Selected from the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal and lightly annotated by Wendy Taylor, Kent Memorial Library.
Oct 1
Samuel R. Spencer, one of the town’s leading citizens, was signally honored…at the Republican senatorial convention held in Hartford, when he was nominated for state senator from the seventh senatorial district. Mr. Spencer’s nomination was made by State’s Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn. Mr. Spencer, who has been town treasurer since 1900, was graduated from Yale University in the class of 1893. He is president of the Suffield Savings Bank, president of the firm of Spencer Bros., Inc., and has represented the town in the Legislature in the years of 1915 and 1917.
The transfer has been made of property from E. N. and C. C. Austin to the town of Suffield, calling for a lot adjoining the school property on South street, with a 100-foot front and 190-foot depth. Work of enlarging the present school building or of building a new one will be started in the spring. The newly acquired property has been felt as necessary on account of the small facilities at the school and with the large increase of school children from year to year.
Oct 8
An experiment is being tried at the Center school this term of furnishing for sale pasteurized milk for children who appear to be under weight. The milk is brought to the school every morning and sold to these children during recesses.
Oct 15
Nine automobile tires and other merchandise valued at $250 were stolen…from the garage of Arthur L. Bessett on Depot street. Entrance was gained by breaking a window in the front door and springing the door fastenings.
The annual chicken pie supper and fancy sale held in the [Congregational] church parlors…was a decided success, despite the rain at the hour set for the supper.
Oct 22
That a fire truck and pumper should last longer than one year when it represents an investment of $6,000, is the opinion of people of this town. They, through their special committee of citizens, intend to see that the truck which they have at present is either placed in first-class condition or else replaced by its makers…Three times during the short period it has been in use it has broken down, putting it out of service during repairs and materially lessening the efficiency of the fire department. On another occasion it was necessary to send it out of town for a week to undergo repairs. Shortly after its return it was necessary to install a new clutch, and recently it was found necessary to tear the pump down and replace several of its parts. Members of the village committee…said that they intend to insist that the makers either replace the truck with a new one or repair the old one in such fashion that it will do all that is represented as capable of doing.
The tobacco crop is now cured sufficiently to permit being taken from the poles and stripped, after which it will be placed in bundles for assorting. The farmers are awaiting a moderately warm rainstorm so that this work can be taken care of before cold weather sets in. At the plantations where the leaves are picked off the stalks when placed in the curing sheds this work is nearly completed. The tobacco is now in the company warehouses undergoing bulk sweating, after which it will be sorted.
Oct 29
The new fire pumper truck now owned jointly by the town and the center district has been ordered returned to the makers in Providence for a new pump to be installed… The makers will now correct these faults and bring the machine up to the guarantee.
The town clock has been undergoing repairs this week. The numerals and hands are being trimmed with gold leaf, making a large improvement over what it had been for some time.