Compiled by Dave Greenleaf
150 Years Ago – June 1872
During the thunderstorm last week lightning struck an apple tree near the house of Austin Curtis somewhat injuring a wagon standing beneath. Persons in the house were considerably affected by electricity.
The machinery at the Thompson Carriage Shop threw a stick at the head of William Hitchcock, giving him a scratched nose and a black eye. Machinery was arrested that night but started again in the morning.
Efforts are being made to establish a bank in Bristol which are likely to prove successful.
A new kind of brake has been introduced on the Hartford Providence and Fishkill Railroad. The novelty of the thing consists in its stopping the cars at the wrong time and place. But it is better to stop sometimes contrary to schedule than to not stop at all so there is possible excellence in the brake.
A politician asks for the straightening of Prospect St. which now crooks around Mr. Henry Avery’s house in an undignified way.
Building is quite brisk in Forestville. H. Bradley and C.W. Brown are building on the new road East of the toy shop, R. Smith and G.W. Fellows on the new street east of the cemetery. Several other houses are contracted for and joiners are in great demand.
R.N. Welch offers for sale at exceedingly low prices 25 building lots northeast of the cemetery and will soon petition for a road leading thereto.
125 Years Ago – June 1897
The town meeting approved a five year contract with the Bristol and Plainville Tramway Company for 83 street lamps at a cost of $80 per lamp per year.
A second town meeting was called after residents expressed objection to the more than $5000 cost of the street lighting. The motion to reconsider was defeated by a vote of 104-76.
The town approved an appropriation of $1500, matched by state funds, to have Riverside Avenue macadamized from Muzzy’s corner to the borough line connecting with the stone road and if the appropriation permits to extend to Broad, Central or Main Street in Forestville.
Bristol will soon have free mail delivery thanks to Congressman Henry. Civil service exams for the three carriers will be held on June 9 and service will begin in July.
The handsome edifice erected by the members of St. Matthews Church was dedicated by Bishop Tierney. Ground was broken for the new church in 1891 and the cornerstone laid in 1892, but shortly thereafter the FN Welch factory was shut down and many parishioners lost their jobs and were unable to contribute.
Sports 125 Years Ago – June 1897
Today’s game with Torrington was a rather torrid one and an unsatisfactory result. As usual the team from the town in the woods did more talking than playing..
100 Years Ago – June 1922
The city council rejected the Honor Roll Committee’s recommendation for the World War Memorial. Some objected to the $23,500 cost exceeding the $10,000 budget while others wanted a bigger monument.
New Departure announced plans to open a plant in Meriden in the fall.
Bristol Grammar Schools graduated the largest class in history. 226 diplomas were presented. 77 graduated from Bristol High School in ceremonies held in Redman’s Hall.
A second meeting and motion on the World War Memorial ended in a 3-3 deadlock after Mayor Wade refused to break the tie so the city will have to wait another year.
Memorial architect Harold Hayden told the council that to save money the shaft could be cut from 38 ft to 32 and the star base from 14 ft. square to 12 ft square. Thomas Tracy suggested that the brass plates with names could be placed on the soldier’s monument in West Cemetery instead of building a new monument. AF Rockwell questioned whether the monument would fit on the proposed site.
Following a petition for a motion to reconsider the monument vote, the council remained tied at 3-3.
Sports 100 Years Ago – June 1922
South Side School travelled to East Hartford to beat the Center School, East Hartford’s grammar school champions, by a score of 21-0. Martin Merrick held East Hartford to three hits. Several cars made the trip including Miss O’Connell and Emil Funk who brought several eighth grade pupils in his truck.
The New Departures finished the month strong with a big win over Bridgeport.
75 Years Ago – June 1947
City public schools graduated 333 and parochial schools 167. Bristol High graduated its largest class ever with 347 including 13 World War II veterans.
Wolcott and Bristol police announced a campaign to enforce the 7 mph speed limit for boats on Cedar Lake.
New Departure granted over a half million dollars in vacation pay to its 5500 Bristol employees.
The readjustment from wartime to peace production led to scattered layoffs at the New Departure plants.
Local merchants reported a late month buying surge ahead of the introduction of the state’s new 3% sales tax set to go into effect on July 1.
New transmission lines from the Southington substation into Bristol significantly increased power available in Bristol. High tension lines along Riverside Avenue help to increase the transmission of power.
Sports 75 Years Ago – June 1947
The Bristol American Legion baseball team opened its season with a 14-6 win over West Hartford behind the pitching of Foo Fournier.
Bristol High School dropped the last three games of the season to finish 10-4 after 6-2 loss at Torrington.
South Side School defeated Thomas A Patterson 1-0 to win the city grammar school championship behind the pitching of Frank Briatico. Richard Lugg and Gordon Losey formed the battery for Patterson.
Bristol High School shotputter Don Tinty was one of 14 athletes from the state chosen to compete in the New England track and field championships.
Bristol High School graduate Eddie McHugh joined the Bristol Bees after receiving approval from the Amateur Athletic Union to play with the professional team. McHugh hit a grand slam in a win over Staten Island.
50 Years Ago – June 1972
Hillary S. Driscoll, the last surviving member of the city’s original Board of Finance died at age 82 after decades of service to the city and the city’s Democrats.
The Barnes Nature Center held an official opening ceremony at its new Shrub Road facility.
Tunxis Community College included ten Bristol residents in its first graduating class.
Sports 50 Years Ago – June 1972
Bart Beardsley and Steve Libby pitched the Bristol Collegians to a doubleheader win over Stratford in the season opener.
25 Years Ago – June 1997
Mayor Frank Nicastro announced that he would not seek reelection for a third term, setting off a scramble for the nomination
Councilman Gerard Couture announced his intention to run for mayor.
One week after saying he would not run, Mayor Nicastro announced that he had reconsidered and would “yield to public demand” and seek a third term. Couture announced his withdrawal from the race.
Bristol Police announced plans to step up patrols to stop dirt bike riders in the Hoppers Birge Pond nature preserve.
Lake Compounce unveiled the Zoomerang, log flume, white water rafting and many other new rides in a soft opening for the newly renovated park.
The city council voted down a motion to put a term limits proposal on the November ballot.
Investigators cleared a Northeast School guidance counsleor of wrongdoing in an assault claim filed by a student, but parents announced plans to sue.
Chippens Hill Middle School principal Ron Stockman, Stafford School principal Keith Simpson and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Maher concluded long terms of service to Bristol Schools as they retired with the close of school.
Sports 25 Years Ago – June 1997
The Bristol Sports Hall of Fame put out a call for nominations for its first induction class.
Bristol American Legion opened its season with a 14-2 win over Wethersfield and later hosted defending National Champion Yardley, PA in an exhibition contest at Muzzy Field.
Bristol Central baseball bowed out of the CIAC tournament with a quarterfinal loss to Seymour after posting two upset wins in its opening games.
The Bristol Eastern softball team beat Bristol Central for the third time in a CIAC tournament quarterfinal. The Lancers went on to win the schools’ first ever state title behind Jen Hadley’s strong pitching in a 1-0 title win over Watertown.
Editor’s note: Bristol in Earlier Days is comprised of items from the annals of the Bristol Press.
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