Turning Back the Pages

100 years ago — 1923

E.R. Smith has moved into the lower rooms of the Kelsey house.

W.P. Bishop is driving a new Chevrolet Sedan. Mrs. John Surdam has purchased the car formerly owned by W.P. Bishop and is learning to drive it.

LIME ROCK — Hilen Eggleston is on the sick list, suffering from throat trouble.

Charles Vosburgh was struck and knocked down by Dr. Thomas’ auto in the Casino driveway last Thursday. Dr. Thomas had driven into the Casino driveway to turn around and was unaware of Mr. Vosburgh’s presence. Mr. Vosburgh’s injuries fortunately are not serious and he suffered principally from the shock and jar, as he is not in the best of health.

Adv.: Lost — A Ball Brand rubber boot, between Taconic and Lakeville. Will finder please leave same at the Lakeville Post Office.

Gasoline is going down and automobilists may now buy it as low as 23 cents per gallon in Massachusetts and New York.

50 years ago — 1973

According to figures released by the state this week, Cornwall is the marryingest town in the state, with Falls Village running a close second. The state’s Department of Health says that there were 26 marriages in Cornwall (population 1200) last year, or 21.7 marriages per 1000 people there. Falls Village’s rate for 1972 was 21.6. Town Clerk Kay Fenn pointed out that Cornwall has become a popular location for out-of-towners who apply for a marriage license on Monday or Tuesday, say “I do” on Friday or Saturday and promptly disappear from Cornwall forever.

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Gentile, who have operated the Apothecary Shop in Lakeville since the mid-50s, have sold their business to Richard O. Walsh of Fairfield and look forward to a well-earned rest. Mr. Gentile, termed by his associates as “a very hard-working guy,” came to Lakeville in 1932 shortly after completing his education as a pharmacist and worked for about 10 years in Vincent Leverty’s drug store in the Holley Block.

Members of the Canaan Housing Authority received confirmation this week that their long fight to bring housing for the elderly to the community has ended successfully. Authority Chairman Art Baldwin said that he received word Friday that the State Bond Commission has approved Canaan’s grant for $384,000 to build 24 units of housing.

Members of the North Canaan Congregational Parish got a first look at the young man who is to be their new minister last Sunday and liked what they saw. The Rev. Peter A. Dakers of Trumbull was invited to preach last Sunday in the East Canaan church by the Pastoral Selection Committee. Following the service he was approved to fill the vacancy created when the Rev. Robert Loesch left for Madison, Conn.

First they recycled bottles, then paper — now cars! Canaan First Selectman Leo Segalla announced this week that old cars are now being crushed at the Canaan sanitary landfill site, and that Canaan and Falls Village residents are invited to bring their junk vehicles for the pickup.

25 years ago — 1998

While driving eastbound on Route 112, Theodore Brun, 79, of Mt. Kisko, N.Y., lost control of his car which crossed the lawn at 363 Lime Rock Road and struck the house. The car was hurt worse than the house or the driver.

NORFOLK — It was built as a theater in 1883. Over more than a century it has also been home to grocers and butchers and a barber shop. For the past five years it has been simply a vacant building on the main highway through town. Apple House as it came to be known because of the last grocer to occupy the street level space was purchased this week by playwrights and producers Maura Cavanagh and Richard Smithies of West Cornwall and New York City. They plan to begin immediately renovating the three-story shingle-style building and reopen it as The Greenwoods Theatre.

These items were taken from The Lakeville Journal archives at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, keeping the original wording intact as possible.