From the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal, selected and lightly annotated by Lester Smith, Historian of the Town and the Suffield Historical Society.
July 7
The stock barn and two tobacco barns were totally destroyed by fire on the Arthur Pomeroy Place on Prospect Hill, now owned by John Phillips, during the heavy thunder storm Sunday night. Randall Salisbury and family of Orange, N. J., have come to spend the summer vacation at their summer home on Grand Street.
July 14
With the increasing automobile travel there is a corresponding increase in the number of reckless drivers.
The new road leading to Sheldon street by the Kent place on the Suffield road is about completed and makes the road safer to travel. The road has been moved east something like a hundred feet.
July 28
Arthur Adams, who conducts a pool room in Cooper block [in the town center], reported to the officers Tuesday night that parties unknown had taken $12 in bills and $2 in silver from his trousers, which were locked in a room adjoining the pool room.
George M. Hendee has resigned as president and director of the Hendee Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of the Indian motorcycle, and has disposed of all his stock holdings in the company. . . . In speaking of his retirement, Mr. Hendee said that he was both glad and sorry. “For three years,” he said, “I have been hoping that before I reach the age of fifty years, I might retire from the great activities of the Hendee manufacturing company, and that I might enjoy in full my beautiful estate in Suffield. [Hilltop Farm]. . . . I am very much in love with my farm in Suffield and we are doing some interesting things there. We have a herd of about seventy Guernseys that cattle experts say are first class. We are growing alfalfa and the first cutting this year shows it to be a success.”
The Boy Scouts who were going to Congamond this week camping have given up the plan for the present, at least. Some of the boys are working, and the remainder of the party decided to wait until more could go.
August 4
An open air suffrage meeting was held in front of the Second Baptist church Thursday. There was quite a good crowd, but not much enthusiasm. Speeches were made by Olive Pierson Swetland and Ralph Waldo Swetland [of Cromwell].
Mrs. S. H. Graham has gone to spend the week with friends in Albany, Mechanicsville and Round Lake, N. Y.
The tobacco crop is doing finely and promises to be the best crop in years.
August 11
Ward Miller, aged 15 years, son of Ward Miller who lives near the Thompsonville bridge. Died of infantile paralysis, Monday afternoon, after a short illness with the disease.
Tobacco buyers have been looking over the crop the present week and Samuel Adams and S. H. Graham sold at 21 and 23 cents [per pound] in the bundle.
August 18
Frank S. Smith, Howard W. Prout and Herman Loomis represented the Suffield fire department this week as delegates at the annual state convention in Thompsonville.
August 25
Superintendent of Schools H. B. Chapman has sent the following notice: “Parents residing in the Sheldon street district will be glad to learn that there is no truth in the rumor that the school is to be closed. As long as the district is as populous as it is at present the school will be maintained.”