Compiled by David Greenleaf
150 Years Ago – October 1871
The election on Monday resulted in a victory for the democrats except the first selectman is of the opposite party.
The report of the School Visitor included a discussion on whether to combine districts into a town system. It was decided to keep the districts.
The average cost per scholar per week was 28 cents. The total use of funds by the schools was $7398.73 for the year.
125 Years Ago – October 1896
The Republicans swept the elections in the town. A.H. Warner, F. N. Manross and J.Q. Perkins were elected to the Board of Selectmen.
The town voted to go license by 187 votes.
The election of Senator E.H. Dunbar who was not a candidate and had not been nominated was an unprecedented event organized by his friends who were incensed that he had not been nominated after 25 years on the Board of Registrars.
The School St. sewer line was completed at a cost of $876.01.
Permission was given to the Meteorological Clock Company to erect a clock at the corner of Main and Prospect Streets.
The town meeting approved the layout of Jacobs and Brightwood Streets and debated extending the closing time of the town meeting from 2 pm to 3 pm.
Sports 125 Years Ago – October 1896
Saturday’s football game for the high school was a victory for Waterbury by a score of 4 to 0. The umpire, a Waterbury chap, was even more unbearable than the team he worked for. He is troubled with intermittent blindness.
Bristol High School defeated Middletown 10-0. Featured were Ward’s rush at center, Gwillim’s tackle and Sharpe’s run of 50 yards for a touchdown.
100 Years Ago – October 1921
A large crowd gathered outside City Hall on the eve of the election for an advertised campaign rally but left disappointed when no candidate stepped forward to speak
John F. Wade was elected Mayor of Bristol by a 2889-1682 margin over James L, Murray. It was the largest vote total in the town’s history.
City residents were reminded that it is illegal to shoot gray squirrels within city limits as the hunting season opened.
The city dismissed Constable Edward J. O’Keefe after a hearing before Mayor Joseph Dutton and Chief E. T. Belden. The dismissal stemmed from a complaint from two saloon keepers who claimed that the constable had entered the establishment and demanded that they serve him hard liquor.
John H. Hayes was named the permanent chief of the newly reorganized fire department.
The city school budget approved for 1922 topped $200,000 for the first time.
Mrs. Aleck Ecremb of 66 Pond St. suffered severe burns to her hands when she knocked over an oil burning stove as police raided her home to find an illegal still and several quarts of hooch.
The Newell Tract behind Queen St. between Goodwin and Harrison Streets was chosen for the permanent site of the city’s new hospital.
Sports 100 Years Ago – September 1921
Eddie Goodridge pitched the most masterful game of his career but the New Departures fell 2-1 in 11 innings as Manchester tied the state championship series.
The West Ends voted not to play any more football games as the attendance at the opening games was not what would ensure a season on the right side of the financial ledger. It was decided to stop the season while the team was even rather than run behind. Donations made at the start of the season will be returned to the givers.
Manchester won the fifth and final game of the state semi-pro championship series 11-7 over the Endees.
75 Years Ago – October 1946
Mrs. Elizabeth Eastman Hawkins and her three your old daughter were among 39 lost in an airliner crash on Newfoundland. Mrs. Hawkins, daughter of the longtime Bristol Girls Club director Florence Eastman was enroute to join her husband who was working with the US Army in Berlin, Germany.
For the first time since the start of the war, the mum display at the Bristol Nurseries returned to Chippens Hill.
Congress approved funding for a new Post Office Building in Forestville.
Bristol High School seniors took over the city government for a day. Clyde Brouker was the student major. Councilmen included Ross Elliot, William Hyland, Lawrence Burns, John Trudon, Gordon Sonstroem and Richard Bannon.
The Community Chest Drive fell short of its goal for the third straight year. The fund raised $85,099 of its $102,000 goal, forcing the directors to cut the budgets of many community organizations.
Jennings School celebrated its 25 Anniversary with a keynote speech by Judge Newell Jennings, son of the school’s namesake.
Bristol men are now able to register for Selective Service with City Clerk Rolf Rowe in City Hall rather than traveling to New Britain when they turn 18.
Sports 75 Years Ago – October 1946
Bristol High School’s scheduled football game at Middletown was postponed when lights traveling from New York failed to arrive by game time. Middletown won the game the next afternoon, 13-7.
Bristol Tramps added former Providence College standout Chet Jarowski to be player and coach as the team prepared to defend its state basketball championship.
The unbeaten West Ends football squad battled to a 0-0 tie with unbeaten Waterbury before 1,000 fans at Muzzy Field. Bill and Porky Santorso had key fumble recoveries to thwart the Waterbury attack.
50 Years Ago – October 1971
The state reapportionment plan put all three Bristol legislators, Robert Vicino, Woodrow Violette ad Kenneth Rock all in the same district. Bristol lost two of its existing districts and was combined with Burlington in District 77 and Southington in District 79.
Parents protested the cutting of the schools’ gifted program.
The state approved funding for the widening of Rt. 229 from the recently completed I-84 in Southington to the proposed new Route 72 in Bristol.
A crowd of 300, the largest such crowd in city history, attended the mayoral debate between Major Stretch Norton and challenger Frank Longo.
The Bristol Press celebrated its 100th anniversary with a 168-page special edition.
The school building committee got a $3,265,000 price estimate for the planned new South Side School to be built on Tuttle Road.
The Redevelopment Committee voted 7-2 to approve plans for the new Middle Street Industrial Park.
Sports 50 Years Ago – October 1971
West Woods (grades 7 & 8) and Jennings (grades 5 & 6) Schools won the Mum Festival Junior Olympics titles.
Bristol Central cross country beat Bristol Eastern 26-29 for the city cross country championship. Brian Mullins took first place for the Lancers. Kevin Hayes of Bristol Central was second.
The Bristol Champlains Hockey team opened the season with a 7-2 win over East Hartford
25 Years Ago – October 1996
Dialing of the 860 or 203 area code became mandatory for in state calls. According to SNET, local residents misdialed and were unable to complete 1 in 7 calls during the first week of ten-digit dialing.
The Chamber of Commerce announced plans to push for a referendum to approve construction of a golf course in the Hoppers.
Police Chief William Kohnke announced plans to leave the city for a job in a Florida Beach community.
The Witches Dungeon celebrated 30 years of scares at its Battle St. location.
Lake Compounce announced that it was on track to complete a new steel roller coaster and river raft ride by the start of next season.
ESPN news was set to launch, but no cable companies had signed up to take the service a week before launch date.
Sports 25 Years Ago – October 1996
Bristol Eastern volleyball coach Gail Erickson earned her 200th career win at EO Smith.
The Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern boys and girls soccer teams both battled to a 0-0 tie in city series matches at Muzzy Field.
Bristol Central’s Eric Lewandoski became the school’s all-time passing leader with two touchdown passes to help the Rams tie Maloney.
Platt stunned Bristol Eastern 24-14 to end the Lancers’ bid for an undefeated football season.
Bristol in Earlier Days is comprised of material from the annals of the Bristol Press.