Complied by Dave Greenleaf
150 Years Ago – January 1872
Mr. C.S. Bailey was cruelly attacked and badly injured last Thursday at the shop of J.H. Sessions by a shopmate named Circular Saw. The two have worked together at the same bench for many years. Three or four times before Mr. Bailey has been attacked by the hard-hearted villain in a similar way. In those frays he lost the greater part of two fingers on his left hand and a thumb. This time another finger has been cut off, the remaining one nearly severed and the stumps badly mangled.
If any of our New York friends see some funny dolls in the market there whose viscera consist of springs and wheels and who go about on all fours like a yearling, we would inform those friends that the dolls were made in Bristol, except the heads, hands and feet –those came “over the ditch” from Germany.
On Saturday night the dwellers in the western portion of our village were entertained by a band of ragamuffins armed with instruments of discordant sound who made the night hideous with their unearthly yells.
The key found in Mr. Welch’s warehouse last Tuesday belongs to the editor of the Bristol Press who will be obliged to anyone who takes the trouble to bring it to him.
125 Years Ago – January 1897
The Bristol Poultry Show was a big success. More than 550 birds were shown and the event attracted many out of town exhibitors.
The Borough voted to award $250 to Mrs. Rockwell and $500 to Mr. Strunz for damages done to their property during the Spring Street improvements. Mrs. Rockwell then announced plans to sue for insufficient damages.
The Borough agreed to give trial to a new snow plowing machine to be used for clearing sidewalks and gutters
100 Years Ago – January 1922
One was killed and two injured when a Cummington limousine owned by Mr. Thomas P. O’Brien skidded on an icy Southbury highway and struck a tree while returning its passengers to the city.
A dedication ceremony held for the new John J. Jennings School attracted a large crowd to the Burlington Avenue location. Judge Newell Jennings, son of the building’s namesake, gave the keynote.
Bristol High School’s game with New Britain was terminated after a fight broke out on the court and the stands emptied after New Britain’s Landino kneed and punched Waterhouse. Croze went to assist Waterhouse and one of the New Britain players felled Croze with a right hook. Principal Henry Cottle announced that Bristol has canceled the subsequent game and will likely terminate competition against New Britain.
With the Boulevard, new high school and the new firehouse all under construction and bonded for many years to come, some residents have begun to express concern over the city’s post war spending spree. Mayor Wade questioned during an informal hearing whether furnishings for the high school swimming pool and gymnasium were necessary at this time or could be put off until there was more money available.
The Council approved new parking rules, limiting time to 30 minutes along Main, North Main and Meadow Streets.
The City’s Grand list was announced at $20,772,846.
Sports 100 Years Ago – January 1922
The West Ends won two to open the new year, 31-25 over the All Collegians and 26-23 over a very strong BHS Alumni team. Skids Dumschott and Joe Smith stood out for the West Ends.
A very fast Wilby team ended Bristol High School’s win streak with a 27-19 win.
Bristol then beat New Haven Commerical, the defending New England Champions, coming back from a 15-4 halftime deficit to win 29-24.
75 Years Ago –January 1947
Bristol teachers demanded a $400 cost of living adjustment to their wages, The Board of Education countered with a $250 offer. The sides continued to negotiate through the month.
Superintendent of Public Works Daniel Donovan solved the mystery of the disappearing sand from the boxes placed around the city. It appears that a number of filling station operators have been dumping the contents of the sand boxes into their trucks as soon as the city filled them. Donovan solved the problem by setting up locations where those needing sand by the truckload may obtain it.
Fire caused $10,000 in damages to the Atwood Chevrolet Building on Meadow St.
Local Marine Leonard E. Cross completed a transoceanic phone call from Honolulu to his sister in Bristol. The Southern New England Telephone Company helped facilitate the four-minute call.
The Police Commission was told that the city is likely to incur an additional expense of $500 to $600 to pay supernumerary police at the ten supervised coasting areas of the city before winter is over. The supernumeraries are paid $1 per hour to supervise the sledding on designated city streets.
The Grand List set a Bristol record of $69.8 million.
Sports 75 Years Ago – January 1947
Bristol High School suffered its first loss of the season, 37-34 to Hillhouse, snapping an eight-game winning streak.
Bristol High broke three records in its 84-17 win over Manchester. It was the most points ever scored by a BHS team, topping the old record of 71 set in 1931. Eddie McHugh scored 25 points for what is believed to be a new single game record ahead of Andy Palau’s 22, and the reserves combined for a presumed record 32 points.
50 Years Ago – January 1972
Bristol police thwarted an armed robbery attempt after two men bound a Bristol woman to a chair with clothesline at her Old Wolcott Rd. home. Patrolman Thur Hewitt arrived to find the two men still inside the house. Both escaped into nearby woods and were eventually captured.
The city entered an agreement to expand the city dump. Mayor Longo claimed the agreement will handle the city’s needs for the next ten years.
The city council balked at Mayor Longo’s attempt to eliminate two public works jobs.
Friendly Ice Cream cancelled its lease to build at the corner of North Main and Center Streets in the redevelopment area, citing zoning conflicts. It was the second cancellation in six months for the troubled agency
The city put out proposals for construction projects for the land currently occupied by South Side School between the Bristol Baptist Church and the Bristol Press building on School Street. The city is hoping the land will be used for a bank or similar operation. (Ed. Note: 50 years later it’s still a parking lot)
Major Longo called for action to correct traffic flow problems at the West End intersection of Park and Divinity Streets. (Ed. Note: 50 years later it might finally get done.)
Longo and the Democrats voted support for the city to return to voting for city council by district after at-large elections in the last two cycles.
The city’s Grand list showed its smallest increase in 11 years at $254,557,000
Sports 50 Years Ago – December 1971
Bristol Central topped Bristol Eastern 63-52 in a battle for the CCIL cellar. Armand Raponey and Bob Nicoletti led the way for the Rams.
The Bristol Champlains took over first place in the Southern New England Hockey League with their sixth straight win.
Five Falcons hit double figures as St. Paul overran Bristol Eastern 96-69. Al Stocki had 28 and Jerry Lantieri and Jim Gienty had 20 points each.
Bristol celebrated Tom Shopay Day as the outfielder for the mighty Baltimore Orioles returned to his hometown for a series of celebrations around the city.
25 Years Ago – January 1997
Bristol Federation of Teachers president Art Costa reiterated the union’s opposition to the proposed high school block schedule. The Board of Education proposed a one-year phase in.
Lake Compounce revealed plans to feature an historic trolley from the New Haven line along the west side of the lake.
Bristol Central High School principal Michael Ferry was suspended after allegations of sexual abuse. The Board of Education then voted not to terminate Ferry after students rallied behind the popular principal. Ferry was transferred to an assistant principal position at Chippens Hill Middle School for the remainder of the year.
The city settled an age discrimination suit brought by former Housing Authority director Samuel Kasparian.
The state approved a $16 million grant to Lake Compounce but again put a hold on the proposed Route 72 extension project.
The St. Stanislaus School building on West St. was demolished 11 years after the 64 year old school had closed its doors.
The Grand List increased by $41 million to $2.7 billion thanks to ESPN growth.
Sports 25 Years Ago – January 1997
St. Paul suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of St. Thomas Aquinas, 85-58.
A knee injury sidelined Bristol Eastern basketball captain and leading scorer David Giovinazzo for what was expected to be most of his senior season.
Bristol native Scott LaChance was named to the NHL All Star team.
Bristol in Earlier Days is comprised of material from the annals of the Bristol Press.