100 Years Ago in Suffield

October 2
Spaulding gardens is increasing the capacity of their output by erecting a new greenhouse about 300 feet long. This, added to the present plant, will make one of the largest plants of this kind in this section
October 9
The house owned and occupied by Joe Smith was burned to the ground Wednesday night, with its contents. The fire started about 10.45[p.m.] and in a short time was blazing fiercely. Fortunately, Mrs. Smith had not gone to bed as she was waiting for Mr. Smith, who is employed in a paper mill at Windsor Locks and returns home on the 11 o’clock bus. Mrs. Smith smelled smoke and aroused the children sleeping upstairs and they had just time to get outside with what clothing they were wearing. It is thought that the fire started from a defective chimney. The eight children were taken care of by neighbors for the balance of the night and Thursday the family moved into one of E. S. Seymour’s tenements.
A number of the late[st] books of fiction have been added to the Kent Memorial Library, and reservations of same will be made in the order that requests are received. The list may be seen at the library or post office.
The farmers have begun taking down the tobacco crop and stripping it. It has cured finely and promises good returns for their labor.
A dance will be given in Academy hall Saturday evening, Oct. 10th, by the young girls of West Suffield. Music will be furnished by the Melody Boys of Suffield.
October 16
Joseph Ciak, employed in the association warehouse on Depot street, noticed a wire laying across his path near the warehouse while going to work and thinking someone might stumble over it, picked it up to throw it [to] one side… The wire was a live one and carried about 2,200 volts, but fortunately the man did not grasp it firmly and only with one hand. He was somewhat burned by the contact, but will suffer no serious consequences.
A high wind last Saturday afternoon and evening did considerable damage about town, blowing over trees and making a lot of trouble for the telephone and electric light companies.
Mrs. Burton M. Gillette returned to her home on Sunday after a serious illness at the Springfield hospital. She is much improved in health. On Wednesday several ladies from the Congregational church called upon her and presented her with a blossoming cyclamen and a volume of Nutting’s “Connecticut Beautiful,” recognizing Mrs. Gillette’s labor of love for the church many years.
October 23
Andrew Wideko, a farmer living in the west part of the town, disappeared from his home a week ago last Saturday and his whereabouts since that time is a mystery to his wife and family. A search for the missing man resulted in tracing him to Westfield, Mass., where the trail ends. Mrs. Wideko can advance no reason for her husband’s sudden departure, he having no financial troubles to her knowledge with the exception of two or three notes he had endorsed for nearby neighbors for small amounts. His horses and automobile were left on the place. Every effort is being made to locate the missing man, but so far without success.
October 30
Considerable tobacco was taken from the poles in the damp Saturday afternoon and Sunday. The growers are in much better spirits since the announcement by the association of a loan to be made on the present crop and all are looking forward to a quickening of the tobacco market in the near future to help to move the crops on hand.