Selected from the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal and lightly annotated by Wendy Taylor, Kent Memorial Library.
May 2
A new cement walk is being constructed from the residents of George A. Harmon on Main street to the property of the John S. Lathrop estate. The work is being done by the village and it is planned to build a portion of walk each year, picking out the worst spots first.
May 16
Mrs. Grace Hastings Gibbs gave an apple-blossom tea in the form of a shower…for Miss Grace M. Hastings, in honor of her approaching marriage…to Merle Whipple of Hartford. About twenty-five ladies were present. There was a program of music and a poem and dainty refreshments were served… Many beautiful and useful gifts were left for Miss Hastings, to whom it was a complete surprise
Fire…destroyed the residence, barn and shop of Albert A. Brown of Boston Neck, while the Suffield and Thompsonville fire departments concentrated their efforts in saving a large tobacco warehouse at the rear of the barn. The fire started in Mr. Brown’s carpenter shop and rapidly spread to the other buildings. The live stock in the barn and most of the furniture in the house were saved… The [fire] department responded, but as the property is out of the fire district, only chemicals could be used….A large number of people gathered to see the fire and they assisted in removing the furniture and other belongs from the burning house to the barn of Thomas Burke across the street…. Mr. Brown has placed his furniture temporarily in the warehouse at the rear of his place and will live there until the pace is cleaned up.
May 23
The committee recently appointed by Commander Caldwell of the Suffield post of the American Legion…has made final arrangements for the annual observation of Memorial Day in this town. The program this year will be: Band concert from 7.30 until 9 o’clock in the morning, after which the decoration of all soldiers’ graves at the several cemeteries will be made. A parade of school children of West Suffield with the Legion, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will march from the West Suffield school to the West Suffield cemetery and from there to Woodlawn cemetery, where the Center school from here will take part…The trips to and from these farther cemeteries, in which Civil War veterans will take part, will be made by automobiles. The exercises will come to a close following the street parade at the soldiers’ monument at the Center, where the salute will be fired by the Legion’s firing squadron.
Frank Demorat, a farmer, living alone on North street, left his place about two weeks ago saying he was going to a hospital for a minor operation…and since then all trace of him has been lost. As far as can be learned, he made no arrangements for the care of his stock at his farm, nor did he tell anyone to what hospital he was going. The stock has been taken care of by friends and neighbors…Demorat has been a citizen of the town for several years and recently purchased the place on North street which is well stocked with horses and cows.
Jane Audrey Rogers, 13 years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Rogers, won highest honor in a competitive speaking contest… making her eligible for the state contest in the Hartford Armory June 10. This is the first time this honor has been accorded a Suffield student… Lois Adams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Adams also a Center school pupil, defeated all comers in the girls’ athletic events. She will also enter the state meet in Hartford.
Several arrests and convictions have been made during the last few days of dog owners who have failed to pay taxes on dogs kept by them in 1923.