Thumbing the Files

Thursday, September 2, 2010

EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s a change. As we’ve mentioned, the 1910-11 file book is in such horrible shape that we are afraid it will fall apart if we were to use it. But people seem to want things from that era so we’re just going to do something else: We’ll just jump to 1912, a book in good shape. Hope you don’t mind too much.

98 years ago, 1912

Milford was to hold a special Town Meeting to see if voters would exempt the Quaker Shoe Co. from taxation for 10 years.

Ernest Pritchard returned to Milford from Ottawa Beach, Mich., where he had been all summer. He was to return to his studies in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The Rev. James P. Harper of Wilton was making calls around Perham Corner.

This joke was found in the paper “Scientists say it is too cold on Mars to support life. Perhaps, though, the planet is like Boston – merely intellectual.”

A farm a mile-and-a-half from Milford village was selling for $2,500 for 20 acres.

John T. Smith was an undertaker and licensed embalmer serving Wilton and Milford. His assistant was Nellie Keeley Smith.

75 years ago, 1935

Milford schools opened with 798 students, including 386 in the high school. That enrollment was about the same as in other years.

The milk route and equipment of John Fitch and the local milk route of Charles Hayward were bought by Frank Casserino.

From Milford, James Cassidy, James Saraceno, Walter Rantilla, George Vanetti and Alfred Pirovano attended the Washington-Boston baseball game Labor Day in Boston.

First National Stores was selling macaroni, spaghetti, or elbow macaroni at 17 cents for three eight-ounce packages.

From Amherst the news that the Bragdons from Hillside Farm motored to Old Orchard Beach and Wells, Maine. Mrs. Bertha Bragdon was to remain in Wells for two weeks visiting relatives.

The Milford American Legion Drum Corps was rehearsing for the Legion convention parade in Nashua.

The Strand Theatre in Milford was showing “Public Hero Number 1” with Lionel Barrymore, Jean Arthur, and Chester Morris. It was billed as “one of the screen’s greatest stories – because it’s true.”

In Perham Corner, this news: “George Warrn is shingling at Fred Russell’s.”

50 years ago, 1960

G.T. Riley of Milford was advertising “plenty of Elberta peaches.”

An editorial congratulated George Romney, president of American Motors, for “common sense and courage” after Romney promised no “abrupt or whimsical changes” in Rambler styling.

Amherst schools were to open on Sept. 7.

Goss Pond in Wilton would be open until Labor Day with a lifeguard on duty.

The Latchis Theater in Milford was showing “Macumba Love” with Walter Reed and Ziva Rodann, and “Oklahoma Territory” with Bill Williams and Gloria Talbot.

Wilton’s Town Hall Theater (yes, in 1960 it was spelled “theater,” which later changed) was showing “The Threat” with Robert Knapp and Linda Lawson.

25 years ago, 1985

Concerned about speeders on West Street, the Milford selectmen asked Police Chief Steve Sexton to crack down on them.

Steve Dolloff was named supervisor the Milford’s Wastewater Treatment Plant at a salary of $23,500.

John William Barbour, son of Mr. And Mrs. William Barbour of Amherst, graduated from Army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood where he received medals in riflery and hand grenades.

Amherst police reported that 11 items of silk lingerie and loungewear were stolen from Understatements at Salzburg Square. The items were valued at $576.

The Wilton Town Hall Theatre was showing “Mad Max” and “ET.”

Wilton’s Coors/Wilton 15K Road Race and two-mile run was set for Sept. 15.