1. Sidney A. Kent, who funded the original Kent Memorial Library on Hill Street, also was the benefactor of another building. What was it?
a. The Flatiron building in NYC
b. The Chemical Laboratory at the University of Chicago
c. Trinity Church in Boston
2. In 1915, a former United States president was a commencement speaker at the Connecticut Literary Institute. Who was it?
a. William Howard Taft
b. Grover Cleveland
c. Woodrow Wilson
3. In 1914, three state troopers assisted by local authorities conducted a raid in Suffield. What was the cause?
a. A craps game in the police station
b. Beer sold at a Polish church society dance
c. Illicit drugs being wrapped in tobacco leaves at a cigar factory.
4. When John L. Wilson of Suffield was appointed Superintendent of the State Capitol, the newspaper reported that he might not get the keys to the building. Why?
a. Wilson was serving time in prison.
b. His predecessor claimed Wilson, according to Connecticut’s new civil service law, had been unlawfully appointed.
c. The Capitol was under construction and only the construction manager had access to the keys.
5. Two hapless men who burgled gasoline from A.P. Phillips’ garage in 1930 were apprehended because
a. They spilled gasoline, and when one man lit a match with gasoline-saturated gloves, it caused an explosion
b. They woke up neighbors when swearing while trying to put the gasoline in the car.
c. They didn’t put in enough gasoline and were identified when they ran out a gas two miles down the road.
6. In the State election of 1930, there was a Republican landslide. Wilbur L. Cross became the governor. Samuel R. Spencer of Suffield took what position?
a. Secretary of State
b. State Treasurer
c. Lieutenant Governor
7. Connecticut passed a motor vehicle registration law in 1903. Four years later, an operator’s license was adopted. Shortly before February 1927, State Senator Samuel Spencer and 14 other legislators were appointed to a Motor Committee to investigate needed motor vehicle laws as the number of motor vehicles increased from 8,000 in 1903 to nearly 300,000 in 1927. Together this committee logged over how many miles in their investigations according to an article in the New Britain Herald?
a. 500,000
b. 750,000
c. 1,000,000
8. Suffield won a border line dispute with what town in 1883?
a. Windsor Locks
b. East Granby
c. Agawam
9. Farmer Albert C. Hinkley grew an agricultural product which was 11 inches in circumference and weighed 10 ounces, as reported in The Norwich Bulletin on August 27, 1921. What was it?
a. An apple
b. A peach
c. A carrot
10. Massachusetts gave a land grant to Connecticut, now encompassing parts of Belchertown, Ware and Pelham, to compensate for its claim on parts of the towns of Suffield, Somers, Woodstock and Enfield, which was shown by a 1713 survey to lie within the jurisdiction of Connecticut. Connecticut sold most of this land grant to private individuals in 1716, and the land dispute was resolved about 1740. The Massachusetts land grant was known as
a. Land Compensation
b. Equivalent Lands
c. Connecticut Land Grant.
Answers
1. b. Kent Chemical Laboratory at the University of Chicago. Mr. Kent provided the funds to build, furnish, and equip the handsome laboratory building which also included a library. His brother gave money for a chemical laboratory at Yale.
2. a. William Howard Taft. In his address, Taft advocated for a presidential term of 6-7 years, disallowing a re-election. At this time, Taft was a professor at Yale University and was living in New Haven.
3. b. Beer sold at a Polish church society dance. two kegs of beer were seized. The Society said they had permission from the selectmen.
4. b His predecessor claimed Wilson, according to Connecticut’s new civil service law, had been unlawfully appointed.
5. a. They spilled gasoline and when one man lit a match, with gasoline-saturated gloves, it caused an explosion.
6. c. Lieutenant Governor
7. c. 1,000,000
8. b. East Granby lost a triangular piece of land, about 1 ¾ miles long and 47 rods wide
9. b. A peach
10. b. Equivalent Lands