL — The North Cornwall Church’s sesquicentennial celebration Sunday was just one of the church’s anniversaries in its long history in Cornwall. Members were celebrating the 150th anniversary of the present building of the Second Congregational Church of Cornwall although the congregation originally gathered in 1780. One of the members of the congregation, Betty Gold, remembers the church from her childhood days when she visited Cornwall. She described her early memories as those of a “child’s impressions of a New England church, very different from the Dutch Reform church of Pennsylvania.”

CANAAN — The opening of a new model railroad hobby store in the Canaan Union Station in Canaan has been announced by Rolf H. Schneider of Falls Village. The station is an ideal location for this venture, Mr. Schneider said, not only because of the historical attraction to people interested in railroading, but also because there is no other store of its kind within a radius of 40 or 50 miles. The station in Canaan is the oldest railroad station in continuous railroad use in the United States.

25 years ago — August 2001

A familiar face at Housatonic Valley Regional High School has been tapped to take on the position of assistant principal. Mary Ann Buchanan, 38, former teacher and director of Housatonic’s alternative education program, got the nod from the Region 1 Board of Education Wednesday afternoon. She replaces Robert Buckley, who resigned to take a post at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs.

CORNWALL — Philip Hart appeared before the Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night to inquire how he could both build a home on Cherry Hill Farm, which has been owned by the Hart family since 1759, and convey over 100 acres with a local land trust. His six brothers and sisters, who are all over 60 years of age, agreed to make this arrangement “before it’s broken up,” Mr. Hart said.

NORFOLK — Seth H. Moseley II, 92, a journalist who covered many important news stories in America in the 20th century, died Aug. 11 in Torrington. Mr. Moseley was born March 26, 1909, the son of Virginia and William Moseley Jr., at Moseley’s New Haven House, the city’s largest hotel, which was owned and operated by his grandfather, William H. Moseley Sr. The family later moved to Norfolk and Mr. Moseley and his older brother, the late William Moseley III, were raised on the Blackberry River Farm, which was the property of their uncle, Seth H. Moseley. He was the husband of Hilda Margaret (Scott) Moseley.

Katherine LaBoy and Linda Hurn, new owners of what is now named Sharon Laundry, plan to open the business by the end of the month. The facility will feature a number of upgrades as well as activities.

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