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Milford’s annual festival celebrates gourds

100 years ago, 1913

A week after the express train from Boston was discontinued, a howl went up all the way from South Merrimack to Keene and it was heard in the office of railroad Superintendent Mooney in Nashua and the service was resumed.

Milford High School managed to schedule a football game against Richards High in Newport, just a week after concerns that the school would not field a team.

Residents of the Jones Crossing district in Milford notified Chief Goodwin that a band of Gypsies was encamped there. Remembering past experiences with Gypsies, the chief, with an automobile full of officers, hurried to the scene. The campers proved to be a peaceful band of Italian laborers bound for Hancock.

Milford firefighters responded to three chimney fires in one day.

An auto truck from Wilton Centre met a carriage with a man and a lady in it near the Charles Moore place. The horse took fright and jumped a wall, throwing out both man and lady, but without much injury. No blame was attached to the truck driver.

Mrs. J.B. Stimis, a dressmaker of several years experience in New York City, opened a dressmaking parlor at her home on Crescent Street in Wilton and was said to be pleased to show the ladies of Wilton and vicinity the latest styles from New York and Paris.

70 years ago, 1943

Clinton Ellsworth was home in Milford for the first time since February, 1941. He had been serving with the Navy in the Pacific. He was a coxswain and had earned three service bars and stars for two engagements, one at Pearl Harbor, the other the Battle of Midway.

Merritt Langdell, vice president of the Langdell Lumber Co., was a member of the seven-man Industry Advisory Committee for Northeastern softwood lumber, the Office of Price Administration announced.

Russian troops drove to within 100 miles of the old Polish border while other Red forces assaulted German positions on the west bank of the Dnieper river.

Army Pfc. Joseph Riccitelli of Milford was transferred from Plant Park, Fla., to the army air base in Brownwood, Texas.

The Latchis Theatre in Milford was showing “Sherlock Holmes in Washington” with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.

Arnold Tuttle of Wilton was promoted to petty officer third class. He was stationed at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington. And Pfc. Kenneth Tuttle arrived safely in England.

50 years ago, 1963

The state closed its woodlands to hunting until soaking rains came. Gov. John King’s proclamation closed the seasons on hunting, trapping and fishing except where sportsmen could reach ponds and fish or hunt from boats without going through woodlands.

In an editorial, William B. Rotch wrote, “We would be happier about the continued agitation for the repeal of what is somewhat incorrectly called the ‘prayer ban’ if we thought it represented an increased awareness of the role of God in the affairs of man. Too often, however, we get the impression that people simply want the schools to assume responsibilities they are unwilling to assume themselves.”

In the Wilton Industrial Bowling League, Ed Lamminen rolled a 374 string to become the third member of the league’s 350 Club. He had a high single of 148.

The Town Hall Theatre in Wilton was showing “Young and Brave” with Rory Calhoun and William Bendix.

25 years ago, 1988

Milford Area Senior High School seniors Owen Kelley, Tovar Johnson, and Sarah Lowman were finalists for the 1989 National Merit Scholarship competition.

In an editorial William B. Rotch said he would vote for Michael Dukakis for president, even though he found that both campaigns – Republican and Democratic – were being “orchestrated by public relations experts” and suggested it “would be better if we ignored everything we have heard in the last six months.”

Amherst School Board member Ann Logan submitted her resignation, but the board refused to accept it.

Frederick Hauck, formerly of Amherst, was commander of the space shuttle Discovery.

Wendy Stotz, editor of The Cabinet, was wed to Alan Locicero, owner of Alco Electrical Plumbing and Heating of Milford.

The Milford Area Senior High golf team won the state title under coach Dick Miller, even though they had been seeded eighth in the tournament. Milford’s Derek Fuhs had the low score for the day at 80.