This Week in Webster History

Jan. 28 -- Pulaski cornet band held a concert and dance in their hall on Clark St., 1893.
Atty. Louis Rieutord was named Judge of First District Court, 1922.
Employees of the railway company began the task of removing trolley wires along Main St., 1927.
Selectmen, of both Webster and Dudley, were "sounded out" in regard to granting a permit for a race track in either town, 1949.
Rev. E. D. Gravel was named pastor of Sacred Heart Church, 1949.
Jim Healy, captain of the Holy Cross College football team, was guest speaker at the 6th annual Lions Club Football Banquet at the Colonial Club, 1959.

Jan. 29 -- Thompson Tramway, from Snow's Corner to North Grosvenordale opened with Garrett Nagle as motorman and James Hyland, conductor, 1902.
The towns of Webster and Dudley were informed by the County Commissioners that the Grand Trunk railroad would not be completed, 1927.
Nearly 250 youngsters attended the first dance sponsored by the Webster Rotarians and Lions, 1944.
The former King O' Hearts Restaurant on Rt. 131 in Quinebaug was purchased by Carmen Rizzo, owner of Carmen's Restaurant on East Main St. in Webster. He will operate his new venture under the name "The Continental Restaurant", 1963.

Jan. 30 -- Miss Lydia Slater offered to Town of Webster as a playground for children land between North Main and Slater Sts. to be known as William Slater Park in memory of her father, grandson of Samuel Slater, 1949.
W-D Business Bureau voted $300 for survey of means to relieve Main Street traffic, with possible by-pass road, 1951.

Jan. 31 -- Dr. Quincy H. Merrill leased offices in the Larcher-Branch building, formerly occupied by Dr. Frederick A. Brown, 1914.
Work on Route 16, along the Gore Rd., was expected to be completed under Chapter 90 and according to new state policy, the town is expected to pay only one-fifth of the anticipated $50,000 cost, 1956.
John J. McNally of Lake Parkway was named a Deputy Assistant to the Special Assistant to President John F. Kennedy, 1961.

Feb. 1 -- Universalist Church steeple on School Street blew down during gale storm, 1876.
Rufus B. Eddy, who erected the Bank Block, died, 1902.
"Brown-Out" became effective in Webster and Dudley on order of the National Defense Board, 1945.
Parent-Teacher Association Youth Center opened on trial basis in Eagles Hall, 1953.
Joseph A. Patenaude, prominent resident, long-time town official and one of the largest real estate holders in town, died, 1962.

Feb. 2 -- Music Hall on High Street, town's largest hall, where stage productions were shown as well as movies, destroyed by fire, 1922.
State Census figures tentatively showed Webster with population of 13,656, a gain of 473, 1945.
Bay Path Associates petitioned Webster Selectmen for a race track in Kingsbury district, 1949.
State Engineers questioned the location of parking meters in Webster, 1953.
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Feb. 3 -- J. D. Kingsbury lost his life in a fire that destroyed his barn, 1884.
St. Joseph's parochial school, costing $236,000, was opened to accomodate 1100 pupils at regular sessions, 1925.
Ralph K. Hubbard presented a modern operating table to the Webster District Hospital, 1944.
Mrs. Paul Bielik was named president of the St. Anthony's Woman's Club, 1958.

Feb. 4 -- Blizzard with five feet of snow, 1898.
Mart A. Howard left Webster to search for gold in the Klondike, Alaska, 1902.
The oldest of all social functions in the community, the 75th annual Masked Ball of the D.L.K. was held in their hall, 1938.
The Merchants Division of the Chamber of Commerce sponsored a meeting at Treasure Island to probe solutions of downtown parking and traffic problems, 1967.

Feb. 5 -- Webster Lions Club was instituted, 1930.
Charles B. Robba, was re-elected president of the Webster Republican Club, 1936.
First Ro-Li dance held in Municipal Auditorium, sponsored by Rotary and Lions Clubs for teenagers, 1944.
Article submitted to Selectmen for town warrant, seeking to change name of high school from Bartlett back to Webster High brought forth deluge of letters and oratory. It was defeated at town meeting, 1953.
Preliminary plans for the new St. Anthony's Church to be located on a 10-acre plot off Dudley Hill Road were announced by the Most Rev. Bernard J. Flanagan and Albert J. Roy, architect, 1969.

Feb. 6 -- King John Sobieski Society founded, 1904.
Tuberculosis was the greatest health menace in the community according to the Board of Health report, 1930.
Announcement made that State Guard Rifle Company would be formed here to replace National Guard unit, 1941.
Sale of The Stadium Candy Kitchen, located at327 Main St., was announced. Eric and Roland Guenther purchased the business from Arthur J. Pappas, 1955.
A Polio Clinic was held to give second inoculations only to those school children who received first shots, 1956.

Feb. 7 -- The State Theater was filled for the presentation of the "Slater Booster Minstrels", under the direction of John H. McGeary, 1936.
Dr. Wilfred P. Bazinet named clerk of First District Court, 1940.
Residents notified that Blackout paint could be removed from skylights on buildings as "dim out" regulations were eased, 1944.
East Village Sewer Committee recommended $282,000 project for Phase 1 of sewer system, 1962.
School officials announced that a classroom shortage would hit Bartlett High School in September of the following year, 1963.

Feb. 8 -- More than 100 gathered at the first annual banquet of the Retail Merchants of Webster in the Josilin House, 1925.
Announcement was made that Rev. Anthony Cyran, pastor of St. Joseph Church, would be made a Monsignor, and impressive exercises were held for the investiture which was made in the local church with Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary presiding at the solemn service at which the church was jammed, 1930.
Joslin House, established in 1844, destroyed by fire, 1939.
Atty. Laval J. Leboeuf appointed special justice of First District Court, 1966.

Feb. 9 -- McKinstry Ice Co. harvested 22,000 tons of ice at Webster Lake, 1936.
First annual dinner dance of Webster District Hospital Guild held at Colonial Club with 70 couples subscribing, 1949.
New Haven Railroad announced tracks of Southbridge branch, laid in 1866, would be torn up, leaving only one line crossing Main Street, 1950.
Dissolving of the Fleetwood Chemical Corp. partnership and establishment of a new chemical industry in the No. 5 building at the former Webster Mills was announced by Charles R. Puliafico, former partner in the Fleetwood Corp. and proprietor of the new concern, 1956.
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Feb. 10 -- The entire Nipmuc country from southern Massachusetts to Nash-a-way (near Mechanicsville, CT) was given over to Massachusetts Bay Colony for 50 pounds, 1714.
It was announced that the Chase Mills would be included among eight idle mills to be sold at auction by the American Woolen Co., 1933.
State Dept. of Health threatened to take legal steps to force town to start sewage disposal system, and Rep. Charles Skladzien filed bill in Legislature to permit town to incur indebtedness for this purpose, 1948.
Rev. Casimir Swiacki named first pastor of newly created parish of St. Andrew Bobola Church, Dudley, which had previously been mission of St. Joseph's parish, 1962.

Feb. 11 -- Announcement was made by Police Chief James Hetherman that white shoulder straps and belts would be worn by traffic officers on night duty, 1925.
The Winsor Co., a handkerchief concern, announced it would move into the Puritan mill on Pearl St. to begin operations, 1930.
With the taking over of the Bartlett estate on the corner of East Main and South Main by new owner John Zalla, Charles Leavens, custodian of the estate for 19 years, retired at age 89, 1955.
Plans for the establishment of a day nursery for the children of Bentley Shoe Corp. employees were announced by Rolf Bieringer, general manager of the Webster Plant, 1956.

 


 


 

 


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