100 years ago — July 1923
Mr. and Mrs. George Belcher, Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Day motored to Torrington Sunday.
On Thursday of this week a babies’ convention will be held at the Casino with Miss St. James in charge.
ORE HILL — A dance was held at the new house on the Bartle place last Friday evening. Messrs. Robert Garrison and Ray McNeil furnished banjo and violin music for the occasion which all enjoyed.
Mrs. Robert A. Garrison of Ore Hill is driving an Overland car, the gift from her husband.
Mrs. W.K. Wildes, Mrs. Southerland and Miss Griggs returned Friday from a week’s motor tour to Maine. Roland Beers drove the car during the trip.
50 years ago — July 1973
The Tri-state area may be happily insulated from some of the problems besetting America, but the nationwide surge in food prices this week made itself acutely felt here too. Sharp price increases, both wholesale and retail, have hit the area since President Nixon lifted the food price freeze, effective Monday.
Bingham Pond, an isolated 84-acre northern spruce bog at an altitude of nearly 1900 feet on Mount Riga in Salisbury, has been selected for inclusion in the National Registry of Natural Landmarks, according to an announcement by the office of Rep. Ella T. Grasso.
Land records of Litchfield County accumulated over the past 27 years were destroyed last week when fire swept through the Winsted offices of Charles P. Hurley and Son of Canaan and Twin Lakes. Mr. Hurley, a civil engineer and surveyor, said that the papers dealt with surveying and that no other copies existed.
Earth movers this week began leveling the dirt around the edges of the never-filled dry lake off Reservoir Road in Lakeville so as to reduce the eyesore. George Dyke, the present owner of the property, explained that the objective is to re-create the old meadow and that there is no thought of reviving the original plans for a lake. The 35-acre tract had been excavated by the McTerry Corporation for a lake in connection with the Tokone Hills subdivision. Subsequently the firm went bankrupt and the lake was never completed although dirt had been pushed into berms around the edges.
Described by fire officials as the worst fire in eight years in Torrington, the Gavlick Machine Corp. and the Connecticut Warehouse were completely destroyed by fire Friday evening. Departments from 20 communities surrounding Torrington were called to assist city firemen, and 26 pieces of equipment were used to battle the fire.
Change has come to yet another Canaan business. It was announced this week that Morris Bartot of Norwalk has purchased Kauttu’s Drug Store on Main Street. Carl Kauttu, who has operated the business since Dec. 1, 1941 when he purchased it from Freeman Dempsey, said that the business has had only four owners since it was established in 1843.
25 years ago — July 1998
Sharon Hospital employees have achieved a breakthrough in their efforts to stand up for themselves. Connecticut Health Care Associates filed petitions Wednesday morning with the National Labor Relations Board for the creation of three collective bargaining units within Sharon Hospital’s staff, according to president Mary Lou Millar.
Stock from the Mary Del Farm on Amenia Union Road in Sharon found the electric fence malfunctioning after a storm the night before and took a little wander Tuesday morning. Farmer Philip Grindrod lured the animals back into the pasture with a tempting bucket of grain.
It has been more than four years since the town of Falls Village took possession of the Alston property on Sand Road. Now it appears progress will be made in transferring the land from town ownership to Habitat for Humanity, and removing the current derelict abodes that are on the property.
These items were taken from The Lakeville Journal archives at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, keeping the original wording intact as possible.
"They had this in mind from last year," girls varsity head coach Les Funk of Pine Plains said. Funk said the young team wanted the sectional title and "never gave up," until they won it Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.Photo by Nathan Miller
Naveah Rennie, no 34 of Pine Plains, was the Bombers' dominant scorer, racking up 20 points by the end of the matchup against S.S. Seward Institute during the Section IX Class C finals at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, March 5.Photo by Nathan Miller
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC