Thumbing the files: Jan. 28-Feb. 4

Thursday, January 28, 2010

From the files of The Cabinet Jan. 28-Feb. 4

100 years ago

In Milford, locals were mourning Mrs. E.C. Batchelder, who, a headline said, was “loved by all.” She “passed quietly away” at her Milford home.

The girls of Milford High School played their first public basketball game in the Town Hall between the two high school teams, blue and white.

Postal authorities complained of the “habit of some rural patrons of putting unstamped letters in the boxes with coins to pay the postage.” One problem for letter carriers: the difficulty of picking up coins with gloved hands.

The John Parker farm in the south part of Milford was sold to H.W. Cook, of Stoneham, Mass.

Anna M. Phillips was preparing to sail for Calcutta, India, with her husband, who was making the trip “in the interest of the Bemis Bros. Bag Co.” They expected to be gone for three months.

In Wilton, Mr. Phinney, “one of our popular baggagemasters in town, is now wearing a smile.” Why? Because his barred Plymouth Rock hen won first prize at the Derry poultry show.

75 years ago

About 15 inches of snow fell in a blizzard. Plow drivers in Milford faced “a real battle, and some drivers got no rest for 30 or 40 hours.”

The East Milford Club re-elected all of its officers, including President Henry A. Romani, Vice President G. Rizzi, financial secretary Anthony J. Rossi, recording secretary Louis Consigli and treasurer G. Louis Macchi.

Amherst took the lead in the National Division of the local indoor baseball league, at 14-3. In the American League, Mont Vernon, at 12-5, was in third behind Catholic Boys’ Club (11-4) and Fish and Game Club (12-3).

John Faustine was preparing to open a market “in the Coon block on South Street” next to the Texaco station, where he planned to sell meats, fish and vegetables. Charles O’Neil would make two daily deliveries to residents.

Anthony Aveni, the assistant manager of the grocery department of the A&P in Milford, was transferred to the Wilton store as assistant manager.

From Lyndeborough, it was reported that Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Gibbs and Miss Mildred Cummings were in Manchester on business the previous Saturday.

In Mont Vernon, Prospect Grange players “are busy preparing a dramatic evening.”

From Brookline, it was reported that Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Porter, Alfred Grant, Joseph and Stephen Homoliski, and Leo Austin were in Milford on Saturday night.

50 years ago

A school bus driven by L. Paul King, and a car driven by Mrs. Hildegarde K. Frost, collided on Federal Hill Road, but no one was hurt. However, “a score of youngsters returning from school were delayed and for awhile, telephone switchboards were busy with calls from anxious parents.”

Colds and virus infections forced the indefinite postponement of the faculty vs. seniors basketball game.

Joseph Luongo, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Luongo, was a patient at the Memorial hospital in Nashua.

The Wadleigh Memorial Library in Milford announced that it had just gotten a copy of Allen Drury’s “Advise and Consent.”

From Temple came the news that Judy Barber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Barber, was chosen queen of the Senior Ball in Peterborough. She was escorted to the ball by Ronnie Bowman, of Peterborough.

In Amherst, the Clark School faculty gave a surprise “impromptu birthday party” after school for Miss Charlotte Boutelle, the fourth-grade teacher.

In Milford District Court, William J. Church, 20, of Wilton, pleaded guilty to possession of beer. He was fined $20.

At Wilton High School, the eighth-grade music class was studying operas.

In South Lyndeborough, Miss Alice Stearns returned home from a vacation with relatives in Westford, Mass. But “a few days before returning, she fell and broke two bones in her right wrist.”

25 years ago

Robert Courage was named director of public works in Milford.

Milford police warned that car owners should lock their vehicles because of recent thefts. Among the stolen items: an Alpine cassette tape unit, a Panasonic cassette tape deck, a Sherwood cassette tape deck, a radar detector and a stereo.

Michael P. Cahill joined the First Baptist Church of Amherst as co- pastor.

The Amherst Ways and Means Committee was skeptical of the need for public kindergarten in 1986.

Lyndeborough Police Chief Mark Schultz arrested a fugitive from Florida who had escaped from a prison there.

Milford Area Senior High was putting on “The Wizard of Oz.” Heidi Kunz played Dorothy.

The Wilton Town Hall Theatre was showing “Cotton Club” and “Amadeus.”